More heroes are bringing aid to the victims of Hurricane Helene. With Hurricane Helene destroying communities in rural Appalachia, many citizens desperately need help. The storm caused massive flooding, washing away roads and collapsing bridges into rushing waters below. The heartbreaking result left rural and hard-to-reach communities even further stranded and essentially off the grid. While many country artists, sports organizations, and other individuals have stepped up to donate money, used their aircraft to deliver goods, or organized trucking fleets to deliver items to those in need, the majority of these kinds of acts still do not help those in very isolated parts of Appalachia. Multiple organizations have stepped up to find a way to deliver medical supplies, food, cleaning products, and more to those located in these highly rural areas. And what better way to reach these areas where it feels as though time has paused than with a trusty mode of transportation that was used decades ago? Mules. The Mount Ulla-based Mountain Mule Packer Ranch graciously sent their mules to deliver food, water, and diapers to the hard-to-reach Western parts of North Carolina.
“They call them beasts of burden, we call them our beloved mules. They are capable and willing to work in many conditions most won't. They are not stubborn… they are wise, and require respect.” The owner of Mountain Mule Packer Ranch, Mike Toberer, told the
Associated Press that each mule can carry up to 200 pounds of supplies, and humans ride alongside the mules, clearing blocks so the mules can continue to push through.
“We’ll take our chainsaws, and we’ll push those mules through." While the Mountain Mule Packer Ranch supplied the animals to make these deliveries possible, it also received help from the Cajun Navy 2016, a Louisiana-based search-and-rescue nonprofit that helped coordinate deliveries to those in need. (For those familiar with the Riley Strain story, the Cajun Navy organized search-and-rescue parties
to search for him .) NPR shared footage of Cajun Navy members and Mountain Mule Packer mules delivering insulin to David Neel, a Black Mountain resident whose road was washed out. The video will choke one up because this man needs insulin to remain healthy, and the gratefulness in his voice to see the mules come up to his home is beyond moving.
"One of the first families helped yesterday were in desperate need of insulin, and Mountain Mule Packers was able to get it up this otherwise impassable road!! Thanks for sharing Cajun Navy 2016!" The
Mountain Mule Packer Ranch shared to Facebook. What a good group of people for organizing this delivery. I know that these mules will make many more deliveries that help the victims of Hurricane Helene. I hope this group of mules gets a lot of scratches and treats. https://www.instagram.com/p/DAqzTmgh3lP/
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