ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Leaders from Western North Carolina took their hard-earned flood recovery experience to Texas last week, meeting with local officials to help the Hill Country bounce back after July’s devastating storms.

The delegation included Asheville City Council member Maggie Ullman, Lake Lure Mayor Carol Pritchett, Marshall Mayor Aaron Haynie and Avery County Commission Vice Chairman Dennis Aldridge. Representing the Western North Carolina Recovery and Resilience Partnership, they met with Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Mayor Pro Tem Brenda Hughes and Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly to exchange strategies for disaster preparedness and community resilience.

“This was a somber and deeply reflective meeting, rooted in the shared devastation of lives lost to floods in both our communities,” Ullman said in a statement. “It reinforced that the best recovery starts long before the next storm. It’s about building relationships, planning together and investing in resilience now. When communities share what works — and what doesn’t — we all get stronger for the future.”

Officials highlighted key lessons from their visit: strong relationships speed recovery, preparedness is a daily practice, mental health is as critical as rebuilding infrastructure, learning from others prevents repeated mistakes and hope and community engagement drive lasting progress.

The WNC Partnership, supported by the American Flood Coalition, continues to collaborate regionally to share resources, advocate for flood-affected communities, and improve readiness at state and federal levels.

The American Flood Coalition is a nonpartisan network of cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses and civic groups dedicated to addressing the growing threats of flooding, rising sea levels and severe storms.