Meet the Southern Waters Team
Kyle Burnette​
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Kyle was born and raised in Burnsville, N.C., where he learned the art of the fly rod at an early age. A lifetime spent on the water has earned him a well-deserved reputation as a “fishy guy.” Today, Kyle owns and operates Southern Drifters Outfitters in downtown Burnsville, offering guided fishing trips and quality outdoor apparel.
When Hurricane Helene struck on September 27, 2024, Kyle’s deep knowledge of the outdoors became an invaluable resource for keeping himself and his neighbors safe while navigating the destruction left in the wake of this once-in-a-lifetime storm. In the days and weeks that followed, Kyle worked tirelessly, volunteering and supporting recovery and relief efforts. Recognizing that true recovery requires long-term commitment, he became a founding member of Southern Waters, an organization dedicated to sustainable support for the community.
Before opening Southern Drifters, Kyle earned his degree in Construction Management from Western Carolina University. Today, he applies that expertise to lead rebuilding efforts, helping families whose homes and properties were damaged find their way back home.
Travis Kirkman
Travis Kirkman was born in Florence, South Carolina and moved around the country with his parents until they decided to settle in the mountains of North Carolina at the age of 17. Around that time he met his now wife, a native of Burnsville, NC and felt a strong connection to the landscape and the people.
When Hurricane Helene made its path of destruction, Travis knew he needed to help the community he knew and loved. With most of his family and friends still living in the area, he couldn’t wait for the all clear to get to the area. As soon as he was able to make it to Burnsville, he met up with his friends and began to work to help however he could. In the wake of the natural disaster Travis felt so called that he initially stayed in the area helping for 7 weeks, and subsequently began to split his time between Yancey County and New Bern.
The founders of Southern Waters saw a large need to help the community rebuild. After talking with Kyle and Meghan, they decided the best way to help was to begin to help with funding of materials and assistance for natural disaster victims. His trusty dog, Sage, also makes appearances on jobsites while working.
Meghan Graham
Meghan was born and raised in Mitchell County and has always called Western North Carolina (WNC) home. She only left the mountains to earn her Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University, focusing on trauma and disaster mental health. In the spirit of John Muir’s words, “The mountains are calling and I must go,” the mountains called Meghan back home in 2022—though she didn’t know then that this was exactly where she needed to be when the most devastating storm in WNC’s history struck on September 27, 2024.
On the morning of the storm, Meghan checked on her neighbors, tended to her horses, and ensured the safety of those around her. She and her partner, Lyle, then hiked more than seven miles to town with their three dogs and two close friends to get help for their community on Toodies Creek. Since that day, Meghan has not stopped working to support recovery efforts. Alongside her team, she is committed to ensuring sustainable support for her community and fostering healing for all who experienced Hurricane Helene.
