On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane … and quickly spread across the Southeastern United States, leaving power outages and destruction in its place.
Then, by Sept. 28, the storm’s heavy rainfall and winds had caused floods throughout North Carolina and East Tennessee … wiping out roads and towns.
The death toll throughout the South continued to rise daily late last month and into early October, as missing persons were found dead — some being washed up on the sides of mountains and others found in trees — while others remained missing as late as Oct. 5.
This catastrophic natural disaster is being compared to Hurricane Katrina, which took the lives of hundreds of people in 2005.
Through the devastation of the last week and a half, surrounding communities of these affected cities are coming together to donate supplies, send rescue helicopters, donate blood and send prayers.
With each passing day, thousands of people are living the more positive embodiment of what it means to be from the South — kindness, grace, hospitality and helping your neighbor.
LENDING A HAND
In Loudon County, the physical effects of the hurricane weren’t as severe as other areas, yet many who have lived through natural disasters in the past or simply loved some of the places that were destroyed have risen to the occasion to lend a helping hand.
Cpl. Christine Walland of the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office didn’t skip a beat when she saw the floods that destroyed Unicoi and Cocke counties in the last week and a half. She immediately asked her supervisor if she could organize a donation drive through the Sheriff’s Office.
Walland secured a tractor-trailer in hopes of securing enough donations to make a quick trip to Cocke County. However, what they received was far greater than anyone could imagine.
“The community has been outstanding,” Walland said. “Absolutely outstanding. They have far exceeded any expectations that I had.
“I got this 53-foot trailer, and I was hoping that we would be able to fill it completely. And, as you can see, we have more than filled it — we have no room left,” she said, gesturing to the stacks and stacks of donations.
Cases of water bottles rose four feet high and mounds of diapers, cleaning supplies and food littered the parking spaces.
ON THE VERGE OF TEARS
Originally from Cocke County and only having moved to Loudon County about two years ago, Walland felt extremely touched by the community’s generosity, perhaps more than anyone else.
“I’m not an emotional person whatsoever and this has overwhelmed me in the best way possible,” she said. “Like I’ve been tearing up, and then hearing people, you know, they talk about (how) they’ve been through catastrophic losses.
“People have lost their homes from house fires and floods and hurricanes, and they have joined together with the rest of the community — bringing all of this stuff in because they know what it’s like to lose everything.
“I’ve been on the verge of tears the last two days. I just … I’m overwhelmed.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office took a fleet of patrol cars, a sprinter van and a trailer full of donations and volunteers to Newport. According to Cpl. Cody Bengel of the LCSO, an old, vacant cinema has been converted into a donation distribution hub for those affected in Cocke County.
While unloading the donations, multiple people with trailers and vans full of donations dropped off while a line formed around the building for people to receive donations, as well.
“We want nothing more than to be able to help our neighbors, and I’ve got no doubt that if we needed it, they’d be there for us,” Bengel said. “It’s very humbling to know that everybody else, for the most part, everybody else shares our same feelings of wanting to help somebody.”
Out-of-state businesses and individuals have contacted LCSO in hopes of sending donations, which have been redirected to local distribution centers set up to receive large donations.
The Sheriff’s Office set up another 53-foot trailer and van on Thursday and Friday for donations and that was to be delivered to Unicoi County early this week.
Bengel, speaking on behalf of the LCSO, expressed gratitude to Total Transportation, TN Valley Winery, Moneymakers Wrecker Service, Ferguson Plumbing Supply, Apodaca Group and Ryder for making these large donations possible.
During the Loudon High School football game on Friday night, Loudon Utility Linemen Nick Dixon, Adam Watson, Taylor Watson, Brody Houston and Jayce Lorenz were recognized during the coin toss.
The utility linemen spent the week since the storm in Bristol — working day and night to restore power to hundreds of homes and businesses.
The Community Church of Tellico Village set up an 18-wheeler in their parking lot last week and collected donations from Thursday, Oct. 3, to Sunday, Oct. 6. This truck was delivered to Erwin, Tenn., on Monday; however, a second truck full of donations will be delivered the week of Oct. 21, according to CCTV Mission Team Leader Nancy Gregg.
The outpouring of love and support from local businesses and residents continues to show how, in the grand scheme of life, the value of a neighbor remains intact with area residents’ willingness to lend a helping hand in times of need.
For more information on how to help and support those affected by Hurricane Helene and the subsequent floods in Tennessee, visit www.tnvoad.org, www.volunteer-united.org and www.cockecountypartnership.com. For information on volunteer opportunities within Western North Carolina, visit www.nc211.org.
