Environment
Biology major measuring, comparing Hurricane Helene’s environmental impact
Mountain Media, LLCJuly 21, 2026
Radford University biology major Katie Purnell studies Hurricane Helene's environmental impact on western North Carolina rivers she grew up exploring.
Katie Purnell grew up on the rivers of western North Carolina, camping, swimming, hiking, committing to memory every rock and every tree that lined their banks. “But now it’s all different,” she said of the area’s streams and surrounding areas. “And it’s devastating to see.” In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene ripped through the southeastern […]