Relief efforts are still underway to assist areas of western North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene, as local communities rally to transport much-needed supplies. Reports continue to detail the extensive damage caused by high winds and flooding, particularly around Asheville and surrounding areas.
A local private pilot and his wife, a nurse, who have chosen to remain anonymous, shared their firsthand experiences of the destruction.
“I’ve flown supplies into Asheville, Morganton, Avery County, and Jackson,” said the pilot. His wife worked in Barnesville and Pensacola at a mobile hospital. “Some roads were completely destroyed, with only one way in and out. People crawled for days to reach medical help,” she said.
The nurse described the harrowing conditions she encountered, including treating a woman whose life was saved when barbed wire caught her hand as floodwaters swept her away. “She treated that woman every day, cleaning her wounds. Since surgery wasn’t possible, they had to wait for the metal pieces to fester and come out on their own.”
The pilot also recounted the story of a man who lost his wife in the floodwaters. “They were holding onto the banister, but he couldn’t hold onto her, and she was swept away. He stayed stuck near her body for two days until help arrived,” he said.
Temperatures in the area are expected to drop to 40 degrees soon, and shelters are limited, leaving many vulnerable to the cold. In response, local residents have built a makeshift bridge to aid the delivery of supplies. “It took two days just to cut a path from the house we stayed into the nearest road,” said the pilot.
In addition to physical recovery, there are numerous accounts of community members stepping in to assist with repairs. One local resident used an excavator to clear cars trapped by a mudslide. Many young men, some in their teens, were cutting down trees to help restore access to roads. “Their eyes were brown and black from debris. My wife cleaned their eyes, and then more of them came back after hearing about it,” the pilot said. The nurse helped provide safety glasses for the boys after discovering their old ones were no longer usable.
However, amid the positive stories of neighborly support, the couple acknowledged that chaos has emerged in some areas. ‘Fake’ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agents reportedly attempted to shut down hospitals, and looting has occurred. “People addicted to methadone and suboxone, who can’t get their medications, are breaking into homes and stealing things,” the pilot said.
The natural disaster has also affected wildlife in the region, with many dead animals spotted, including deer. The pilot mentioned that displaced yellow jackets, unable to find their nests, were stinging people in their mouths. One woman with cerebral palsy was stung in the throat and tongue, leading to a life-threatening allergic reaction. “She needed to be flown out, but she refused to leave her son and went home with medication instead,” the nurse said.
The Carolina Aviation Network was among the first to respond to the crisis, working to provide assistance. Many mountain residents are reluctant to accept help from the government, preferring to rely on their own resilience. “They believe they can fix things on their own,” the pilot said.
As winter approaches, the couple emphasized the need for donations of cold-weather supplies, including winter clothes, shoes, flashlights, portable stoves, propane heaters, wool blankets, and tents. “If people aren’t prepared, many could die from the cold,” warned the pilot.
While there is enough food in the region, the cold weather is the biggest concern. The pilot noted that FEMA was largely absent during his trips, and many residents were wary of donating to large organizations, and instead prefer to contribute through local churches or alternatives.
Locally, businesses like Harbour Garage & Towing, Ray Reynolds Construction, along with local churches such as Stanleytown’s Amazing Grace Baptist Church, and several other local charities like the YMCA and the Henry County Food Pantry working to ensure local relief efforts continue.
“We, the people, are helping the people,” said the nurse. “They’re going to make it.”
“They’re strong—very strong,” the pilot added.
