Additional relief heading South for those affected by Helene

Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - People in parts of the South continue efforts to clean up and recover from the devastation that destroyed several homes, businesses and other buildings after Hurricane Helene made landfall nearly two weeks ago.

Last week, Tim Berry and Shawn McMahon, co-owners of Erie County Blotter on Facebook, headed to Kingsport, Tennessee, which is about 45 minutes North of Asheville, North Carolina, with an estimated 5,000-to-8,000 pounds of supplies for the people down there.

About a week later, both Berry and McMahon were packing up to make a second trip to Kingsport to deliver more goods and supplies for the people of Tennessee and North Carolina.

"We've got, at least, eight or nine trucks and vehicles leaving from Williamsville. Our first stop is going to be down in the Angola/Silver Creek area, where we're picking up three more trucks and trailers from the Angola Fire Department and Silver Creek Fire Department. It's just craziness, but it's good. It's very good," said Berry on Friday in an interview with WBEN.

McMahon admits they weren't expecting much of what they saw when they arrived in Tennessee last week.

"The tears that were shed when we arrived, and through the images that we were sharing to Western New York. We came back, we were going to buy or rent one box truck, and then made the choice to rent two. And by the time we came back home, our driveway was already full with items from the public. And once we started loading items, we had to get a third box truck, and then a fourth and then a fifth. So we have a huge outpouring from Western New York that we are still trying to comprehend," said McMahon with WBEN. "We cannot thank Western New York enough for the help that they're allowing us to send down to the South, to help people that have no water, that still have no food, no medicine. This is a very, very important mission for us."

McMahon says he and Berry have been overcome with many emotions over the last week, plus. He says when they get back this time, they may need some time away to gather thoughts and let everybody knows they returned home safe.

On this upcoming trip to Tennessee, Berry says they are not alone.

"We're expecting it to go smooth, it went smooth the last time. This time, we obviously have a lot more vehicles, a lot more personnel. We've got 20-25 people, so we're thinking 10-to-12 hours to get down to Kingsport," Berry detailed. "We're going to be at the VFW Post, spend the night there, and get up nice and early and start our missions."

With them this time around is items ranging from travel-size toothpaste and hand sanitizer, all the way to chainsaws and generators, water, clothing, and even two coolers full of epiPens.

"Anything and everything you could possibly think of," Berry said.

"This, I feel, will be a big step for them to get a little bit of normalcy back in their lives. With houses, buildings, businesses, everything being completely gone, a simple gesture of dropping off a case of water, now they can cook, they can clean. For some people, this will be their first time taking a shower since the hurricane. I mean, it's that essential."

While Berry and McMahon didn't personally see much of the devastation that unfolded in Tennessee and North Carolina, some of the pictures and videos taken from their crews show just how much these mountainous communities were impacted.

"It's just total devastation. I mean, cars crumpled up like tin cans, houses - or where houses used to be - are completely gone. There's not even a foundation. Everything is just gone," Berry said.

While Berry and McMahon are no longer taking physical donations of goods and other essentials, at this time, there is still a way people can help contribute for the people who need the most help.

"We're keeping our PayPal link live for the next couple of days. All that money, besides the costs associated with fuel in all the vehicles that are going down, we have a little surprise for our friends down in Tennessee," Berry noted.

Another powerful hurricane is currently churning in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, as Hurricane Milton is expected to strike Florida late Wednesday and into Thursday.

While there are no current plans for any further trips to any relief areas, at this time, for those affected by Helene, Berry says they are monitoring Milton.