Flood Update

CFK Settled in a Temporary Office Following Helene Flood Disaster

After several months of very difficult disruptions due to the sudden catastrophic loss of our office from flooding, prolonged and widespread power and water outages in the area, and marathon efforts to remove debris, restore utilities, and repair bridges and roads, early in 2025 we were grateful to resettle CFK into a temporary leased office space located just one block from our former office and current warehouse location.  The CFK office is now in a small strip mall on highway 70, across from the Black Mountain Primary School playground, with the tranquil Seven Sisters peaks of the Black Mountain Range in view.  We are very grateful for this small, but clean, dry space that has enabled us to restart work in Mongolia, and prepare for re-engagement in North Korea, if/when that might be possible.  While we cannot host large groups here at this time, we have welcomed back smaller groups of visitors.

CFK Working on Plans for Reconstruction of the CFK Office

In our neighborhood and across the region, it has taken months to clear the flood debris including our destroyed building and four other neighboring buildings.   Additionally, Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) contractors have been hard at work to clear downed trees and other debris out of Flat Creek that flows behind our warehouse and into the headwaters of the Swannanoa River just around the bend of our neighbors’ property.  Meanwhile, cleanup and rebuilding efforts (largely volunteer-driven) continue in the greater region.  We are so grateful for the help of so many volunteers and groups who shared their time, equipment, resources and hard work over weeks and months to help clean up the destruction from the flooding.  Next steps include new surveys, permits, and engineered plans.  We will also need to re-grade our site to remove dirt and debris deposited by the flood waters and to prepare the site for reconstruction.  We have applied for help through the NC/FEMA disaster recovery program, but there are still many uncertainties regarding how timely the program will progress, the applicability of this program to our situation, and what kind of help may be available - so this also requires more patient waiting.  We have received the proceeds from our flood insurance on the building and contents, which will help towards reconstruction costs.  We are now in the time-consuming process of drawing up plans, and determining rebuilding costs.  Once we have gathered sufficient information we will develop a master plan for the site and reach back out with more details.

Should you wish to help CFK through this disaster, please visit our Donate site, or you can mail a contribution to PO Box 936, Black Mountain, NC 28711.  

Thank you for your prayers and continued support.

Welcome