North Carolina's Lava Packer Ranch is lending its “hooves” of support to mountain communities affected by Hurricane Helen, delivering much-needed supplies and first aid.
“It's been a busy morning loading up lots of equipment, supplies and mules for WNC! Thank you for all the kind words, supportive gestures and everyone who works with us and supports us to the fullest. ” Mountain Mule Packer Ranch writes. in a Facebook post.
“We have set up a staging area and plan to begin assisting in the afternoon. Additional supplies will be brought in once mules are in place.”
The group departed for Weaverville, North Carolina, on Sunday, where they were able to unload a large cache of supplies. They then traveled to Montreat on Tuesday. The organization said they also partnered with the Cajun Navy, another private volunteer organization.
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After Hurricane Helen isolated communities in western North Carolina with landslides, flash flooding, and damaged roads, good Samaritans banded together to find creative ways to bring supplies and first aid. (Mountain Mule Packer Ranch)
“Mike and the mule team arrived at the Montreat holding area yesterday and are already helping families in need! They will be in full force on Black Mountain today,” the group wrote.
“One of the first families we helped yesterday was in desperate need of insulin, and the Mountain Mule Packers were able to get it to them through this impassable road!! ” the group wrote.
The group is documenting their journey online and is accepting donations to purchase supplies.
“We would like to thank Five Eleven Livestock Transport for helping us transport mules so we can get more supplies! And we are grateful to be able to support the Cajun Navy 2016 effort as well! The team will be out shopping for more supplies today, and will be restocked tomorrow! ” the group said in an update Tuesday morning.
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A nonprofit organization is using mules to deliver much-needed supplies and aid to North Carolina's mountain communities affected by Hurricane Helen. (Mountain Mule Packer Ranch)
The group said it appreciates the high volume of requests for how people can get supplies, but said mountain conditions have made coordinating supplies difficult.
“I broke my cash register at Walmart!!!! The system wasn't prepared for such a large number of orders so I had to re-scan everything for two transactions… .So we're going to the Food Lion in Cleveland for a little bit. We're a little late, but we're on our way, please wait!!!!,” the group posted in the update.
As of Tuesday evening, at least 160 people had died in six states affected by Hurricane Helen as the search for missing people continued in North Carolina.
Helen was the third deadliest hurricane to hit the continental United States in the past 55 years, surpassed by hurricane katrina 2005 and hurricane camille It was recognized by Fox Weather in 1969.
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Since the worst of the storm Friday morning, local and state officials, as well as local and international volunteer rescue groups such as Boone-based Samaritan's Purse and Louisiana-based Cajun Navy 2016, have been working to deploy personnel. Climb steep mountain passes severely damaged by Helen in western North Carolina. (Samaritan's Purse)
President Biden announced that he would do so. trip I plan to head to the area and visit on Wednesday. ashevilleNorth Carolina, To see the devastation firsthand. Biden also plans to visit Florida and Georgia.
Helen made landfall as a monster in Florida's Big Bend area late Thursday night. Category 4 hurricane and wind 140 miles per hour. It destroyed buildings and toppled trees and power lines across the Southeast.
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As cleanup efforts continue in Western North Carolina, resources are coming in from across the country. us It's flowing into areas that desperately need help.
“Our first responders continue to rescue people and send relief to the mountains,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday. “The challenges are enormous, but our collective response efforts have been and will continue to be massive.”
Fox News Digital's Steven Yablonski and Emilee Speck contributed to this report.
