We dropped off the supplies at Altec Industries in Burnsville, NC with the Army National Guard. They are there now running rescue missions and distributing the donations with their off road vehicles. There is a distribution center for people to pick up supplies and get a hot meal. Hundreds of civilian volunteers are working on sorting and loading the vehicles that come in to collect essentials and waters. We were told that 95% of the supplies are coming from donations from all over.
Here is what we have learned from boots on the ground.
1. Main roads are now open, however many more are still closed.
2. Close to a dozen towns have been wiped of the map and no longer exist.
3. Entire communities have lost everything and are now living in tents in remote areas.
4. There are still many people who are trapped and are only accessible by air. They are being supplies by air missions run by civilians and the National Guard.
5. Restoration and cleanup efforts are well underway, inspiring to see how many utility vehicles are there tirelessly working to get our community back up and running.
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I am at a loss for words to express my deep gratitude for the kindness and goodness of the human spirit and the trucking community willingness to help in need.
Yesterday we had an opportunity to transport donations from the North Carolina League of Transportation and Logistics to the Statesville airport to gather more supplies in aiding the the relief efforts for hashtagHeleneNC victims. Most communities are still without water, power and many are inaccessible.
A group of volunteers who started the “Hurricane Helen Airlift Relief” Facebook page organized an incredible effort to help distribute the critical supplies as quickly as possible. It was so inspiring to see hundreds of volunteers, donating their time to unload, sort, package, weight and distribute the products to communities in dire need of food, water and medical supplies. The sheer scale, organization and quick action of this group is astounding. People are taking PTO to volunteer, business are donating meals and the donations keep the planes fueled.
Grateful for our team at Apex Transit & Logistics for holding down the fort while Stan Ivanov and I take a trip to Burnsville, NC to drop off the donated supplies.
Please keep donating and keep praying for those affected, the devastion is vast. Thank you North Carolina Trucking Association for quickly organizing the logistics. There are no shortage of trucking companies donating their time to deliver the supplies. hashtagNCStrong hashtagWeThePeople
