Mules becoming essential to get supplies to communities cut off by Helene

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Tuesday night more than a dozen communities in the Western half of North Carolina remain in the dark or unable to get supplies, but there have been new efforts to try and reach those families through the use of mules.

Mountain Mule Packer Ranch has dispatched close to a dozen mules to the Black Mountain community, where they’ve used to navigate muddy trails and cracked roads.

Michele Toberer, one of the owners of the ranch, said they watched images pour in from the region and decided they could help.

She said he, “felt like he needed to get the places where he knew the mules could get into the other things couldn’t. That’s what he specializes in.”

Tuesday morning video posted by The Cajun Navy 2016 showed how multiple mules from the ranch were used to deliver insulin to families in desperate need.

Toberer said that they “can’t imagine stopping until [they’ve] helped enough.”

Toberer and her team collected donations in Rowan County Tuesday evening delivered from families who have been wanting to help all weekend long.

The supplies will be delivered to the mule crews on Wednesday to be sent out to these unreachable locations.

The ranch has dispatched nine of their mules and have been stationed near Black Mountain, as of Tuesday evening.

They plan to do whatever work they can there and then move to another site which may need help reaching places where machines cannot.

Officials said they would move efforts on Wednesday to the Swannanoa area. “The mule team had a successful day [Tuesday] and they were able to bring mule loads of food and supplies to many residents in Black Mountain. All went smoothly, and the mules and packers are resting for the night! Their plan for tomorrow is to bring supplies, food, and check on residents’ needs in an area towards Swannanoa, where it is believed 30% of the town’s residents are trapped and can’t get out. This will be a busy day for the team, and we pray for their safety and stamina!”

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