SBP Welcomes Two New Disaster Resilience Fellows Serving Communities in Western North Carolina and North Mississippi

SBP, a disaster recovery nonprofit, is proud to announce two new Disaster Resilience Fellows: Tonia Allen, serving Western North Carolina, and William Sappington, serving North Mississippi. Both Fellows are embedded within their communities to help local leaders build resilience, access critical funding, and prepare for future disasters.

SBP’s Resilience and Recovery Fellows Program offers capacity to community leaders and networks not only to secure the recovery assistance they need when disasters strike, but also to anticipate and withstand future extreme weather threats.

Fellows help smaller, at-risk communities understand their risk, access information, prioritize next steps, and add the capacity needed to take action. They engage with a broad range of stakeholders to spearhead initiatives to secure federal funding and philanthropic support for mitigation and resilience projects.

Meet Our New Fellows

Tonia Allen | Western North Carolina

A North Carolina native, Tonia has been deeply involved in disaster recovery and resilience efforts across Western North Carolina since Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Before joining SBP, she volunteered as the Acting Executive Director of the Swannanoa Resilience Hub, a role that put her at the center of local recovery efforts in one of the region’s hardest-hit areas.

Through her Fellowship, Tonia is partnering with the Housing Assistance Corporation. She is currently working with SBP Advisors and her placement partner to conduct a regional needs assessment, identifying gaps and priorities to strengthen resilience across Western North Carolina. She first connected with SBP after attending one of our disaster recovery focused Leadership Practitioner Courses.

Regarding her Fellowship, Tonia shares: “SBP’s commitment to helping communities recover after disaster through rebuilding, preparedness, and long-term recovery support aligns deeply with the work and values that matter most to me. After witnessing the challenges Western North Carolina communities have faced in the wake of disaster, I’m honored to be part of an organization that not only helps families recover but also works to strengthen systems and reduce future risk. Over the next two years, I’m looking forward to learning from SBP’s team, building strong partnerships, and helping support resilient, community-driven recovery efforts across WNC.  

William Sappington | North Mississippi

A Mississippi native, William brings a strong background in emergency management, built across multiple roles in Arkansas — including Emergency Management Intern, Assistant to the Mayor of Dardanelle, Ark., and, most recently, Deputy Director of Sebastian County Emergency Management in Fort Smith, Ark.

In this role, William will partner with the Three Rivers Planning & Development District, serving multiple counties and regional collaboration. He is working alongside SBP Advisors and his placement partner to conduct a needs assessment across North Mississippi to identify resilience priorities and areas of need.

“I have one goal for my two-year fellowship: a prepared and resilient North Mississippi,” William says. “When I walk down Main Street in Pontotoc, listening to the sweet sound of the Blues at the Burnside Music Festival in Ripley, or sit and listen to the roar of old tractors at the Houston Flywheel Festival, knowing that I utilized my knowledge to make a prepared and resilient community for my family, friends, and neighbors is the only goal that I need.”

Supporting This Work

The Disaster Resilience Fellows Program is made possible through the generous support of Toyota, Walmart, Liberty Mutual, CSAA, CDP, WD-40/San Diego Foundation, and the American Red Cross. Their investment helps SBP place and support Fellows in communities that need it most.

To learn more about SBP’s Disaster Resilience Fellows Program, visit sbpusa.org/recovery-and-resilience-fellows.