Worthington column: Volunteers playing big role in Helene response

Western North Carolina was devastated by the deluge of rain from Hurricane Helene. There are 61 confirmed deaths from the storm in the region.

Floodwaters inundated whole towns, and some places are still cut off from the outside world because many roads are simply impassable from downed trees and landslides. In the worst affected areas, there is no power, water or cellphone service even a week later. It will take years to fully repair damages because bridges have washed away and long sections of highways have been undermined by rushing floodwaters.

Private companies and charities were quick to respond to the catastrophic flooding and wind damage. Utility companies up and down the East Coast prepositioned crews before the hurricane even made landfall, and are now working to restore power as quickly as possible. However, they have to get to the trouble spots first, and many roads in the region are still closed.

Samaritan’s Purse is located in Boone, right in the middle of the maelstrom. They provide disaster relief worldwide, but now they are serving people in their own backyard from a base of operations at the Billy Graham Training Center in Buncombe County. Their volunteers are responding to the disaster in multiple states from Florida to Tennessee.

Samaritan’s Purse is also assisting two North Carolina hospitals and has a tent in a hospital’s parking lot to provide oxygen to patients who don’t have power at home to generate their own. Samaritan’s Purse is highly regarded with less than 10% of its funds used for administration. Go to SamaritansPurse.org to donate to their disaster relief operations.

The NC Baptist Convention sponsors the Baptists on Mission disaster relief organization. Volunteers began mobilizing even before the hurricane made landfall, and they quickly established two feeding centers in churches near Asheville. Additional teams will go once more roads are open and the immediate needs of victims are met.

Then volunteers will travel to Western North Carolina to help clean up and assist people recover from the flooding. Donations can be made online at BaptistsOnMission.org.

The Red Cross is also on the ground in the affected area. They provide many essential services ranging from providing food and shelter to medical assistance. The hurricane disrupted blood drives so they encourage people to give blood locally to make up for the shortfall. Monetary donations can be made online at RedCross.org.

National Guard helicopters rescued people surrounded by floodwaters, and delivered food and water to people isolated by road closures. But Congressman Chuck Edwards, a Republican who represents western North Carolina, said he’s disappointed by the government’s response.

In particular, the Federal Emergency Management Agency seemed slow to respond although they did preposition food and water to be delivered as soon as roads are opened. Part of the reason for FEMA’s slow response is that helping people is far down their list of priorities. The top two goals listed on FEMA’s Strategic Plan are “Instill Equity as a Foundation of Emergency Management” and “Lead Whole of Community in Climate Resilience.” Eventually they will get around to processing applications for grants and disaster loans.

Over 2 feet of rain fell on Spruce Pine during the storm. This small town is located between Asheville and Grandfather Mountain, and its population is only about 2,200. But there is a sense of urgency about opening roads to Spruce Pine because mines near the town are the world’s only source of high-purity quartz which is absolutely necessary to manufacture silicon chips. This mineral is used in the production of chips for products ranging from cellphones to artificial intelligence computers. It’s all a matter of priorities.