A collection of private volunteers, inclusive of mule drivers and helicopter operators, have taken to aiding dispatch of supplies and saving the lives of those left helpless after a brutally destructive storm hit the mountainous regions of western North Carolina, marking its place in the annals of U.S history as one of the deadliest.
It’s been a week since the catastrophic blow delivered by Helene to the Florida Panhandle, leaving a path of considerable destruction across half a dozen states. Asheville, North Carolina, is home to thousands of people now isolated, with damaged or completely destroyed telecommunications equipment and a host of roads deemed impassable. The isolation faced by the mountain communities poses a significant challenge to the colossal relief efforts undertook by federal, state and local authorities.
Nevertheless, several locals have risen to the occasion, risking the odds to aid their affected peers. Among them is Ben Miller, a property dealer and father of two living in the vicinity of Winston-Salem. Miller has been instrumental in transporting supplies to the ravaged areas. “The experience is quite intense,” he admitted, adding, “This was simply unprecedented.”
His acts of valour include delivering 27,000 water bottles to the residents of Marion – a location situated just outside of Asheville – a feat achieved last Sunday. The following day, the 44-year-old was in Spruce Pine, a remote community where he has ancestral roots, providing aid in whatever way possible.
Complementing these individual endeavours are numerous volunteer groups who are supporting the official disaster relief channels. This long-honoured practice is reminiscent of the famous ‘Cajun Navy’, the spontaneous civilian fleet that came to the aid of the stranded populace of Louisiana post-Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
In its fundraising efforts this week, the Altitude Project – a group of voluntary private pilots – hit the $200,000 (€182,000) mark. This achievement was reported by Andrew Everhart, a member of the group and insurance agency owner. He is joined in his efforts by other volunteers who hail from a diverse range of professions including a professional race car driver, the proprietor of a distribution and logistics firm, and multiple workers in commercial property and social media content creation.
Utilising a warehouse located in Charlotte that spans 2,300 square metres, the Altitude Project has been operating supply runs to communities situated near Asheville, where roughly 50cm of rain lashed down within mere hours last week.
Helene has surpassed all other named storms since Katrina in 2005 in terms of its destructiveness in the US mainland, leaving over 200 people dead. However, Katrina still holds the record for the greatest loss of life, having reportedly claimed around 1,400 lives according to a 2023 study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Following the storm, the exact count of missing persons remains uncertain. Initially set in the hundreds, this number has since reduced as rescue operations progress, communication lines are gradually restored, and those left marooned by the storm are found.
In an effort to aid the rescue and relief operations, President Joe Biden directed the deployment of 1,000 active-duty military staff. Furthermore, nearly 4,800 members of federal personnel, alongside another 6,000 from the National Guard, hailing from 12 different states are on-site as per White House reports.
In anticipation of an influx of approximately 600 search-and-rescue workers, the existing number of local and state rescue teams are gearing up for enhanced efforts.
The rescue mission has also mobilised volunteers. Aeroluxe Aviation, a flight company based in Tennessee, has sent a ground crew and three Robinson 44 helicopters with co-owner Brook Barzyk confirming their participation.
The Mountain Mule Packer Ranch based in Raeford, North Carolina, has also joined the mission, transporting supplies to remote locations via their specialised mule trains as mentioned in their Facebook posts. According to the Ranch’s website, they are experienced in accommodating military units in remote, rugged terrains with their “extreme terrain pack animal supply trains”. – Reuters.