Exclusive: FAIRVIEW, N.C. — After Hurricane Helen struck in the early morning hours of September 27, former Asheville Police Department officer Steve Antle immediately responded to the call to help his local community in Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Mr. Antle, his wife, and church members have donated thousands of dollars to help deliver literally truckloads of supplies to remote areas in the mountains on trailers attached to their Hyundais.
“I heard the president say people here have everything they need and they don't,” Antle said Sunday, during a visit to coordinate the delivery of supplies to Spring Mountain Baptist. I saw a Fox news article about it.” church. “Going back many decades, I can’t help but feel that Appalachia has always been getting frivolous.”
Mr. Antle added that the region is “at the beginning of the beginning” in terms of rebuilding what was lost during the Helen era.
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Since Hurricane Helen struck in the early morning hours of September 27, former Asheville Police Department police officer Steve Antle has been delivering supplies and food throughout his hometown of Buncombe County, North Carolina. (Adam Eugene Willis, Fox News Digital)
“In my opinion, this storm completely changed certain areas of our county and our area will never be the same,” Antle said.
For more than two weeks since the storm, Antle has been sharing updates on how donor money is being used, what supplies are needed and where supplies are being delivered.
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For more than two weeks since the storm, Antle has been sharing updates on how donor money is being used, what supplies are needed and where supplies are being delivered. (Adam Eugene Willis, Fox News Digital)
When the storm hit, civilians needed water and food, and first responders needed bee spray and properly fitting boots. As we enter mid-October and nighttime temperatures drop into the low 30s, people need gas, propane, and stoves.
More than 250 people died in seven states during Helen, including 123 in North Carolina. There are still many missing people in those states, but North Carolina authorities estimate that about 92 people remain unaccounted for.
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Mr. Antle, his wife and church members have continued to donate thousands of dollars to truckloads of supplies attached to their Hyundais to remote areas in the mountains. (Adam Eugene Willis, Fox News Digital)
The former police officer, who worked as a delivery driver before the hurricane, estimates he received about $7,000 in donations from friends and strangers, which he used to cover necessities for people in the community. He delivers supplies to local congregations, such as churches, and directly to the elderly and those in inaccessible areas.
Antle is one of many community members in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee who volunteer their time to provide relief efforts.
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Samaritan's Purse volunteers are helping with destruction and debris removal after Hurricane Helen. (Samaritan's Purse)
“We're going to need long-term support…and when I say long-term, I mean years and years. We're just at the start.” he said.
People from both states and other parts of the country have donated money, supplies and even private helicopters and construction equipment, initially supporting search and rescue efforts and now rebuilding devastated communities in hard-to-reach areas. We are supporting.
Some people have used trailers to build temporary bridges to transport supplies to isolated homes after bridges collapsed due to rapid flooding.
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People from North Carolina, Tennessee, and other parts of the country donated money, supplies, and even civilian helicopters and construction equipment to initially support search-and-rescue efforts and now devastated areas in hard-to-reach areas. We are helping communities rebuild. (Adam Eugene Willis, Fox News Digital)
Army and National Guard troops, police officers, sheriff's deputies, volunteers and first responders from across the country are still stationed in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, searching for missing people, rebuilding roads and bridges, clearing debris and mud. Efforts are being made to remove the. out of the building.
Linemen are working 16 to 17 hours a day to help restore power to tens of thousands of people still without electricity in remote areas of the Appalachians.
Neighbors are banding together to help each other, even if they were strangers before the storm.
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Jesse Craig, who lost 11 members of his family in a landslide in Fairview, North Carolina, points to the devastation in the area known as “Craigtown.” (Adam Eugene Willis, Fox News Digital)
Black Mountain Police Chief Steve Parker previously told FOX News Digital that it was “amazing” to see how the community came together after the tragedy.
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“A gentleman said to me the other day, “I didn't know my neighbor at all.'' But he said, “Joe here needs this, Susie here needs this, and the one over there needs this.'' Jake needed this too. And we all got it.” Therefore, they are working together to help each other and are becoming a true community. ”
Some North Carolina towns are encouraging tourists to return during the peak fall travel season in the western part of the state, while others continue efforts to restore water and power to residents.
Please help those affected by Hurricanes Helen and Milton. Your donation allows the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from these disasters. go to redcross.org/foxforward.
