Phyllis Utley

Phyllis Utley

Phyllis Utley's experience of fist hearing about the state of emergency while she was working at Land of Sky Regional Council, and then learning about the gravity of devastation from Tropical Storm Helene.

English

1 digital audio recording

mp3

1:47

Hi my name is Phyllis Utley, lovingly known by many in the Western North Carolina community and beyond as Lady Sunshine. I am the daughter of Queen Mother Maggie Belle Gladden and I was working at Land of Sky Regional Council and a gentleman from the governor's office came to a meeting we had and said there was going to be a state of emergency. And I did not understand fully what he meant, however, I took to heart what he said and I made my exit plan and executed it. And I received the next day all kinds of emails from individuals expressing a state of affairs that was beyond what any of us could have imagined. I'm grateful for the love that came pouring in from many places and friends of mine from college that we saw to support folks. Again, just around the world, and for that I have been inspired and encouraged as we continue in the aftermath of Queen, of Queen, of Hurricane Helene.