Stokes County folks know how to lend a hand to a neighbor in hard times, and the response to help communities devastated by Hurricane Helene has been swift.
“The state’s working together — it’s North Carolina,” said Emergency Services Director Brandon Gentry. “We got a good organization statewide that’s gonna take care of the people.”
The storm and rainfall that preceded it dumped an estimated 40 trillion gallons of water on the eastern United States last week, according to an Associated Press report.
The death toll had climbed to 166 in six southeastern states as of Wednesday morning, with search and rescue efforts still underway, hundreds of roads closed and millions without power.
Historic flooding hit western North Carolina hard; at least 57 people were killed in Buncombe County alone, home to the city of Asheville.
Stokes County was spared the brunt of the apocalyptic storm.
Gentry said an estimated 2 to 3 inches fell locally. There were no reports of flooding, no injuries and no lost roads.
A downed tree damaged one home.
Gentry said that about 50 to 75 trees fell and brought power lines down, leaving a peak number of 1,700 without power.
By the morning of Sunday, Sept. 29, power had been restored to all but about 100 customers and was fully restored by that evening.
Surry County also experienced power outages and downed trees and power lines, with portions of Elkin closed on Friday due to Yadkin River flooding that blocked access to the Gwyn McNeil bridge.
The bridge was reopened Saturday morning, with Standard Street remained closed due to the flooding and businesses reporting damages.
Before the storm hit, Gentry and other local officials had identified resources that could be shared with others areas of the state.
A prime mover, a flatbed pickup truck used for moving equipment, was deployed to Mitchell County from Thursday to Saturday.
As part of the Triad HealthCare Preparedness Coalition out Mocksville, Stokes County staff delivered a shower trailer, restroom trailer, 1000 gallon water tank to downtown Asheville.
Stokes also sent 120 KW generator to Yancey County.
The Walnut Cove, Northeast Stokes, South Stokes and King fire departments all delivered fire tricks to the western part of the state, and a nurse from the Stokes County Health Department was deployed yesterday to Haywood County to work in an emergency shelter.
Hanging Rock State Park officials said park rangers will deployed to western areas.
Gentry noted on Tuesday that the Stokes County 911 center was still answering calls for Graham County.
“There’s been a lot going on since last Friday for sure,” Gentry said. “We’re just sitting here waiting on when the state calls us for another request, to help out wherever we need to.”
Gentry noted that the prime movers were funded through Homeland Security grants and the equipment is maintained by each county, and each county generally has one or two of them.
“Everybody calls on people not affected to help out the affected areas to help move generators, shower trailers,” he said. “Every county around us is doing the same thing.”
Local folks mobilized just as quickly, with organizations, businesses, schools and churches stepping up to gather and distribute donations.
Gentry said the main thing folks need to realize is that rescue operations are still underway, so cash donations are preferred to supplies.
“It’s great, everybody’s wanting to do it,” he said. “But at the same time they’d be better off with the money right now because these organizations can get what they need.”
It’s hard to get supplies in and to know what people actually need in specific areas.
“It’s hard to get resources in and out because some of these areas are by air only.”
Gentry recommended contributing to the North Carolina Disaster Relief fund at nc.gov/donate .
Those who want to volunteer can sign up with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) at www.ncvoad.org/volunteer/ . Helene work sites have not yet been established but will be posted as soon as travel is deemed safe in the area.
The links are also posted on the Stokes County EMS Facebook page.
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