Hearts and Heroes
Helene: Historic Impact and Contributing Factors
By Eric Anderson and Ray Russell
A summary of Hurricane Helene, helping us understand what happened, the sequence of events, and what atmospheric factors contributed to making Helene such a destructive storm in the Southern Appalachians.
A Hero in Bright Red Scrubs
By Madi Cameron
"We’ve heard that times of crisis can bring out both the best and the worst in people. I am blessed to say that I only saw the very best in my teammates and community through all of this" - Stephanie Greer
Dawson Buchanan, South Valley Garden Center
By Tim Gardner
"Mountain people are strong. We’re resilient. And we will do anything for our neighbors because that’s what we’re supposed to do. To see such selflessness come from each member of our communities is incredible." - Dawson Buchanan 20
Junior Singleton Earns Hero Status
By Tim Gardner
"During the events of Hurricane Helene, countless stories have emerged about those who helped others in need, and the story of Junior Singleton is one of them that needs to be shared. Junior is a man who selflessly put his life in danger to save the lives of others." - Casey Adam Young
Burleson Brothers Help Restore Avery
By Tim Gardner
"My brother and I, as well as our employees, are happy we could help others by providing the needed roadwork. Fortunately, we made big-time progress, fixing what could be fixed of them and even finally repaving them. And we’ll keep working on these projects until we get all the roads we’re repairing completely fixed." - Tony Burleson
World Central Kitchen
By Sam Garrett
"It’s not just about food. We show up every day and ask what people need … a hot meal is needed but being there every day is more important." - Jose Andres 14 18 28 30 34
Samaritan’s Purse
By Sherrie Norris
"Many of our staff members and their families were impacted — with power outages and flooded homes; they were dealing with their own disaster and recovery, while at the same, trying to handle their work responsibilities and helping others in their community.” - Shannon Daley
High Country Caregivers
By Sam Garrett
“Many of our clients do not have an abundance of resources; they have a destroyed car, the bridge to their house is destroyed, their first floor [is] flooded, and most of their possessions are ruined. They are overwhelmed." - Jacob Willis
Ashley Galleher, Zionville Ramp Company
By Harley Nefe
“We’ll keep climbing this mountain together. We’re not giving up. And we’ll come out stronger on the other side.” - Ashley Galleher
Watauga County’s First Rescue
By Sherrie Norris
“Risking their own lives, as the water continued to rise, they lifted me up into the canoe and took me on to the ambulance. My life was on the verge of going under, and I had been saved. That’s all I could think about.” - Opal Williams
Charles Hardin, Recovery and Retirement
By Katherine Kim
“The best advice we can give in a small town like this is to keep everyone working together. It sounds simple, but…we have to work together to grow. When we separate out into groups, we fragment. We get so much more done when we have one voice” - Charles Hardin
The Floyd Connection
By Delores Smith
"When it happened I just couldn’t see the light for the trees, let alone dream of what tomorrow would look like. After Bill and his friend cleared away the muck and debris I could finally see that there was definitely a path back to normal, again." - Angela King
App State’s Student Body President
By Sherrie Norris
"It was really hard to find words to express what it was like, to see a place you love and call home torn apart. The air was just thicker and there was truly a feeling of helplessness." - Kathryn Long
Rising Together
As we bring you this issue of High Country Magazine, we are reminded of the incredible strength of the High Country community. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, countless individuals and organizations stepped forward to help those in need, proving once again that this region thrives on compassion and resilience.
This month’s stories spotlight some of the extraordinary volunteers, leaders, and neighbors who worked together during a time of crisis. From the pop-up resource centers across the region to the tireless efforts of local nonprofits, churches, and first responders, these pages are filled with examples of people answering the call to help and show love.
Among the many moments of kindness, we honor the determination of families who donated their time and resources, even as they faced losses themselves. We celebrate local businesses that paused their operations to contribute supplies or lend a hand. We acknowledge the quiet heroes who worked behind the scenes to organize donations, pack supplies, and ensure that aid reached those in need. Together, these efforts made a lasting impact on countless lives across the High Country.
This issue is a testament to both the resilience of our community and the enduring power of connection. It serves as a reminder of what can be accomplished when we combine purpose and compassion. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Whether you’ve donated, volunteered, or simply taken the time to read and reflect, you are part of what makes the High Country such a special place. Together, we move forward, grateful for this community’s strength and the stories that remind us of who we are.
As we ponder these collective acts of service, we also take a moment to honor the life and legacy of Tim Gardner, a beloved journalist and member of our High Country Press family. Tim’s dedication to telling the stories of this region was matched only by his love for the people who called it home. Through his work, he captured the heart of the High Country—its challenges, triumphs, and everyday beauty.
Tim’s storytelling was more than a profession; it was his way of connecting with others and celebrating the richness of life in this community. His words brought us closer, and his absence leaves a void that will never be filled. Yet, his legacy continues to inspire us to listen, to care, and to tell the stories that matter.
For years Tim Gardner asked me to join him in saying, “Go Dawgs” as a salute to his beloved Georgia Bulldogs. It was how he greeted me and how he left. I would always respond by saying, “Hotty Toddy” just to hear his newest joke about Ole Miss. Tim never heard me utter those words, but because it would make him smile … Tim, we love you and miss you. GO DAWGS!
A Public Ation o f
High Country Press Publications
Publisher /editor
Sam Garrett design
Ashley Poore
Advertising d irector
Michelle Harrell
contributing Writers
Eric Anderson
Madi Cameron
Tim Gardner
Katherine Kim
Harley Nefe
Sherrie Norris
Ray Russell
Delores Smith
cover & fe Atured Photogr APher
Addison Rudicile
High Country Magazine is produced by the staff and contributors of High Country Press Publications, which serves Watauga, Avery and Ashe counties of North Carolina.
HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 152, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2262
Copyright © 2024, All rights reserved
ON
THE COVER:
Sam Garrett - Publisher
Sam Garrett with 24 of his friends and neighbors at the American Legion Resource Center in Blowing Rock.
The power of a hug was unmatched when volunteers came together to help those in need.
Photo by Addison Rudicile.
Dedicated to Tim Gardner
The Storms of Life Continue to Hit Hard: Remembering the Life of Tim Gardner
STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS
As we have shared many examples of devastation from Hurricane Helene in this special issue—as well as those of hope, healing, and recovery in its aftermath—we, at High Country Magazine, have been hit with yet another storm.
On Sunday, November 17, we learned that the life of our friend and longtime sports/feature writer, Tim Gardner, had ended suddenly and way too soon; the cause of death was attributed to an apparent heart attack.
Affectionately known simply as “Doughboy” by those who knew him best, Gardner is remembered by many for his kind and quiet, almost shy demeanor, always a smile, and mostly for his never-ending knowledge of and passion for sports.
The youngest of four sons born to (the late) Lee and Grace Gardner, Tim, along with his brothers Gary, Jerry, and Terry, was raised in the southern Avery County community of Ingalls where he lived his entire life.
Having received his formative education at Riverside Elementary, Gardner graduated from Avery County High School in 1984 after which he obtained his associate’s degree from Mayland Community College.
Through the years, he developed a talent for writing, which easily combined with his deep love for everything sports-related. He eventually became a local sports reporter/editor, and worked in various capacities with The Avery Journal, The Mountain Times, The Avery Post, and most recently up until the time of his death, High Country Press.
Lydia Cantrell Hoilman, who with her mother, Bertie Burleson, owned and operated The Avery Post, has fond memories of Gardner. “Tim was very smart and such a talented writer. He worked for us quite a few years,” Hoilman said. “I went all through school with him. Everyone loved Tim; he never met a stranger. He loved his sports teams, but mostly his family. He always wore a smile and will be missed by many of us.”
As we have learned, there was much more behind that smile than many of us ever realized.
Beyond the sports arena, Gardner also wrote many articles and features about individuals, churches, and various organizations. He authored the recently-released book, “The Life and Times of James (Jim) Wood” a memoir about the acclaimed physician and military hero from Johnson City, Tennessee who has a second home in Linville. He also collaborated on other projects, as well, including writing the forward to one of several books by Asheville author, Bob Terrell.
Gardner spent 17 years as assistant to Martin Cook, founder, president, and manager of the well-known Southern Gospel group, The Inspirations, and served as the group’s publicist.
When asked to describe his younger brother, Terry Gardner said with a chuckle, “Well, everybody knew Tim was unique, even eccentric, but he had a passion for writing, for gospel music, for sports, and for people.”
Terry said his brother was “very organized,” and kept everything neatly filed away in actual folders.
He Knew the Game
While maybe not an accomplished athlete himself, Gardner knew all about the game—whatever it might’ve been. Gardner was involved in every sport, whether as a fan on the sidelines rooting for his favorite team, as a young trainer/manager, or later, taking notes for the review to follow.
Gardner has been described by several as “a walking book of stats,” with an uncanny ability to recall games, victories, upsets, and other memorable moments on and off the fields and courts for countless athletes and coaches.
Tim Gardner with his father, Lee Gardner. Photo submitted.
He was an awesome young man and a great guy to know. His passion was sports and he always loved to write about sports. He always did a lot of great, in-depth research for his articles and he knew so much — about the records, who won what, who did this, and all that. I always enjoyed talking with him.
- TOMMY BURLESON
His great love for football, in particular, was evidenced early on through his admiration for the late, great Avery High Coach, Elmer Aldridge.
Aldridge’s son, Mark, remembered that his dad was a mentor, of sorts, to young Gardner.
“Tim practically worshipped the ground my dad walked on,” Aldridge said. “Dad was at Avery from 1970-1984, and Tim always called him before and after the games and interviewed him for numerous news stories.”
As most people who knew Gardner can attest, Aldridge noted, “Tim was a huge Georgia Bulldogs fan. In fact, he was personal friends with Vince Dooley, head football coach and athletics director at the University of Georgia,”
Aldridge added, “Some of our mutual friends went with him one time down there to Georgia and Tim took them right into Dooley’s domain and introduced them.”
Gardner’s only remaining brother, Terry, also told us that Tim’s affiliation with the Dooleys and Georgia football went way beyond that of a regular fan. “Years ago, they wanted him to come down there as an athletic trainer, but he didn’t take the job. He preferred to stay close to home.”
When Georgia and Tennessee were facing off recently, Aldridge said, “I thought of Tim then, not knowing at the time that he wouldn’t be around to ever watch his team again.”
Aldridge also told us that Tim was really proud of his brother, Terry, who was not only a football all-star at Avery High but was the first athlete at Avery High to earn a letter in four sports. Terry was honored not so long ago for his achievements, and Tim was right there by his side.
His Heroes Speak
One of Tim Gardner’s all-time sports heroes, Avery County’s own former basketball professional-turned-county building inspector, Tommy Burleson, shared how Tim was always interested in his career accomplishments, and in sports, overall. “He was an awesome young man and a great guy to know. His passion was sports, and he always loved to write about sports. He always did a lot of great, in-depth research for his articles and he knew so much—about the records, who won what, who did this, and all that. I always enjoyed talking with him. He was supportive of my basketball camps and wrote a lot of articles about them.”
Burleson said he was “crushed” to learn of Gardner’s sudden death.
In his story about Burleson’s retirement in 2022, after 28 years in his local government position, Gardner’s respect for Burleson was evident; he called him “the most famous native in Avery County’s 111-year history, and one of most legendary ever from the North Carolina High Country.”
Gardner cherished a conversation he had at one time with Bobby Knight, the late NCAA basketball coach, a.k.a. “The
General” in which the legend told him, “Thanks for having the balls to report the truth.”
Gardner kept the recording—just in case anyone ever doubted it.
Another of his champions was Avery County native, awardwinning coach, and recent College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Paul Johnson.
Often the subject of Gardner’s headlines with each of his (many) accomplishments, Johnson shared with us, “Tim was a guy who loved sports and was fiercely loyal to the people and the teams he supported. He loved Avery County and everyone from that area who was involved in sports. He was truly one of a kind.”
Johnson added, “Tim was the manager of my football team for the two years that I coached at Avery High, and he stayed in touch with me through most of my coaching career.”
Johnson added that he was appreciative of Gardner’s willingness to keep his hometown informed and that he was saddened to learn of his death.
Tim Gardner, center, his brother, Terry Gardner, right, and Avery High Head Football Coach Ethan Farmer (left), during a 2022 ceremony honoring Terry’s accomplishments as Avery High’s first athlete to receive a letter in four sports. Photo submitted.
We were life-long neighbors and friends, even after our fight in the yard! He was our ‘dough boy’ from Riverside through Avery High. He was our “John Boy” of the class of 1984. It was amazing how he put all those words together and made it into a beautiful article. He could also mimic Coach Autry to a T and had us all falling in the floor with laughter. Our deep conversations in the car to and from school revealed a lot — and no, I won’t tell about all of the loves of his life.
- DIANE BARRIER
What (More) Do You Say About Tim Gardner?
Perhaps Gardner’s best friend, Tim Singleton, said it best: “What do you say about Tim (Doughboy) Gardner? Strongly independent, big-hearted, an exceptional writer who knew so many people. He must’ve interviewed and written about hundreds of people—and thousands of articles.”
The duo loved to talk about current sporting events, Singleton added. “He was very knowledgeable when it came to any sport, and I really believe he could have been a coach, himself.
Singleton said Gardner always asked him if he had read his latest articles. “That was hard not to do, because he always gave me 10 copies,” Singleton said with a grin.
“He was always asking about my family and what we were doing, and I know that he missed his mom and dad a lot. He was very proud of his dad and loved to tell about his accomplishments while in the (military) service. Tim was a loyal son and took care of his parents until they passed.”
Singleton and Gardner met during their freshman year of high school. “He, Waightstill Avery, and I were on the freshman homecoming court. I remember my senior year of football; he was the athletic trainer. I took a hard hit, and he came out on the field and said, ‘Geez Singleton, get up!’”
He was a great friend and will definitely be missed, Singleton concluded. “I still can’t believe he’s gone.”
Back on the Home Front
Sue Young, portrayed by neighbors as a compassionate woman who took a special interest in Tim’s well-being, had difficulty expressing the depth of her sadness over his death. “He was a friend I could count on,” Young shared. “I learned after he died, that he had much earlier turned down a job that would have paid well, in order to take care of his mom and dad. In a way, he looked after me, too. l can honestly say he respected older people. I will truly miss him.”
Diane Barrier, who along with her brother, Avery County Manager, Phillip Barrier, grew up near the Gardner family, shared, “I had no idea that last week would be the last time I would see Tim. We were life-long neighbors and friends, even after our fight in the yard! He was our ‘dough boy’ from Riverside through Avery High. He was our “John Boy” of the class of 1984. It was amazing how he put all those words together and made it into a beautiful article. He could also mimic Coach Autry to a T and had us all falling on the floor with laughter. Our deep conversations in the car to and from school revealed a lot—and no, I won’t tell about all of the loves of his life.”
Barrier and their mutual life-long friend Kim Hoilman Hicks agreed that sports were huge with Gardner, but it wasn’t all that captured his heart. “Friends and family know that his Christian faith was very important to him—and he loved Southern gospel music, especially The Inspirations and The Cathedrals. He never missed an opportunity to attend singing events featuring the likes of these well-known groups, or to write about them, as well as featuring local church happenings.”
Barrier concluded, “I know that the first meeting and hug in heaven was with Jesus, but right after that, was with his mom and dad. He loved them so much. Go rest high, brother. You are finally home.”
Tim definitely left his mark, on and off the field, and in our hearts.
Preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Tim is survived by his brother, Terry Gardner and wife, Della, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends.
A service to honor the memory of Tim Gardner was held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Whites Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Gregg and Rev. Terry Gardner officiating. A private interment followed. t
Tim had a never-ending knowledge of and passion for sports, especially when it came to the Georgia Bulldogs. Photo submitted.
Carolina Gal
By Jan Todd
Dear Santa . . .
Fifty plus years ago when I was a wee child — not long after we settled into our new classrooms at school with new pencil boxes filled with a box of crayons, a bottle of Elmer’s glue, a plastic sharpener and a trusty #2 — the most anticipated delivery would arrive in our mailboxes at home. The Sears “Wish Book” catalog, with over 600 pages of toys and gifts and Christmas magic!
My four siblings and I would eagerly take turns perusing through, turning down page corners in preparation for our letters to Santa. Bikes, Hot Wheels, Walkie Talkies, an Easy Bake Oven and a Barbie Dream House! Such wonders filled our dreams for Christmas morning.
When I was around ten years old, I had my heart set on a minibike — a miniature motorcycle designed for children. Some of the coolest kids in the neighborhood rode around on these things, zipping up and down dirt hills on new home construction sites, tooling around the cul-de-sacs as fast as they could with a 2 horsepower engine. I could see myself joining in, living on the edge of danger and reaching a level of coolness that was always beyond my reach.
Remember, these were the days when seatbelts in cars were usually tucked beneath the seats — if the car had seat belts at all. Kids were let loose to climb trees and play in the woods until dark. We rode down the highway in the back of our grandpa’s pickup truck, slid down metal slides on the playground, roller skated and rode bikes without helmets, jumped on trampolines without safety nets and ate Twinkies. It is a true marvel many of us are still alive today.
Still, I knew a minibike was a long shot for me. As in never, ever, never gonna happen long shot. I knew better than to even
pencil it in for my letter to Santa. I’d get shot down quicker than little Ralphie in his quest for a Red Ryder BB gun.
So . . . I was oh, so clever. I’d just happen to leave the Wish Book on the coffee table, open to the pages with the Sears Cycle. Maybe, just maybe, my parents would walk by and think, “Hmmm, there’s a good idea.”
They didn’t.
I think I got more Barbies that year. Safe, reliable, nevergonna-get-road-rash Barbies.
We had plenty of fun on our non-motorized bicycles, of course. We knew every street in the neighborhood and gravitated to those with the biggest hills where we could speed down, long hair flying in the wind. Sometimes we’d take playing cards from an old deck and fasten them to the wheel frame with wooden clothespins, so they’d hit the spinning spokes and sound like motorcycles when we rode. It was as close as I’d ever come to riding a mini-bike.
Years later, when I became a parent, I understood. I tried to protect my own children from what I perceived as the dangers of the day: the overstimulation from Power Ranger movies, the addictive nature of too many video games, and even the thought of a ride on a 4-wheeler. One Christmas, when my 11-year old son dreamed of a Game Boy, I gave him a globe. I can’t say he was thrilled.
When that same son was in college, we were playing Trivial Pursuit one night. He came up with the correct name of the capital of a little-known country in Africa. “How in the world did you know that?” I asked him, incredulously.
“Mom,” he answered, “When all the other kids were playing with Game Boys, you bought me a globe.” I’ve never been more proud. t
Jan Todd as a young teenager in the 1970s, posing on a friend’s motorbike she’d never, ever be allowed to ride.
Helene: Historic Impact and Contributing Factors
STORY BY ERIC ANDERSON AND RAY RUSSELL
On the evening of September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall along the Florida Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.
From there, Helene moved northward through Georgia, reaching extreme western North Carolina on the morning of the 27th. This placed much of the Southern Appalachians in the stronger right semicircle of the storm, with the degraded eastern eyewall remnant passing over the Southwest North Carolina mountain counties.
But the story in Western North Carolina begins in the three days prior to Helene's landfall. A stationary front brought a soil-saturating Predecessor Rainfall Event that set the stage for catastrophic flooding. These rains and thunderstorms even included an EF1 tornado or two in Watauga County.
Once the precursor rain saturated the soils and filled rivers to the brim, Helene came and delivered a horrible blow Thursday night and Friday morning with intensified rain rates and tropicalstorm-force wind gusts that toppled trees and brought down entire power grids, internet networks, and most cell phone service.
Flooding shattered records from the Great Flood of 1916 in the Southwest North Carolina Mountains while bearing strong likenesses to the August 1940 floods in the Northern North Carolina mountains. And no system in recorded history has produced such a large area of destructive flooding to the Southern Appalachians (stretching from Southwest Virginia to North
Georgia and parts of extreme Eastern Tennessee).
Winds bore similarities to the inland effects of Hurricane Hugo (1989) and Hurricane Ivan (2004). Frequent gusts at lower elevations of 40-50 mph were observed Friday morning. Across the higher elevations, winds gusted at times to hurricane force, with the highest observed wind gust atop Mount Mitchell at 106 mph.
Rainfall in the mountains of 10-20 inches was commonplace. Mount Mitchell recorded nearly 25 inches of rain. Some sections had closer to 30, with an unverified report of 31.33 inches at Busick.
The graphic above shows rain totals from September 21-27. The graphic is a radar estimate, adjusted and corrected by actual rain gauge measurements from the region. Photo courtesy of Ray's Weather.
Helene’s Origin
September 23, 2024 a cluster of showers and thunderstorms in the western Caribbean Sea. This cluster of storms was associated with an organizing tropical low-pressure system. It became Tropical Storm Helene the next day as it moved northward. Helene strengthened rapidly as it moved north through the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. The “fuel” for tropical cyclones is warm ocean water, and Helene was moving through some of the warmest water on the planet in the Western Caribbean and Eastern Gulf of Mexico.
The map above traces the path of the center of Helene. Photo courtesy of Ray's Weather.
Helene’s Approach
Between September 23 and September 26, Western North Carolina was in a moisture fetch hundreds of miles long, connected to Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico. The Predecessor Rainfall Event; this also can be sub-categorized as an Atlantic version of an Atmospheric River.
In addition to the “Atmospheric River” produced by Helene’s counterclockwise flow. Rainfall was enhanced by a stationary front located just to the northwest of the mountain region and by the “lift” created as the strong, southeasterly flow of air was lifted up and over the Blue Ridge and all the Southern Appalachians. You will note that the heaviest rain totals were recorded on the mountain region’s eastern edge— that’s the famous Blue Ridge. Lifting the moisture-rich air over the ridge produced an increase of about 20% to 40% in the rain totals relative to the rest of the mountain region.
However, while devastating damage was everywhere, a significant percentage of this damage was west of the heaviest
The graphic above is from September 23, 2024. It shows a cluster of showers and thunderstorms in the western Caribbean Sea. This cluster of storms was associated with an organizing tropical low-pressure system. It became Tropical Storm Helene the next day as it moved northward. Photo courtesy of Ray's Weather.
rainfall as streams and rivers carried torrents of water through streams and rivers toward the Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys.
Helene and Fujiwhara
Finally, the speed at which Helene moved through the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Southeast was an important factor, making
Helene the worst storm ever in the Southern Appalachians.
A rare (at least in the Atlantic Basin) and interesting phenomena took place over the Southeastern United States called the Fujiwhara Effect.
This is normally associated with two tropical cyclones (e.g. hurricanes or typhoons) that get close enough to each other to rotate around a common center, or for the smaller, satellite feature to rotate into or be absorbed by the larger one.
In this case, it's a hybrid scenario where an upper-level low-pressure system developed over the mid-Mississippi River Valley. A counterclockwise flow around this upper-level feature “slingshotted” Helene northward into extreme SW North Carolina only about 12 hours after landfall in Florida.
Normally, hurricanes lose strength rapidly once the eye is over land. This impressive forward speed allowed Helene to arrive in North Carolina with much more strength than the typical tropical cyclone from the Gulf of Mexico.
Conclusion
We hope this summary of Hurricane Helene helps you understand what happened, the sequence of events, and what atmospheric factors contributed to making Helene such a destructive storm in the Southern Appalachians.
You can find the original stories published in the days leading up to and after Helene’s historic impact at https://raysweather. com/insights. We regularly post stories at this link describing background and details regarding what is happening or has happened in the weather affecting the Southern Appalachians.t
Photo courtesy of Ray's Weather.
A Hero in Bright Red Scrubs
When Hurricane Helene unexpectedly hit the High Country, it felt like the world had turned upside down and inside out. In moments like these, when everything seems to have spiraled out of control, we find ourselves looking for someone to lead and guide the way. Stephanie Greer, President of the Avery Healthcare Market, was just the person— she demonstrated true dedication and love for her employees and community.
As rain from the hurricane poured on the morning of Friday, September 27, Stephanie headed into work, faced with a challenge unlike anything she’d ever seen before. In a matter of minutes, the roads had rapidly become impassable, with water pooling in places she had never thought possible. Roads had become rushing rivers. Mudslides cascaded down the hillsides, blocking roads and isolating neighborhoods and homes. Power outages swept through the area, phone towers were wiped out, and virtually all communication ties with Avery County were severed. Stephanie
We’ve
found herself in the eye of the storm, knowing she needed to make it to work—she needed to be there for her employees. Once she arrived at work, Stephanie’s first priority was to check on the staff who had made it through the worst of the storm. With power outages and lost communication making it difficult to reach those outside, she quickly organized resources to ensure Cannon Memorial Hospital could continue providing care.
During and after the storm, Stephanie expressed genuine concern for her employees and community. Many were facing devastating losses; homes had washed away; vehicles were submerged; belongings and livelihoods were destroyed. Stephanie was right there alongside them, not just in her role as a leader, but as a friend. Stephanie, in her bright red scrubs, sat with her employees, consoled them, hugged them, cried with them, and grieved with them. Stephanie not only cared for her employees but her entire community. With her husband by her side, Stephanie
heard that times of crisis can bring out both the best and the worst in
people. I
am blessed to say that I only saw the very best in my teammates and community through all of this. The operational walls between disciplines, departments, and agencies were completely eliminated as we worked toward the common goal of the common good for this community we serve.
- STEPHANIE GREER
Stephanie Greer and some of her colleagues, ready to serve the High Country. Photo submitted.
personally delivered meals to those in need, including to the local prison and shelters.
When asked about her team, Stephanie said, “We’ve heard that times of crisis can bring out both the best and the worst in people. I am blessed to say that I only saw the very best in my teammates and community through all of this. The operational walls between disciplines, departments, and agencies were completely eliminated as we worked toward the common goal of the common good for this community we serve.”
“I saw our Plant Operations team removing landslide debris with a snowplow so that EMS could access our hospital. I saw people riding UTVs [for] two or more hours to campus because what was left of the highways was too narrow for automobiles. I saw people walking miles to work for the same reason. I saw people move onto our campus with their pets and families because they had nowhere safe to stay and wanted to be available to take care of patients. I saw our nutritional services team provide thousands of meals to employees, shelters, and search and rescue teams with very limited resources,” Stephanie reflects. “We shared the grief of losses and the joys of reunions with loved ones all while working alongside each other. I have so many stories and examples that it would take hours to share everything. But what I will take with me the rest of my life is the seeing firsthand power of the human spirit, the love of community, and the dedication to helping each other.”
We often hear about heroes in movies or books, wearing red capes flapping in the wind, but true heroism is found in people like Stephanie—in bright red scrubs. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a leader like her at UNC Health Appalachian, showing us what it means to lead with compassion, readiness, resilience, and love.
Thank you, Stephanie, for being an inspiration to us all. t
Together, Through the Storm,
One Great Team $428,289 to 264 employees $64,645 for 66 generators for employees 350+ hours of PTO donated to fellow employees 10,850 free hot meals for employees and emergency personnel
To make a secure online donation to support UNC Health Appalachian employees or patients use this QR code or visit apprhs.org/foundation
apprhs.org
From left to right, Stephanie Greer, Dr. Lisa Kaufmann, Dr. Hudson McGinnis, Dr. Deborah Rogers, and Kristy Haynes attending an Incident Command debriefing. Photo submitted.
Dawson Buchanan Provides Zenith Amounts of Aid in Multiple Ways During Hurricane Helene Recovery
STORY BY TIM GARDNER
Dawson Buchanan is a classic example of good being done by good people for Avery County, the rest of the North Carolina High Country, and those from other places who need it.
Since Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, there has been an outpouring of people looking for ways to support those hit hardest by it. Dawson, co-owner of the South Valley Garden Center in the Altamont Community of Avery County (6900 Linville Falls Highway), is among those who have helped in massive manners individually and by turning their businesses into recovery centers to give away needed supplies, provide free meals, and even offer any emotional peer counseling desired.
Dawson is an Avery County native. He was raised in the Pyatte Community and is a 2018 graduate of Avery County High School. He attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Government & Politics. He finished his senior year of college while living and working in Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia). He worked in various political and government posts there. He was raised in the horticulture industry and moved back home to Avery County and opened the garden supply center in 2023 with his family, which includes his parents, Ronald and Andrea, along with his brothers, Tyler, Eli, and Silas.
Our operation has entailed the coordination, receiving, and distribution of donations. In the first week, I sent runners from Roan Mountain, Tennessee to Cashiers, North Carolina. Our business almost immediately became a center resource for Western North Carolina and helped stock other distribution centers before more resources came in seven to ten days after the hurricane.
- DAWSON BUCHANAN
Dawson detailed his hurricane recovery effort help: “Our operation has entailed the coordination, receiving, and distribution of donations. In the first week, I sent runners from Roan Mountain, Tennessee to Cashiers, North Carolina. Our business almost immediately became a center resource for Western North Carolina and helped stock other distribution centers before more resources came in seven to 10 days after the hurricane.
Dawson Buchanan, co-owner of the South Valley Garden Center. Photo courtesy of South Valley Garden Center.
South Valley Garden Center opened in 2023. Photo courtesy of South Valley Garden Center.
“Items that were donated and distributed included food, water, clothing, baby supplies, feminine products, hygiene products, coats, heaters, propane, and camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags, charcoal, grills, and related equipment. Within a day after the hurricane, I began asking outside networks to collect items needed within two to four weeks after the hurricane such as home kits, lumber, tools, and chainsaws. In a natural disaster, it’s so important to think about what’s needed that day and what will be needed in weeks or when that next wave of donations will be coming in.
This operation at the garden center was conducted out of one main warehouse for tractor-trailer donations and a second and third for overflow. We then had a fourth warehouse connected to the primary one that was for organization and sorting. Lastly, we had the front yard usually where the plants we sell were located, and a small corner room where the public could come and get what they needed.
Our country truly showed up for us. The donations we have received have come from all over the county, from as far away as Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida. However, the nurseries that I have bought from and am friends with their owners are the ones that got the ball rolling first. These include Gossett’s Nursery, Buds & Blooms, Greensboro Shrub, Piedmont Carolina, and Mountain Valley Perennials, which are located in Wilkesboro, High Point, and Greensboro, North Carolina areas. It is impossible to truly know how many people were involved in all the donations we received, which amounted to approximately 35-40 tractor-trailers worth. However, it must have been in the thousands. Also, delicious meals were prepared and served at the garden center by various individuals, groups, and businesses. All those who have gotten supplies and meals at my garden center are so appreciative of the tremendous generosity of those who provided them as I am.”
South Valley Garden Center is one of the many businesses that turned into a recovery and distribution center to meet the county’s needs. Photo courtesy of Dawson Buchanan.
Throughout the month of South Valley’s operation as a distribution center, approximately 60-70 volunteers were onsite. Photo courtesy of Dawson Buchanan.
When asked why and how he decided to make South Valley Garden Center a Hurricane Helene Recovery Center for people to obtain free supplies and also meals, Dawson replied: “When the hurricane happened on Thursday, September 26, and into Friday, September 27, I knew it was worse than what I could see from the front porch of my home in Elk Park. I couldn’t get a cellphone signal, so I went out and began driving around on that Friday morning and realized the scope of devastation our county had just endured. I first went to see my immediate family members to make sure they had survived the hurricane, which fortunately they had. I knew so many needed help, and it was and still is my heart’s desire to be part of that help. I wanted to determine who I could get to come into Avery County to help me help those who needed it. So, I left that Friday night, and I had to travel out of the county below Morganton onto Interstate 40 before I finally got a cellphone signal. The first calls I made then were to my nursery suppliers who were also based in North Carolina. They began acting immediately to bring in relief supplies. I also went to South Carolina and while I was there, I made more calls to many business owners and operators in several states to ask them to help me help people in Avery County and others who needed it by providing supplies. By Sunday afternoon, September 29, despite the devastation in most places, I got back into Avery County, got one of our box trailers, and went to get the first full trailer of supplies that I gave away.”
Premade buckets were put together so individuals could have a ‘graband-go’ option for supplies. Photo courtesy of Dawson Buchanan.
“Anytime tragedy strikes, there’s no time to sit and think about what to do—you just need to act and trust that you’ll be fine and rest in the fact that you’re helping others. And so that’s what I did—help my neighbors in ways that I knew I could through massive logistics and operations.
Dawson continued: “Sometimes you’re put in places for a reason, and I think my garden center was created to provide posthurricane help. I was uniquely equipped and positioned to ask the right people at the right time for the materials that were needed, along with having the facilities, machines, trucks, and trailers to handle this task.
“I had the hurricane recovery center effort at the garden center started on September 27 and it remained open until I closed it on October 30. Although it is no longer an active donation distribution site, I’m still working on storing and distributing ‘home kits’ for families that sustained massive damage. Each home kit includes a refrigerator, dishwasher, oven/stove, washer and dryer, as well as kitchen appliances. Considering all supplies and these home kits, I estimate the worth of the items that have or will be given away from the garden center to be more than half a million dollars.”
Indeed, what may be most amazing about the recovery efforts is the massive logistical effort that has been required to keep them going. Coordinating distribution with a team of volunteers can be difficult, but it ran smoothly and in an organized manner at the South Valley Garden Center.
“I thank everyone who has helped make this recovery effort possible,” Dawson said. “There are too many to list. I had my core volunteer staff of 10-12 people, but during the first few days after the hurricane, I had up to 60-70 volunteers onsite. They made this operation flow, and I leaned on them. I’m especially grateful for my parents, my nursery suppliers, and my consistent volunteers who included: Shelby and Vanessa Barrier; Linda, Jessie, and Lindsey Wiseman; Bruce Daniels; Caleb Crawford; Amanda, Manard, Michael, and Mollie McKinney; and Ashley and Patty Poore. Without them, I couldn’t have done what I have to help those in need.”
Dawson shared what he considers his top rewards for helping in the Hurricane Helene recovery efforts: “The personal rewards will always be something I treasure. The first week of the hurricane was beyond surreal for so many people who felt lost and hopeless. However, getting to see them brighten up when they saw the
I knew so many needed help and it was and still is my heart’s desire to be part of that help. I wanted to determine who I could get to come into Avery County to help me help those who needed it. So, I left that Friday night, and I had to travel out of the county below Morganton onto Interstate 40 before I finally got a cellphone signal. The first calls I made then were to my nursery suppliers who were also based in North Carolina. They began acting immediately to bring in relief supplies.
- DAWSON BUCHANAN
Distribution was coordinated and run by a team of volunteers, lead by Buchanan. Photos courtesy of Dawson Buchanan.
donations at my garden center and were told ‘Everything is going to be okay, there’s more on the way’ was well worth it. Whether it was getting someone their first meal in days or just letting your neighbor cry on my shoulder, was tremendously satisfying. There were no politics, personal grievances, demographics shame, or anything else of the sort—just people helping people.”
Nevertheless, Dawson said that the loss of sales his business suffered by extending free groceries and other items to others for more than a month has had negative professional effects. He shared: “South Valley Garden Center has sold a large variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, yard décor, and other items inside the indoor retail area. The shrubs are sourced from all
Donations received at South Valley came from all over the county and from as far away as Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Photos courtesy of Dawson Buchanan.
Mountain people are strong. We’re resilient. And we will do anything for our neighbors because that’s what we’re supposed to do. To see such selflessness come from each member of our communities is incredible. There was no thinking, truly just ‘I see people who need help – let’s help them.’ I think there’s also something to be said about the independent spirit of Appalachian people. We will take care of ourselves and our fellow mountaineers – we always have.
- DAWSON BUCHANAN
over the country, including in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan, and Alabama. Our top products have included specialty materials such as unique conifers and Japanese maples as well as the 8,000 to 10,000 perennials we raised there annually. But unfortunately, the garden center will not be able to recover from not having sales for such a long time and other damages from the hurricane. After much thought and discussion in our family, we have made the difficult decision to not reopen in the spring. We are so sad not to, but due to loss of income, being a newer business, and the struggles that most small businesses share in the economy, our decision was the best for our family.
Sometimes you’re put in place for a reason, and I think my garden center was created for this tragedy. Although the garden center will not be reopening, I was uniquely equipped and positioned to ask the right people at the right time for the material that was needed, along with having the facilities, machines, trucks, and trailers to handle this task as well as getting people to fix meals to give away too at the garden center.”
Dawson offered the following advice that is well worth taking heed to those who have lived through Hurricane Helene and are trying to recover from it as best they can: 1) Permit yourself to grieve, to rest, and to let people help you. You’ve just experienced some level of trauma—whether you lost everything you own or almost nothing, you have still experienced some sort of loss, your emotions are valid, and your need for help could actually be a blessing to someone wanting to assist. 2) In times of natural disaster, take action and ask for forgiveness later. Especially in circumstances where
there is no communication or way to receive direction, you need to act for yourself, your family, and your neighbors. Don’t wait for the green light from the government when there are people’s lives on the line. 3) Don’t be shortsighted and think long-term. It’s easy to only see the needs and devastation in the immediate present, but you have to think about what life is like in two weeks, two months, or two years. Don’t let the chaos restrain your foresight.”
Those who have suffered from the hurricane’s devastation have likely been mulling over what will be the priority on their agendas when we reach our “new normal.” Perhaps Dawson’s advice will reverberate in our hearts following this national emergency.
America has been great since its founding because of the wonderful people who inhabit this land: working folks who love their families, care for their neighbors, protect us, and pray for us. Generally, Avery Countians and others in the High Country have always been generous. And because of the faith, hope, and charity they assert, there is much reason to expect that the effects of Hurricane Helene on them shall pass.
Dawson added: “Mountain people are strong. We’re resilient. And we will do anything for our neighbors because that’s what we’re supposed to do. To see such selflessness come from each member of our communities is incredible. There was no thinking, truly just ‘I see people who need help—let’s help them.’ I think there’s also something to be said about the independent spirit of Appalachian people. We will take care of ourselves and our fellow mountaineers—we always have.” t
The front yard and a corner room in the store were converted into an area where the public could come get the supplies they needed. Photos courtesy of Dawson Buchanan.
Photos by Addison Rudicile.
Avery County’s Junior Singleton Earns Hero Status After Saving Neighbors During Hurricane Helene
STORY BY TIM GARDNER
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, stories of masculine and feminine heroes have emerged and deserve to be publicized. These men and women have demonstrated strength and courage in the face of such horrid adversity. And some have been tagged with the title of “hero,” which Webster defines as a person noted for courageous acts.
75-year-old Hansel Singleton, Jr. of the Frank Community of Avery County has unquestionably earned the label of hero for his acts that saved four of his neighbors on September 27 as Hurricane Helene ripped through the region.
He got John and Lucille Ledford out of their house and to safety right before it completely flooded and a bridge near it became impassable. He then waded in chest-deep water to rescue Terry and Mary Young from their trailer as it was about to be swept away. Unfortunately, the trailer was destroyed.
Junior (the name which he prefers to be called) risked his own life to save the Ledfords and the Youngs from the hurricane’s raging floodwaters at the point in the North Toe River where Squirrel Creek and Licklog roads meet. Junior, the Ledfords, and the Youngs live on the banks of the river. Junior lives on the same side of the road as the Youngs did and across from the Ledfords.
As he watched in horror at what was happening, Junior realized it was then or never. He said: “I was quickly thinking, ‘How do I save them?’ I’m happy I took quick action as there was no time to wait.”
Junior added that he made a “calculated risk,” and without hesitation, he jumped into fast-moving, Helene-swollen waters to save the Youngs and the Ledfords because he “couldn’t watch them possibly die knowing that he might help keep them alive.”
During the events of Hurricane Helene, countless stories have emerged about those who helped others in need, and the story of Junior Singleton is one of them that needs to be shared. Junior is a man who selflessly put his life in danger to save the lives of others. He is the very definition of a good man and a good neighbor, and my family is forever grateful to him for what he did.
- CASEY ADAM YOUNG
Truly, he braved the extremely strong current of the raging river waters to reach the Ledfords and the Youngs. Thankfully, he was able to get them out safely. Also, after rescuing them, he graciously offered his home for them to stay. The Ledfords stayed there for several days until they repaired their home and moved back into it. The Youngs stayed with Junior’s brother-in-law, Jim Pittman, who lives just a short distance from all of them, before moving to Morganton, North Carolina to stay with their daughter in her home. They then relocated to a shelter in Johnson City, Tennessee, where they are currently living, until they can get another trailer or a house on their property.
"I realized how bad the flooding truly was after I got to John and Lucille’s home and the flooding had made
Junior Singleton, with his wife, Donna. Photo submitted.
Terry and Mary Young stand beside their house that was destroyed during Hurricane Helene. Photo submitted.
John and Lucille Ledford. Photo submitted.
things a lot worse when I started to Terry’s and Mary’s trailer and it hit me quickly and like a ton of rocks in making me realize that I might not live to get them out of their trailer and we all three might not make it. But I didn't think of another option except to wade through that water as fast as I could and do all I could to rescue them as I did John and Lucille," Junior declared.
Casey Adam Young of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, whose maternal grandparents are John and Lucille Ledford, said: “During the events of Hurricane Helene, countless stories have emerged about those who helped others in need, and the story of Junior Singleton is one of them that needs to be shared. Junior is a man who selflessly put his life in danger to save the lives of others. He is the very definition of a good man and a good neighbor, and my family is forever grateful to him for what he did.”
Another of Junior's Frank Community neighbors David Pittman echoed Casey Adam Young’s sentiments: "Junior is an elder at Frank Presbyterian who practices what is preached and takes love thy neighbor as thy self for its true meaning. He is a true hero for what he did to save his neighbors during Hurricane Helene."
Junior is an elder at Frank Presbyterian who practices what is preached and takes love thy neighbor as thy self for its true meaning. He is a true hero for what he did to save his neighbors during Hurricane Helene.
- DAVID PITTMAN
All of the North Carolina High Country has been devastated by Hurricane Helene, and the Frank Community is among its hardest hit areas. Residents of this close-knit community have shown remarkable resilience and come together when it mattered most during and in the recovery efforts after the hurricane. The majority of its citizens are lifelong residents with deep generational roots in the mountains of North Carolina. Most do not have flood insurance, as Hurricane Helene was an unprecedented disaster, and many couldn’t afford such insurance anyway.
It will take months, maybe even years, to bring this community back. Those who wish to help financially with its recovery efforts can donate through a GoFundMe account with proceeds going directly to the residents of Frank.
The account was created by descendants of two of the first families—William Marion and Sophia Buchanan and Evan and Mary Polly Hughes—who settled there in the 1800s—and operated by Rebekah Anthony Young, wife of Casey.
Those donations can be made in honor of Junior Singleton through this online link: https://www.facebook.com/ share/v/xEYjzUG3KUgBHB2i/?mibextid=WC7FNe.
As recovery progresses, the communities continue to rely on faith, local volunteers, and the external support of many to rebuild and restore normalcy, while continuing to admire the efforts of the true heroes of the hurricane—people like Junior Singleton. t
Video footage circulated of the moment Junior Singleton waded in chest-deep water to rescue Terry and Mary Young from their trailer as it was about to be swept away.
The Singleton family (from left to right): Junior, his wife, Donna, their daughter, Lorie, and grandsons Cainan, Cole, and Carson. Photo submitted.
Burleson Brothers Help Restore Avery County Roads After Hurricane Helene's Destruction
STORY BY TIM GARDNER
In the weeks since Hurricane Helene devastated the North Carolina High Country, many stories of hope, help, and community have emerged.
As recovery progresses, residents of its communities continue to rely on faith, local volunteers, and external support to rebuild and restore a sense of normality. They will likely continue to do so for months, and perhaps, even years before things get back to how they were before the catastrophe.
Tony and Randy Burleson have played pivotal roles in the Roaring Creek Community of Avery County's relief efforts. Many people in that area still may not have gotten out if it hadn't been for them! Tony owns Burleson Trucking & Grading and Randy owns Randy Burleson Trucking & Grading, both incorporated and headquartered on Roaring Creek. Their father, Ralph, started a trucking and grading business there around 40 years ago, so it’s a second-generation undertaking. Tony and Randy have spearheaded repairs of many damaged or torn-apart roads there post-Helene.
The main paved road and all its side roads were completely washed out during the category four hurricane and many people who live on Roaring Creek were without electricity, telephone (landline and cell), food, medicine and/or medical attention, and other supplies. Functioning roads are still critical to address the immediate needs of communities in Avery County and other rural sections of the High Country, so Burleson Trucking & Grading and Randy Burleson Trucking & Grading quickly came to help their community, using their salvaged grading equipment to help individual citizens and government entities fix main roads and driveways, enabling them to access required supplies and further assistance.
Tony, Randy, and their employees have operated excavators, repairing portions of Roaring Creek Road below landslides and on bridges, while their heavy-duty trucks have scooped up loads of mud, pieces of pavement, and other debris and hauled it away and then hauled back steaming black soil, gravel, and rocks to replace what the flooding waters of Helene washed away.
My brother and I, as well as our employees, are happy we could help others by providing the needed roadwork. Fortunately, we made big-time progress, fixing what could be fixed of them and even finally repaving them. And we’ll keep working on these projects until we get all the roads we’re repairing completely fixed.
-
TONY BURLESON
Randy and Loretta Burleson with their son, Joshua. Photo submitted.
The Tony Burleson Family (Left-to-Right): Zeb Linkous, Jennifer Burleson, Tony Burleson, Jillian Burleson Linkous, and Michael Linkous. Photo submitted.
Their ongoing repair work has covered the main seven-mile stretch of Roaring Creek Road, plus its offshoot roads of Jerrys Creek, Mollies Branch, also called Buggles Branch, and Martins Branch, and many of its residents' driveways and alongside their homes as well as the parking lots of the community’s three churches—Roaring Creek Freewill and Missionary Baptist and The Peoples Church (Holiness).
Tony, Randy, and their employees have also done repairs to Powdermill Creek Road.
Additionally, Tony and his employees have done or are still conducting repairs to other Avery County roads, including Squirrel Creek, Pancake, Licklog, and Prison Camp. Randy and his employees have done or are still doing repairs to other Avery County roads, including Hickory Nut Gap and many others between Newland and Banner Elk. Their repairs have included or presently include any offshoot roads on each as well as to all bridges on them.
“My neighbors love the isolation that goes with living in a deep holler such as is on Roaring Creek and the other roads we’ve repaired,” Tony said. “They love being in small communities. They love being connected through family, friends, and churches. While much progress has been made in many aspects of recovery after the hurricane, there still are various residents of Avery County, as well as in other places still facing a deep threat right now, with a lot of homes uninhabitable, or gone altogether, and roads so torn up that people still can’t safely get to where they need to go. My brother and I, as well as our employees, are happy we could help others by providing the needed roadwork. Fortunately, we made big-time progress, fixing what could be fixed of them and even finally repaving them. And we’ll keep working on these projects until we get all the roads we’re repairing completely fixed.”
“While I hate that the type of work my brother and I do has had to be done and is still needing to be done in some places because of such a horrible happening as Hurricane Helene, I’m blessed to help others out as much as I can,” Randy said. “This storm has rewritten the history books, and it should make us rethink the carrying capacity of streams, creeks, and rivers and how we need to build more infrastructure so our communities
Hurricane Helene destroyed the Randy Burleson Trucking & Grading Company workstation on Roaring Creek Road in Avery County. Photo submitted.
Randy Burleson operating an excavator removing rocks, mud, and other debris in several feet of flooded roadway from Hurricane Helene in the Roaring Creek Community. Photo submitted.
Some of the damaged work equipment and workstation owned by Tony Burleson on both sides of ripped-apart pavement on Roaring Creek Road. Photo submitted.
can withstand storms we have in the future, which might include hurricanes. Who would have ever dreamed in their worst nightmare that a hurricane of this magnitude that dumped more than 30 inches of rain in just over 24 hours, accompanied by 60-mile-perhour winds, and included many people losing their homes, several losing their lives, and making such awful property damages could happen in Avery County and the North Carolina High Country? Unfortunately, it did, and while prayerfully, such a catastrophe or another one similar will never happen here again, it’s always best to be as prepared for something as you possibly can.”
Sadly, Tony and Randy Burleson faced their own business losses estimated to be near, and possibly more than one million dollars for each, during the hurricane when the creek flooded their equipment, work vehicles, and workstation shops. Their lost items included workshops, tools, and related supplies, as well as several heavy-duty dump trucks that were gone in a matter of minutes from raging waters and sudden landslides. Randy had left the shop just five minutes before a landslide, which saved his life. An Amish family from Indiana came down to Roaring Creek and helped him dig belongings out of at least 10 feet of dirt and mud for more than a week.
Unfortunately, Tony and Randy were denied claims for those losses by their insurance companies.
Tony’s wife, the former Jennifer Greene, who serves as secretary of Burleson Trucking & Grading, started a GoFundMe account to help offset the costs of the business losses. She commented: “Hurricane Helene destroyed our family business as it did to so many in the North Carolina mountains of Western NC. My husband lost so much that it takes to run his business, Burleson Trucking & Grading, and he has done so much for so many in our community and in working through the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). This is our whole livelihood. Insurance companies wouldn't allow us insurance on our workstation building because of its location. We only had liability insurance on some of our dump trucks because, as we all know, insurance is expensive and we only had
A workstation owned by Randy Burleson Trucking & Grading collapsed from the flooding caused by over 30 inches of water and high winds of more than 60 miles per hour during a 24 hour span from Hurricane Helene. Photo submitted.
what we could afford. We never dreamed it could all be taken away in one day with such a catastrophic event.
“Hurricanes of this measure aren't heard of in the North Carolina mountains and certainly not to the extent that Helene hit. This has been one of the most challenging times we've faced. We haven't found any resources that will help, so as what seems a last resort, I started the GoFundMe account and many people have been most generous in donating to help our business try to get back to where it was preHurricane Helene.”
Then he spent many days fixing washedout roads and other places. He has been working nonstop since Hurricane Helene, usually seven days a week, despite his personal losses. Please support Randy
numbers: (828) 387-0149 and (828) 3877100.
Truly, Tony and Randy are self-made, blue-collar heroes who have used their work skills and equipment to help their neighbors and family in need. They can also aptly be called heroes as that’s exactly what they are.
Randy and his wife Loretta are salt of the earth kind of people. Randy is known all over Avery and Mitchell counties as a go-to guy who can fix it or has equipment to fix it. He lost almost everything in his equipment shop, all his tools, and most importantly the loss of family and friends to Hurricane Helene! Randy braved the storm to help people in his community.
- PAT ROSS
Those who are interested in donating to this most worthy cause for Tony can do so by logging online to: https://gofund. me/f235c7c7.
A close friend of Randy’s, and his wife, Loretta, Pat Ross, started a GoFundMe Account for him.
She remarked: “Randy and his wife, Loretta, are salt of the earth kind of people. Randy is known all over Avery and Mitchell counties as a go-to guy who can fix it or has equipment to fix it. He lost almost everything in his equipment shop, all his tools, and most importantly, the loss of family and friends to Hurricane Helene! Randy braved the storm to help people in his community. He went out in the raging flood waters to rescue people on his road.
with prayers, kind words, and financial donations to let him know how very much he is appreciated. His insurance company won’t reimburse him for any of the costs of the losses his business sustained, so please give to the Randy Burleson Go Fund Me Page and share it with others! Let's give back to a man who has given so much to his and other communities and help him rebuild his workstation and have the financial means to replenish at least some of the items he lost.”
To donate to Randy’s ultra-needed cause, log online to: https://gofund. me/6112e253.
Tony and Randy can also be contacted by phone or text about providing them with financial donations or for other purposes at these respective phone
“If it weren’t for Tony Burleson, his brother Randy, and their employees, we’d still be cut off from the world. We wouldn’t have our electricity and phone—landline and cell---and our internet services restored for no telling how much longer because we’d still have no roads and bridges, and no repair trucks could get in to restore them. After all, our creeks in the community literally ran through our road, destroying them, and [leaving] many fallen trees and debris. The Burlesons also got much of that mess cleaned up and since the flooding, we have had several medical emergencies, some of which were lifeand-death matters. Without Tony, Randy, and their companies, we would have also lost members of our community, simply because we were cut off. We are eternally thankful for these people and their families as I know everyone in the other communities in which they have helped repair are to them,” said R.C. Hughes who lives on Mollies Branch. t
A stream ran downhill into Roaring Creek after Hurricane Helene flooding. Photo submitted.
An inside look at Tony Burleson’s workshop, flooded by raging waters and landslides. Photo submitted.
Part of a massive hillside on Roaring Creek Road that was washed away during the storm. Photo submitted.
World Central Kitchen Delivers More Than Food After Helene Hits North Carolina
STORY BY SAM GARRETT
During the first few days after Hurricane Helene, Banner Elk and Beech Mountain were only accessible by air. The same day the National Guard evacuated Lees-McRae College students from the area, World Central Kitchen (WCK) transported food into Banner Elk. One of many temporary FAA helicopter landing sites and staging areas for WCK to pick up food and supplies was Davant Field in Blowing Rock.
The word went out that 10-15 volunteers would be needed to quickly load food onto a helicopter; over 20 volunteers showed up.
Chef Jose Andres founded World Central Kitchen in 2010 as a response to the devastation and humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Chef Andres took a few minutes between the two trips from Blowing Rock to sit down and discuss the organization’s efforts in North Carolina.
Chef Andres arrived a few minutes behind schedule and immediately apologized. “We like to be on time. I apologize for being a few minutes late,” said Andres. “As we prepared to leave Asheville, the airspace became restricted because the President had arrived to assess the situation.”
Following the temporary restriction, the WCK crew received approval to proceed. Under normal circumstances, the airspace around Marine 1 is restricted and all other aircraft are grounded. WCK was granted an exception for performing disaster relief work.
It’s not just about food. We show up every day and ask what people need … a hot meal is needed but being there every day is more important.
- JOSE ANDRES
Chef Jose Andres and volunteers in front of the World Central Kitchen chopper at Davant Field in Blowing Rock. Photo by Sam Garrett.
“Today, we will take two trips to drop food in Banner Elk and will deliver around 2,000 hot meals,” said Andres. “Since Saturday, we have delivered around 250,000.”
WGK served locations other than Banner Elk according to Andres. “I was in Burnsville this morning, went down to Asheville, came here to Blowing Rock to pick up food and we are delivering it to Banner Elk,” said Andres. “I have worked with the National Guard all over the country. I have never worked with a better group than the guard up here in North Carolina.”
Andres offered a profound insight into why food is so important for people affected by Hurricane Helene. “It’s not just about food,” said Andres. “We show up every day and ask what people need…a hot meal is needed but being there every day is more important.”
Getting to the disaster zones quickly is important to WCK. “We got to Florida less than eight hours after landfall,” said Andres. “We got to North Carolina less than 14 hours after the storm left.”
Since 2010, World Central Kitchen has provided more than 400 million meals around the world. The organization is currently responding to humanitarian crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, Florida, Israel, Lebanon, and Western North Carolina. t
Chef Jose Andres landed in Blowing Rock to check the food and give volunteers instructions. Photo by Sam Garrett.
Photo by Addison Rudicile.
Samaritan’s Purse, “The Orange Army,” Prevails in the Pathway of Destruction
STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS
Samaritan’s Purse, the international disaster relief agency headquartered in Boone, is known for its rapid response to storms and the devastation they leave behind. Since Helene passed through the organization’s hometown in late September— leaving a wide pathway of destruction practically in its back door—Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteers have been hard at work helping to pick up the pieces.
The relief center at Alliance Bible Fellowship in Boone is just one of the agency’s six response sites that was immediately established to assist families in North Carolina and Florida who were devastated by the historic hurricane.
Sites in nearby Burnsville and Asheville were also quickly organized, as were those in Valdosta, GA., Perry, FL., and Tampa, FL. Operations were also set up a short time later in Charlotte County, FL., along with the other two Florida sites, serving those who were impacted by Hurricane Milton.
Shannon Daley, U.S. Disaster Relief Manager for Samaritan’s Purse, who has been leading the Boone-based response, spoke with us three weeks after Helene had left her mark in the North Carolina mountains.
Representing Samaritan’s Purse, thousands of staff and volunteers were mobilized at the sites, arriving in their signature orange T-shirts, and affectionately referred to as “the orange army.”
“I’ve been out on a lot of disaster relief missions all around the country, but this one (here) is one of the worst I have seen in a long time,” she said.
The situation has been unique, she admitted, as ministry employees and volunteers in the Boone area, especially, were among those personally affected by the hurricane, and/or had relatives with significant damage.
“It has been different, for sure,” Daley said. “Many of our staff members and their families were impacted—with power outages and flooded homes; they were dealing with their own disaster and recovery, while at the same time, trying to handle their work responsibilities and helping others in their community. Plus, roads leading into the headquarters were inaccessible, as well.”
And “deployment” as it was, took on a different feel, this time, too.
A familiar sight around the High Country and beyond in recent weeks as Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteers pray with homeowners following Helene’s destruction.
Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
It has been different, for sure. Many of our staff members and their families were impacted — with power outages and flooded homes; they were dealing with their own disaster and recovery, while at the same, trying to handle their work responsibilities and helping others in their community. Plus, roads leading into the headquarters were inaccessible, as well.
- SHANNON DALEY
“Samaritan’s Purse has eight disaster relief units—stocked with tools and equipment—ready to go at any time,” Daley shared, “six here in North Carolina and one in Texas.”
The units coming to Boone from North Wilkesboro, where they are maintained, were able to reach their destination much sooner, she added, which, along with local connections, enabled the ministry to be up and ready to help local storm victims almost immediately.”
Staff and volunteers went to work quickly in Watauga, Ashe, Avery, and Caldwell counties in North Carolina, and in Johnson County, Tennessee, helping to remove downed trees, tarping roofs, mudding out homes, clearing driveways, culverts, and offering encouragement and consolation, Daley shared.
In those early hours, Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse, said: “Our hearts break for all those who have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. People have lost their homes, roads are washed out, millions are without power, and some have even lost loved ones—so many of our neighbors are hurting. We're thankful that we can respond and help in Jesus’ name. Please pray for these families and for our teams that are working in some of the hardest hit areas across the Southeast.”
Unprecedented Assistance from Home-Base
The organization set up a field hospital unit in the parking lot of Watauga Medical Center in Boone to provide oxygen for patients who had lost power at home; another unit with 20 beds was deployed to Cannon Hospital in Linville. Chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response
A field hospital unit was set up in the parking lot of Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville. Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers, affectionately known as “the orange army,” remove a huge fallen tree from a home in the Boone area following the devastating storm. Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
Many stories were told about volunteers offerning incredible moral and spiritual support to those effected by the storm. Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
Team were also deployed alongside Samaritan’s Purse to provide spiritual relief and comfort to people who were hurting.
On October 4, the agency reported that Samaritan’s Purse had deployed community water filtration systems farther west of the High Country to other hard-hit areas around the Asheville area. Designed by a Samaritan’s Purse team of engineers, each water system was able to provide up to 50,000 liters of clean water daily—enough for 10,000 people.
“These units served as resources to communities, like Swannanoa, where the water pipeline network was destroyed during Hurricane Helene. They will help fill the gap as Buncombe County works to restore essential services such as water.”
Franklin Graham had said the systems were designed for use overseas, “But now the need is in our own backyard.”
In the meantime, Samaritan’s Purse completed
This is unprecedented. It’s a testimony to what can be done when people work together. It’s nothing short of a miracle. We are thankful to God for bringing all of these people and groups together to help those who have been devastated by Helene.
- FRANKLIN GRAHAM
what its office described as “the largest civilian airlift operation in U.S. history,” flying 700,000 pounds of supplies—generators, fuel, all-terrain vehicles, firstaid supplies, food, water, Starlinks, heaters, winter clothing and more— to over 160 hard-hit communities in 17 counties, many of which had been cut off by the floodwaters, mudslides and washed-out roads.
Coordinated through the agency’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), the mission included more than 350 emergency airlift operations made possible by the use of small aircraft from private businesses, individuals, and non-profits, to Black Hawks and Chinooks from the US Army and NC National Guard.
The flights were loaded and dispatched from the small airstrip located near the Samaritan’s Purse campus in Boone.
“This is unprecedented,” said Graham. “It’s a testimony to what can be done when people work together. It’s nothing short of a miracle. We are thankful to God for bringing all of these people and groups together to help those who have been devastated by Helene.”
The ministry’s Information Technology staff installed 83 Starlinks in remote locations to restore communication channels in western North Carolina.
Field hospital units were set up in front of Watauga Medical Center and Cannon Memorial Hospital to provide services for patients in need. Photos courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
The Numbers Speak
At the four week-mark following Helene’s appearance, Samaritan’s Purse had received 10,500-plus requests for assistance over its storm-damaged regions, of which more than 2,800 had been completed with the help of over 29,000 volunteers. And among those,192 known salvation decisions were made.
Daley noted that requests for assistance have come into the headquarters office on a daily basis since the storm hit—and continue to do so.
“Obviously, we can’t do it all, especially if it is unsafe for our volunteers,” she said. “But we take a look at each need, and if it’s within our realm, we will help. We’ve tried to stay on top of all the calls that we have coming in, and it might take time to work through all of the work orders we receive. But, if every caller
At the Boone location alone, the organization received more than 2,800 requests for assistance; 980-plus had been completed by over 13,900 volunteers. And 38 decisions for Christ had been made.
The relief center at Alliance Bible Fellowship in Boone was one of the agency’s six response sites immediately established to assist families. Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
Avery County Communities Among Those Feeling the Love
Reo Griffith, former Avery County Commissioner, and his family, along with numerous friends and neighbors in the devastated Minneapolis community, were among the many local recipients of Samaritan’s Purse assistance following Helene’s visit.
Griffith shared with High Country Magazine that six feet of water came into the basement of his family home, “ruining everything,” he said, “our washer and dryer; the oil furnace that controlled our central heat, family keepsakes—all destroyed.”
The Griffiths sought refuge in their nearby church fellowship hall during the storm, but when they returned home to see the damage, their hearts were broken, and they were at a loss for words.
“But all my family was alive, and I knew we had made it through better than a lot of other people around us who lost everything.”
Griffith has lived in the same house for his entire life, surrounded by Big Horse Creek, which usually flows quietly toward the Toe River. “My grandparents built it in 1941, and I’ve never heard tell or seen anything even come close to what just happened,” he said. “We’ve never had water in our yard before, and this time, it broke over in two different places surrounding our home—part of the four feet of water flowing down Hwy. 19E.”
Of all the items destroyed in the flood, Griffith said
losing their Christmas decorations bothered his family most of all.
“Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s always a big event for us,” he said. “We always love to decorate and bring out our handmade decorations and a lot of sentimental things the kids have made through the years.”
But in the midst of their heartbreak, Samaritan’s Purse gave the Griffith family hope.
“We had a big group of outstanding young volunteers from that organization who came to help us and many others here in Minneapolis,” Griffith said. “We figured it would take days, but in just a few hours, they had completely cleaned out the basement, loaded everything onto a tandem truck, gave us a nice Bible, and prayed with us before they left. We’ll be forever grateful for all they did for us.”
Like many victims left in Helene’s path, the Griffiths do not have a reliable heat source at this time but are hoping to have their system replaced before winter sets in. “We didn’t have flood insurance, so we’re looking at about $10,000 for the furnace alone, that we’ll have to come up with.”
Any contributions would be appreciated and may be mailed to R.B. Griffith, P.O. Box 79, Minneapolis, NC 28652. t
Volunteers represented Samaritan’s Purse well in the Avery County community of Minneapolis. Pictured here at the home of Robert “Reo” and Nancy Griffith, after cleaning out the basement flooded by six feet of water. Photos courtesy of Reo Griffith.
Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
leaves their name and number, they will get a call back.”
“Samaritan’s Purse is thankful for every single volunteer that shows up to help following a disaster,” Daley said. “We always have a need for volunteers.” She added, “Those selfless, compassionate individuals do much more than physical labor. We hear multiple stories about how our volunteers have offered incredible moral and spiritual support,” she said. “We love that our volunteers are willing to invest time into the lives of those they are serving, reminding them not only that they love and care, but also that Jesus Christ does, too.”
In addition to the obvious comfort measures that Samaritan’s Purse has provided, Graham’s celebrity contacts have helped brighten the day on several occasions for storm survivors. Among those who have shown up to help ease the tension and offer support have included: Dr. Phil McGraw, Paula Deen, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, to name a few.
At what point will Samaritan’s Purse pull out of any of the affected areas, we asked? “We’re committed to being here as long as it takes to get the work done,” Daley responded. “We will be here until we’re no longer needed.”
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers have been hard at work helping to pick up the pieces left behind by Hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
In the midst of the muck and mire, occasionally Samaritan’s Purse volunteers enjoy a reprieve, as was the case when celebrity chef Paula Deen arrived at one of their work projects in the area. Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
We hear multiple stories about how our volunteers have offered incredible moral and spiritual support. We love that our volunteers are willing to invest time into the lives of those they are serving, reminding them that not only that they love and care, but also that Jesus Christ does, too.
- SHANNON DALEY
More About Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief
• Samaritan’s Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution.
• In addition to its international relief efforts, Samaritan's Purse mobilizes staff and equipment and enlists thousands of volunteers to provide emergency aid to victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters in the United States. After an initial response, Samaritan’s Purse often stays behind to rebuild and restore houses for families in need.
• The Samaritan's Purse U.S. Disaster Relief team maintains a constant state of readiness—monitoring weather conditions and emerging natural threats around the nation to respond at a moment's notice to help victims of natural disasters.
• Samaritan's Purse maintains a fleet of disaster response vehicles, including eight disaster relief units, each of which also contains a small, built-in office space to serve as local command centers for Samaritan's Purse recovery efforts.
• Across the United States, over 40 Disaster Relief Vehicles, box trucks specially outfitted with tools and equipment, are stationed at partner churches and ready to provide support for Samaritan’s Purse disaster responses in their region.
• In disaster areas, Samaritan's Purse always partners with a local church, where it sets up a command center, mobilizes volunteers, and serves the community in need.
• Once on the ground, Samaritan's Purse assessment teams begin canvassing hard-hit neighborhoods and talking with people in need to let them know help is available.
• Disaster relief teams are made up of staff and volunteers. Many of the volunteers have received classroom and handson training, and they travel across the U.S. with Samaritan’s Purse to help homeowners impacted by natural disasters.
High Country Magazine would like to thank the communications department at Samaritan’s Purse for providing photos and up-to-date information as it became available for this article.
Donations to aid in the ongoing efforts of the ministry to bring hope and healing to those they serve are appreciated. Gifts may be made online or mailed to Samaritan’s Purse, POB 3000 Boone, NC 28607. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org. t
Franklin Graham’s celebrity contacts, such as Paula Dean, helped brighten the day on several occasions for storm survivors. Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers offered incredible moral and spiritual support in a time of need. Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
With the help of over 29,000 volunteers, Samaritan’s Purse was able to respond to thousands of requests for assistance. Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
High Country Caregivers: Kinship Care with a “Whatever it Takes” Resolve
STORY BY SAM GARRETT
Since 2019, Jacob Willis has served as the executive director for High Country Caregivers (HCC). The organization is dedicated to supporting grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Willis came to HCC with over two decades of nonprofit leadership experience. For the most part, over the last five years, his energy has been focused on managing social workers, event management, navigating grandparent’s rights with the courts, working with the organization’s board of directors, and connecting grandparents with resources and opportunities to love their grandkids. On September 27, the vision and mission remained, and the practical application of the organization’s activity transformed.
September 28, 2024 through October 3, 2024
Willis and HCC board members awoke to the realization that the “weather” in the High Country on September 27 was much more than a storm. The word spread late that day with updates
continuing the following day detailing the catastrophic nature of the disaster. The group assembled its list and started reaching out to clients. With 368 caregivers supporting 437 children in Ashe, Avery, Wilkes, Watauga, Yancey, and Mitchell counties, outreach was more complicated than making hundreds of phone calls or sending out a group email.
“Internet was down, cell service was down; if someone had a home phone, those lines were down, and many roads had been destroyed, damaged, or closed,” said Willis. “After a couple of days of calling, we still had close to a hundred families we could not reach and had not heard from.”
The staff at High Country Caregivers, along with members of the board and volunteers, persisted. The new focus was threefold and clear:
Step 1 – Check on the immediate well-being of clients.
Step 2 – Evaluate each family’s situation and identify needs.
Step 3 – Do whatever it takes to meet families’ needs or connect them with people and organizations that can.
The list of 400-plus families to contact quickly shrank to around a dozen and the names that remained lived in areas with no road access, power, or cell service. HCC representatives remained optimistic that they would be able to reach the few families they could not contact and shifted resources toward evaluating and meeting the needs of their clients.
October 3, 2024 through
around Thanksgiving
Very quickly HCC transformed into a food pantry, water drop-off and delivery station, fuel depot, new and used clothing resource, and makeshift store that offered everything in stock for free. Staff and volunteers continued to call clients and drive to the homes of families they could not reach.
“The entire HCC community has stepped up – the staff,
Coach Jerry Moore, board member for High Country Caregivers, out helping with wellness checks after the storm. Photo submitted.
Many of our clients do not have an abundance of resources; they have a destroyed car, the bridge to their house is destroyed, their first floor [is] flooded, and most of their possessions are ruined. They are overwhelmed. We tried to just show up with practical items.
- JACOB WILLIS
the board, our volunteers and the community,” said Willis.
According to Willis, many of the needs were obvious ones, though when people are in unexpected situations, it can be hard to problem-solve.
“Many of our clients do not have an abundance of resources; they have a destroyed car, the bridge to their house is destroyed, their first floor [is] flooded, and most of their possessions are ruined,” said Willis. “They are overwhelmed. We tried to just show up with practical items.”
The items HCC delivered included food, clothes, blankets, propane, generators, and water.
“When your house may be deemed by the government as uninhabitable, everything else in your life seems less important,” said Willis.
With so many other organizations distributing food, clothes, and personal care items, Willis saw a need to provide fuel so folks could heat their homes.
“As we visited our clients and their neighbors, we realized that when it got cold, folks would need a heat source,” said Willis. “Some generous donors provided us with 55-gallon drums and other folks gave us access to propane and diesel fuel. We have delivered fuel to dozens of families that otherwise would not have a source for heat.”
In the weeks immediately following the disaster, people visited the HCC office on Highway 105 in Foscoe almost daily to pick up supplies, and many days, a trailer, pick-up, or SUV left the office to deliver essential items to those without transportation. As they witnessed the large-scale devastation, HCC workers realized many of their clients also needed vehicles and homes. Representatives began searching for modular homes they could receive as donations or purchase affordably.
Since September 27, many nonprofit organizations, including High Country Caregivers, have learned new and creative ways to care for the people they serve. Willis never anticipated that he would be visiting partially destroyed homes to deliver food, water, and dog food, in addition to over 250 gallons of fuel to fill up propane tanks. Willis reflected on the experience with a smile on his face and his speech interrupted at times with his laughter.
“They don’t teach any of this in executive director school,” said Willis.
As the winter months approach, the needs are still growing.
“We need help providing fuel, blankets, coats, vehicles, and modular homes,” said Willis. “If you can help, visit highcountrycaregivers.org.” t
Jacob Willis filling fuel containers in Yancey County.
Photo courtesy of High Country Caregivers.
Volunteers unloading donations at the HCC office on NC-105 in Foscoe. Photo courtesy of High Country Caregivers.
Resilience in Action: Ashley Galleher, Zionville Ramp Company and the State Line Resource Center
ISTORY BY HARLEY NEFE
n the wake of Hurricane Helene, the High Country faced unimaginable challenges. Lives were upended, homes destroyed, and landscapes that once inspired awe became unrecognizable. Yet even in the midst of such devastation, stories of hope and resilience emerged—stories embodied by people like Ashley Galleher and the work being done through the Zionville Ramp Company (ZRC) and the State Line Resource Center (SLRC).
Galleher has become a symbol of determination and selflessness for many. Her commitment to her community shines in her tireless efforts to support neighbors in need. Her words reflect the exhaustion, heartache, and unyielding resolve felt by those on the frontlines:
“There are many moments when I feel like I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel with a toothpick. It’s been 45 days since a hurricane ravaged my community, the homes of my friends and neighbors, our beautiful mountain landscape, and many of our small businesses, and the local economy. Much of the nation has moved on from this once-in-a-lifetime disaster, but we haven’t
forgotten. We’re still here, and we’re not giving up.”
Before Hurricane Helene, Zionville Ramp Company was a hub for the skateboarding community, offering lessons, a welcoming space for skaters to practice, and an opportunity to connect with others who shared their passion. The building resonated with the clatter of skateboard wheels and the energy of young and old skaters alike, making it a cornerstone of community recreation and creativity.
After the storm, the skatepark underwent a transformation. It pivoted from being a space for skating to a base of operations for disaster relief, offering resources and support to a community in crisis by clearing debris and helping families regain access to their properties.
Ashley shared a heartwarming story about a team of volunteers from Nebraska who arrived ready to help.
“When all of this seems like a steep uphill climb in the same mud that still surrounds our mountain home some good ole cornand-steak-fed Nebraska boys show up to work their hearts out for an entire week,” she recalled. “They said to me, ‘We wanted to wait until things had settled a bit, and we could be of the most help, but we didn’t forget about y’all.’”
Ashley further described, “They mucked out a garage and an outbuilding, tackled tree work, built a footbridge, and did
Zionville Ramp Company on a typical day compared to Zionville Ramp Company as they respond to the community’s needs. Photos submitted.
property cleanup. An 80-year-old veteran worked alongside them all day. Days like this restore my soul and make me burst with pride. They remind me why we do this.”
State Line Resource Center: A Lifeline for Two States
At the intersection of North Carolina and Tennessee, the State Line Resource Center emerged as a critical hub for relief efforts. It has been a vital resource for disaster relief, supporting communities on both sides of the state line.
Trade, a small, unincorporated town, has always been a crossroads—a link between communities in western Watauga County, North Carolina, and Johnson County, Tennessee. But the hurricane turned Trade into an isolated enclave. Flooded roads, landslides, and washedout bridges severed connections, leaving residents feeling stranded.
Ashley described the early days after the hurricane as chaotic and uncertain.
“People would hear about open routes, try to go that way, and find out the road was washed out. Communication was by word of mouth because cell service and the internet were down. It was chaos,” she said.
Despite these challenges, the State Line Resource Center managed to organize a remarkable effort to distribute emergency supplies such as food, water, clothing, and tools. Volunteers worked tirelessly, often coordinating deliveries and pickups through improvised networks of information.
As the immediate crisis subsided, the focus of the resource center shifted. The team began addressing long-term needs, such as monetary donations, heaters, generators, and skilled labor to rebuild homes.
“Our team is working hard to communicate what’s really needed. It’s not just about dropping off supplies anymore. It’s about rebuilding lives,” Ashley explained.
Navigating Challenges
The road to recovery has not been without obstacles. Miscommunication about available routes created confusion. Rumors, such as claims that FEMA was confiscating supplies, sowed distrust. And while FEMA provided support, Ashley noted that the response in Tennessee lagged behind North Carolina.
"People may not have fully grasped the extent of the damage because much of it occurred in the hollows of Tennessee," she said. "These are small, remote areas that are harder to reach and less visible."
Additionally, the emotional toll has also been significant. The daily grind of coordinating relief efforts, coupled with the devastation seen across the region, has weighed heavily on Ashley and her team. Still, they press
We’re not quitting or closing up shop. We won’t stop helping people, and we won’t give up on our community no matter how hard it gets. Every day, we wake up and remind ourselves how good it feels to work together.
- ASHLEY GALLEHER
A much-needed rest for some of the many volunteers who showed up to love their community at State Line Resource Center. Photos submitted.
on, driven by the understanding that their work is making a difference.
Despite the obstacles, the High Country has shown incredible resilience. Every act of kindness—whether it’s a neighbor sharing supplies, a business donating materials, or volunteers spending long hours clearing debris—has helped lift the community.
Families who received aid in the early days of the crisis have returned to volunteer, helping others in need. Local businesses have opened their doors to relief efforts, providing space and resources. Even those from outside the region have stepped up, like the Nebraska team whose hard work left a lasting impact.
Ashley’s words capture the spirit of this collective effort:
“We’re not quitting or closing up shop. We won’t stop helping people, and we won’t give up on our community no matter how hard it gets. Every day, we wake up and remind ourselves how good it feels to work together.”
Moving Forward
One of the most pressing challenges is the approaching winter. Many homes remain uninhabitable, and residents are struggling to
Volunteers with the Stateline Resource Center building a walkway for members of the community. Photo submitted.
stay warm as temperatures drop. Ashley has been vocal about the need for continued support.
“Winter is coming, and many people still have unsuitable or heavily damaged homes—or no homes at all. We need heaters, warm clothing, and volunteer labor to make sure people are safe,” she said.
We’ll keep climbing this mountain together. We’re not giving up. And we’ll come out stronger on the other side.
- ASHLEY GALLEHER
The recovery from Hurricane Helene is far from over. Rebuilding homes, repairing roads, and restoring the local economy will take months, if not years. But the work being done by Ashley, the Zionville Ramp Company, and the State Line Resource Center offers a beacon of hope.
For those who want to support the ongoing efforts, there are many ways to help. Donations—whether monetary, in the form of gift cards, or through volunteer labor—are still urgently needed.
The Brittany Robinson Memorial Grant, named for a Watauga County farmer who tragically lost her life in the storm, has also been established to provide additional support to those in need.
As Ashley reminds everyone, the recovery is about more than providing aid—it’s about restoring hope and rebuilding a sense of community.
“We’ll keep climbing this mountain together. We’re not giving up. And we’ll come out stronger on the other side.”
This is the story of resilience in action, a testament to the power of community and the strength of the human spirit. The High Country’s recovery journey is long, but its people are determined to rise again. And thanks to leaders like Ashley Galleher and organizations like ZRC and SLRC, they’re doing just that—one day, one act of kindness at a time. t
Todd Bush Photography
Whether putting up signs or unloading food, every volunteer had a smile on their face at Stateline Resource Center. Photo submitted.
Helene’s First Victim in Watauga County Rescued with Only Minutes to Spare
STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS
Friday, September 27, 2024, began like most other weekday mornings for Opal Williams. Preparing for another day’s work in Environmental Services at Appalachian State University in Boone, she rose early, ate breakfast, bid farewell to her pets, and was on her way. The time was 5 a.m.; leaving home in the dark was nothing unusual.
She knew that heavy rains and winds were in the forecast, related to Hurricane Helene, but at age 74, she had never worried too much about hurricanes hitting the mountains. She recalled remnants of Hurricane Hugo and had heard all her life about the ‘40 flood. But, living on a ridge northeast of Boone, Williams wasn’t too concerned.
“When I started out, things seemed pretty calm,” she recalled. “But as I drove a short distance down Pine Run Road, I didn’t know what to think. It was raining hard; the wind was blowing, and I couldn’t see very well. As I reached the bridge, I started to get nervous. I tried to turn around and head back up the hill, but my vehicle stalled. And there I was.”
At the time, she didn’t realize that the powerful force of the water was moving her car, but she felt helpless as the water began pouring into her floorboard, covering her feet.
“I got scared but had enough sense about me to grab my phone from my pocket and call 911,” she said. “I was afraid my call wouldn’t go through, but thankfully, someone answered and assured me that help was on the way.”
In the meantime, the water continued to rise inside her small SUV.
“I started crying and praying, ‘Dear Jesus, please send help.’”
What seemed like forever, was really not long at all, she later recalled. “The dispatcher stayed on the phone with me the whole time, trying to keep me calm. All of a sudden, as the water was up over my stomach, I saw lights and I cried out, ‘Thank you, Jesus!’”
In the meantime, the Deep Gap Volunteer Fire Department and Watauga County Rescue Squad had been dispatched to assist Williams from the rising flood waters, accompanied by the NC Marine Patrol Swift Water Team, based at the Deep Gap Fire Department.
It was the first emergency response of many to follow that day and in the days ahead.
“Once we arrived on the scene, we pulled on our swift water equipment and waded to the SUV, water up to our waist,” said Watauga Rescue’s Assistant Chief, Garrett Norris, who was the first to reach Williams.
“The flood waters had carried her vehicle downstream, approximately 75 yards from where it entered the flooded roadway, pushing it perpendicular against a light pole along the ditch line.”
Norris recalled how the water had nearly filled the vehicle's interior up to the windows; the flooded vehicle had lost all power; with the doors locked, it was necessary to break the passenger window to gain access to Williams.
By the time the rescue team got to her car, the water had risen to Williams’ chest level.
“When I heard a man’s voice, I knew God had heard my cries
Opal Williams was able to meet some of her heroes and thank them for saving her life three weeks after her harrowing rescue. Pictured from left: Jonathan Greer, Brantley Taylor, Garrett Norris, Kasey Brown, Opal Williams, Jim Ninnis, Emily Ninnis, Brandon Norris and Jamie Dunn. Photo by Sherrie Norris.
Sherry Dollar, left, accompanies her mother, Opal Williams, to revisit the area east of Boone, where floodwaters from Hurricane Helene nearly took her mother’s life. Photo by Sherrie Norris.
and sent help just in time,” she said. “The young man asked if I could swim, and I told him no. They couldn’t get the doors open; I wasn’t sure how they were going to get me out. I remember one saying they would have to bust out my window, and they did; with one on each side of me, they pulled me out of the car. Risking their own lives, as the water continued to rise, they lifted me up into the canoe and took me on to the ambulance. My life was on the verge of going under, and I had been saved. That’s all I could think about.”
Another few minutes and it would probably have been too late, she said, which was later confirmed by her rescuers.
“They kept talking to me; they were absolutely wonderful,” she said. “They offered to take me to the hospital, but I didn’t want to go. I just wanted to go home.”
But that didn’t happen immediately.
“Brantley Taylor, with Deep Gap Fire Department, was there helping save me,” she said. “He goes to church with me at Rutherwood Baptist. He said, ‘Mrs. Opal, you’re going home with me.’ So, that’s where I went until later on that day when he and his sweet wife, Tabitha, took me back. Tabitha washed and dried my clothes and was so good to me.”
At the Taylor house, Brantley told Williams that her story had already made the front page of the Watauga Democrat newspaper/online. I said, “Oh no, you mean I’m a star? And he said,” ‘Yes, ma’am.’”
When I heard a man’s voice, I knew God had heard my cries and sent help just in time. The young man asked if I could swim, and I told him no. They couldn’t get the doors open; I wasn’t sure how they were going to get me out. I remember one saying they would have to bust out my window, and they did; with one on each side of me, they pulled me out of the car. Risking their own lives, as the water continued to rise, they lifted me up into the canoe and took me on to the ambulance. My life was on the verge of going under, and I had been saved. That’s all I could think about.
- OPAL WILLIAMS
Just moments after Opal Williams was rescued on North Pine Run Road between Boone and Deep Gap in the early morning hours of September 27, her car continued to sink into the rising floodwaters. Photo courtesy of Watauga County Rescue Squad.
The NC Marine Patrol Swift Water Team set up base at the Deep Gap Fire Department on September 26, the Thursday before Hurricane Helene made landfall. Photo courtesy of Deep Gap Fire Department.
Williams’ oldest son, Glen Hicks, was the first of her family she notified. “He said, ‘Mom, are you kidding me?’ I said, No, son, I was just rescued from the flooding waters. I almost lost my life.” Her daughter, Sherry Dollar, was out of town and had no cell service, but once she spoke with her mother, she, too, was in disbelief.
Not one to ever miss work, Williams didn’t call into the office until later that morning, but when she did, her supervisor was “very understanding,” she said.
Once Williams returned home, (a threehour journey that normally would take 10 minutes and is a story in itself) she, like most, was without electrical power. “No lights, no phone. No car. No way of going anywhere. But I was alive and that was good enough for me.”
By Sunday morning, reality set in. While sitting there “crying, worried, and praying about everything and everybody else,” she heard a vehicle outside. “I rushed out there and started crying again. It was my son, Glen (and his brother-in-law, Arlie Potter), who had come to take me home with him. I saw so much damage everywhere on the way to his house—it was pitiful. Roads were blocked and bridges were out. Nobody had power for days.”
When her power was restored, Williams returned home. “I was so thankful, but I had lost everything in my two refrigerators and freezers. I’m a diabetic, and [I] have high blood pressure, [and] a pacemaker since 2016, but I tried not to let it get the best of me. It was a rough go for everybody.”
Williams saw stories on Facebook and cried for families who had lost their homes and loved ones and their belongings, she said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Jesus was right there with me, wading that water and bringing those men to save me.”
And about her Bible that was on the back seat of her car?
“I kept praying that I’d be able to get my Bible back. A few days later, I went back down Pine Run Road, wondering if my car was still there. And it was, covered in mud.”
Two passers-by stopped, heard about her Bible, and said they would be back with a shovel to help her.
“Before they got back, two others came along—Adam Stanbery and Jonathon Greer—and Jonathan went down to my car and got my Bible for me. That meant so much. I believe this story will be a good witness to someone about what Jesus did for me. I still cry over it. I can’t help it.”
Life goes on for Opal Williams, the thankful recipient of Helene’s first documented rescue in Watauga County. But it will never be the same again for her, she admits.
She had a few days off from work, while the students were out, but she was ready to go back (October 14), in time for their return to campus.
“Up here on the ridge where I’m at, I can’t really tell when the weather is bad elsewhere,” she said. “But I can promise you one thing, after this, if it comes one snowflake before I retire (hopefully next year, after 23 years), I’m liable to sit right here and not leave.”
She loved her car, but it was replaced soon thereafter.
Up here on the ridge where I’m at, I can’t really tell when the weather is bad elsewhere. But, I can promise you one thing, after this, if it comes one snowflake before I retire (hopefully next year, after 23 years), I’m liable to sit right here and not leave.
- OPAL
WILLIAMS
This mother of three, (Glen Hicks, Sherry Hicks Dollar, and Michael Hicks), grandmother of six, and great-grandmother of four—didn’t ask for much after her life-altering event. But one thing she wanted was to meet her rescuers and thank them for what they did.
And we helped make that happen. On Tuesday, October 30, members of Watauga Country Rescue Squad and Deep Gap Fire Department met Williams and her daughter, Sherry, at the fire department.
“We just had to see them and thank them for what they did for my mother,” Dollar said. “There’s just no words to really tell them what they mean to us.”
At the same time, Williams and some of her rescuers reminisced about that morning. “If her car had been swept to the left toward the river, rather than pushed to the right, up against that pole, the situation would’ve ended much differently,” said Brantley Taylor. “It would have been a recovery, rather than a rescue. There’s no doubt about it.”
Later that morning when the tow truck came to retrieve the vehicle, it wasn’t even visible, Taylor said. “It was underwater, completely covered.”
Taylor said that having life-saving crews on the scene in mere moments was invaluable, as was having backup team members standing by at the fire and rescue bases for assistance.
Taylor, Norris, and all involved agreed that the quick actions by fire, rescue, and state personnel ensured the incident ran smoothly and safely. And for that, they, along with Williams and her family, are very grateful. t
Opal Williams revisits the scene of her rescue on North Pine Run Road, in awe that flood waters carried her car, with her in it, to rest against the utility pole, rather than sweeping it downriver. Photo by Sherrie Norris.
The NC Marine Patrol Swift Water Team accompanied Deep Gap Volunteer Fire Department and Watauga County Rescue Squad to assist Williams. Photo courtesy of Deep Gap Fire Department.
Photos by Addison Rudicile.
Chamber President and CEO Charles Hardin Talks Helene Recovery and Upcoming Retirement
STORY BY KATHERINE KIM
Blowing Rock Chamber President and CEO Charles Hardin never imagined his last few months with the Chamber would be heavy with the weight of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. He had planned to retire from his 20-plus-year career with the Chamber on a high note, but nature had other plans.
While Blowing Rock and much of Boone were spared from Helene’s wrath, the devastation felt in neighboring western counties weighs on Charles’s mind. The Chamber has worked to oversee, organize, and support efforts in Avery County and parts of Mitchell County. This includes supporting donation sites and sponsoring groups that operate donation efforts, including Samaritan’s Purse, which is headquartered in Blowing Rock.
“We’ve been working with our local officials, emergency management, and with news outlets to manage any relief efforts we can,” Charles said. “We volunteer, we help load and unload trucks, and we do whatever we can to help.”
The Chamber assisted in coordinating delivery efforts with World Central Kitchen (WCK), a disaster response organization that brings food to those in need after natural disasters. During the first few weeks after Helene hit, WCK used a local soccer field as a helicopter staging site for incoming food deliveries.
For Charles, retirement left his mind completely in the weeks after Helene. Emergency meetings and calls with other Chambers, state departments, and even the Governor filled each day, and he wanted to be a part of the recovery efforts and support the community as long as he needed to. In his role, responding to a disaster like this is very different than responding to something like the pandemic. He says this disaster was ten times worse than COVID, mainly due to its timing.
When the pandemic hit in mid-March of 2020, businesses were impacted, but because much of the economy is seasonal and relies on visitors in the fall, businesses had time to change their operational plans. Masks could be worn, and people could visit by the time fall rolled around. Helene, however, hit the state right at the start of October, coinciding with the true kickoff of Boone’s seasonal economy.
“October is the biggest month up here, in terms of tourism, which is much of our economy,” Charles said. “These businesses rely on visitors and have to plan financially to get through to the following spring. We have six months of prosperous times, and then six months of slow business. If you don’t store all your nuts in October, it will be tough to get through to spring.”
Charles Hardin after he received a Spirit of Boone award at the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet. Photo submitted.
Charles Hardin presenting a check to help the Middle Fork Greenway project. Photo submitted.
For Charles, this is one of his biggest concerns. He’s been urging businesses to adjust their business models as much as possible and to take advantage of the assistance the Chamber and other services can provide. He suggests business owners and operators look to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for support but urges them to remember that many of these programs are still loans, not grants. Many businesses received SBA loans during COVID-19, so they should consider the financial impact of another loan.
“The next wave of this is economic recovery, and that’s where the Chamber will step in more because those are our businesses out there,” Charles said.
Though Helene is a defining moment in Charles’ career, he hasn’t let the storm change his plans to retire. Even before the storm, the Chamber’s search committee had been preparing to find someone to fill Charles’s shoes. So far, nearly 60 applications have been submitted, and it will take someone special to take the reins for this next chapter.
Charles was named President of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce in 2004, but his journey to becoming Chamber president and CEO didn’t start there. Charles spent many years in the corporate world, at one point managing nearly 45 restaurants and 1,500 employees throughout the United States. But in 1994, he found himself wanting to own and operate his own business, so he and his wife opened a restaurant in Blowing Rock called The Parkway Cafe.
The next wave of this is economic recovery, and that’s where the Chamber will step in more because those are our businesses out there.
- CHARLES HARDIN
“It was a great career move,” Charles said. “We did well. The restaurant was there for 15 years. During that time, we also built our home here and sent our son to college.”
Parkway Cafe served an array of American foods, including homemade soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, and homemade desserts. But during this time, Charles had a building desire to be more involved with the community. He joined the Chamber Board and served in this role for nearly 10 years before finding his way to the title of executive director. In 2017, his title was updated and expanded to “President and CEO” by the Board.
Charles remembers much of his very first day as President and CEO, a cold day in February. He began to look into the infrastructure within the Chamber, working with a much smaller budget and team back then. He says it was “a bit lonely” in the role at first, but over time, he built a stronger support system that would help him and others begin to evolve the Chamber into what it is today.
In his early Chamber years, Charles helped establish a newsletter to help keep the community up-to-date with what was happening within the Chamber. He also spent time recruiting Board members and building a stronger influence within the community. Other changes included the evolution of the Chamber’s role as both the Visitor’s Center and Tourism Office, and in 2017, the Chamber bought the building it now lives in.
“The founder of our Chamber built this house in 1902,” Charles said. “We’ve put a lot of money and work into the building to be a presence in town. It’s the perfect location for the Chamber.”
Some of Charles’s favorite memories include the many events the Chamber has hosted or participated in. One particular memory was at a Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival event. The Chamber had set up a huge tent for the event the next day. It
Charles Hardin and Cathy Barker at the Blowing Rock 4th of July parade. Photo submitted.
Charles and Margaret Hardin enjoying an App State football game. Photo submitted.
Our
businesses work more together than they used to, that’s been one of the things that we’ve really tried to get them to do. To recognize that we’re not competing with each other; our Blowing Rock community competes with communities elsewhere. We all have to work together here.
- CHARLES HARDIN
poured rain all night, and the tent formed a huge bubble of water—gallons and gallons of water—that had to be drained. One swimming pool pump and a crane later, the water was eventually drained out and the tent was fixed.
“That was a real crisis day,” Charles laughed. “We worked as a team and got it done, but it was touch and go.”
Another few favorite memories of Charles’s was when the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce won the “Chamber of the Year” title in both 2016 and 2020, followed by when he was named the North Carolina Chamber Executive of the Year in 2019. He also shared how much pride he felt when he was awarded the Dan Meyer Community Partnership Award by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce in September of this year.
“It was a high point for me to be recognized that way, across counties,” Charles said.
Charles feels that he’s grown during his time in this role, but so has the community around him. In particular, he sees businesses working together as one in ways he didn’t see in his early days.
“Our businesses work more together than they used to, that’s been one of the things that we’ve really tried to get them to do,” Charles said. “To recognize that we’re not competing with each other; our Blowing Rock community competes with communities elsewhere. We all have to work together here.”
Other highlights include working to build the Village Foundation and coordinating town events like Art in the Park, Symphony by the Lake, Winterfest, and more. But one of his biggest accomplishments over the past two decades is the foundation of the Economic Development Council. It works in tandem with the Village Foundation, looking at the community's needs to improve business. It helps raise funds to complete local projects or meet the needs of the community where it can.
“It’s a bit of a complicated process, but I can say that’s one of the things I helped to set up,” Charles said.
He also discussed how the community at large has changed during his time with the Chamber, saying though the population in
Charles and his son Andrew enjoying an App State football game at the Rock. Photo submitted.
Blowing Rock hasn’t grown as much as people might think, the businesses in town have been crucial to the rise in visitor numbers over the years.
“As far as population growth year-round, it’s about the same,” Charles said. “What we’re seeing—more hotels and visitors—is what came out of COVID: two or three years of extremely great business. People saw [the mountains] as a safe place from COVID,
and they came here seeking safety from the city.”
After the first year of COVID, people had the bug to travel, but they didn’t feel safe enough to get on planes just yet. Tourism has cooled down in the four years since the pandemic began, but Charles says it’s still better than it was before COVID. The Blowing Rock area only has about 1300 year-round residents, but that number swells to 8000 with seasonal residents and an
Charles Hardin speaking at the tree dedication in memory of Kent Tarbutton at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. Photo Submitted.
Charles and Margaret Hardin enjoying an event. Photo submitted.
additional 2000 more on weekends during peak tourism months.
From supporting businesses in Blowing Rock to advocating for project funding and organizing town events, there’s a lot to be done by the Chamber President and CEO. Charles offered some advice for the next person in this role, and to community leaders in general:
“The best advice we can give in a small town like this is to keep everyone working together,” Charles said. “It sounds simple,
The best advice we can give in a small town like this is to keep everyone working together. It sounds simple, but…we have to work together to grow. When we separate out into groups, we fragment. We get so much more done when we have one voice.
- CHARLES HARDIN
but…we have to work together to grow. When we separate out into groups, we fragment. We get so much more done when we have one voice.”
After he retires in December, Charles says he has no plans to disappear. He lives two blocks from the office, and he will be here to support the community and Chamber in a consultantstyle role. He will remain involved in many areas of the Chamber, taking on the title of President of the Village Foundation come January and continuing to help with yearly events. He is also excited to become the President of the Rotary Club starting next July, a role he has wanted to be in but couldn’t do while he served in his current position.
“My other plans are hopefully to play a little more golf,” Charles laughed.
As luck would have it, his wife plans to retire on the same day from a career
Charles at a Shred-It event encouraging folks to safely dispose of confidential documents. Photo submitted.
Charles Hardin and his grandson Charlie from a trip to Tweetsie. Photo submitted.
as an administrator at Appalachian State University. It’s safe to say that celebration ensues, with plans to do a little traveling to visit their son who lives in Atlanta. Charles is excited also to have more time to garden and volunteer with his church.
Overall, Charles feels blessed to have served in this role for 21 years. He feels like he’s come full circle, from having his business in Blowing Rock to being involved with the Chamber and now retiring from the role. He emphasized that his success was not a solo effort; he couldn’t have done it without the wonderful volunteers, Board members, and community support he has always had.
“I want to make sure that everybody understands this is not one person, this is a community,” he said. “Anybody in a leadership role like this stands on the shoulders of other leaders. We have had unbelievable volunteers [and Board members] that I have leaned on.”
Reflecting on his time, Charles added one last notion of thanks. “I always look at the Chamber of Commerce in a community as a kind of glue that binds everybody together. I am extremely thankful for having had the opportunity to help shape Blowing Rock’s future here.” t
The Floyd Connection
STORY BY DOLORES SMITH
On the evening of September 27, Bill St. Pierre sat in his home in Floyd, VA, transfixed by what he was watching unfold on the television screen in front of him—what appeared to look and feel like the imminent destruction of an enormous piece of his neighboring state of North Carolina.
Across town, on the other side of Floyd, Sam Calhoun, someone with deep ties to the High Country, also watched in horror as the wind, rain, and mud threatened to devastate huge swaths of Western North Carolina.
As it happened, Sam Calhoun, whose profession is organizing and producing, and Bill St. Pierre, whose profession is moving earth, are friends and professional colleagues, and the collaboration that ensued helped to feed, clothe, warm, and provide safety and comfort to untold numbers of Western North Carolina residents.
The first High Country resident that Bill St. Pierre was made aware of who needed help was Angela King. “I went to Angela’s home over off Deerfield and cleared all of the mud that had pushed through her carport and all the way up her kitchen door and steps, and then into the house. But to be honest, although I knew that I could excavate the mud, trees,
and debris, I still thought, ‘This house is a total knockdown.’“ Bill and his colleague, Matthew Thomas, got to work clearing the muck and debris and in about two hours they had cleared the home’s exterior of the damage nature had wrought. Yet, he still left the home with a heavy heart, feeling that the rest of the damage to the home was beyond repair.
When the storm struck, Angela could not get over the shock of the extent of the damage and destruction to her property. “When it happened, I just couldn’t see the light for the trees, let alone dream of what tomorrow would look like. After Bill and his friend cleared away the muck and debris, I could finally see that there was definitely a path back to normal, again,” she said.
Today, the King family's home stands as a testament to what can be accomplished through the extraordinary efforts of neighbors and community, which also included the help of Samaritan’s Purse, Acts of Mercy, Jay Adams of Eaglewood Construction (who handled interior mud removal) and numerous other local volunteer organizations who provided support to the effort.
Kerry Hines's family home, and that of her nearby in-laws, suffered extensive damage to the grounds. The
The carport at the King family's home after Helene. Photo submitted.
Sam Calhoun and Eric Rogan strategizing a delivery route and donation pick up. Photo submitted.
The carport after following St Pierre’s and others' restoration efforts. Photo submitted.
When it happened I just couldn’t see the light for the trees, let alone dream of what tomorrow would look like. After Bill and his friend cleared away the muck and debris I could finally see that there was definitely a path back to normal, again.
- ANGELA KING
driveway became impassable and with a young baby at home, access to the road was not optional. While she and her family were able to stay at a local hotel that provided complimentary rooms to the relief volunteers, and to some affected residents, the driveway and roadway to both properties clearly needed repair. And these two families were two of the first to benefit from Bill’s efforts. “I was so grateful and surprised when someone reached out to me and told me that help was on the way if we needed it, and I told her that we did and that we very much appreciated it!”
Over six weeks, Sam and his colleagues organized and delivered over 15,000 pounds of relief supplies to North Carolina’s High Country, including scarce and precious commodities such as kerosene, chain saws, and heating equipment, along with non-perishable foods, diapers, clothing, and even children’s toys and games, at times making two and three trips in one day from Floyd to Banner Elk and Boone, and back. Sam
recently returned November 8-9, bringing additional supplies and providing cleanup.
Bill has also returned repeatedly, including as recently as press time for this story, shoring up residents’ driveways, retaining walls, and creek banks, providing hope to so many, along with the comfort of knowing that things can be, and will be “OK” again.
Many if not most recipients of the help received from these two professional colleagues and friends, may not have realized, and may never know, or become aware that Bill St. Pierre and Sam Calhoun, along with their colleagues volunteered 100% of their time and effort. And as far as Sam, Bill, and the other volunteers are concerned, that’s just fine, because what’s important to them is seeing the light in someone’s eyes when they realize that the road to recovery will now be just a little bit easier and maybe a lot less stressful. When asked what motivated them to react with such enthusiasm Sam Calhoun replied, “We didn’t think twice. How could anyone
in a position to help think twice? These are my people.” And as for Bill’s newfound love of the High Country, he remarked, “These are my people now, too. And they are some really, really great people.” t
UNSAFE notice posted on the King’s family home. Photo submitted.
One of numerous loads collected and delivered to North Carolina. Photo submitted.
Chainsaws and other supplies delivered for first responders. Photo submitted.
Photos by Addison Rudicile.
App State’s Student Body President: No Stranger to Storms, but Devastated by Helene’s Impact
Kathryn Long, student body president of Appalachian State University, is no stranger to storms and the devastation they can leave behind. Having grown up in Eastern North Carolina, she has been in the midst of fierce storms and worked in disaster relief after Hurricane Florence struck in September 2018.
“I remember helping prepare over a thousand plates of food to hand out, many delivered by boats, and sleeping in our cars while we offered our cots to those who had been displaced,” Long recalls. “I remember thinking how devastating it was to watch people cry over their homes and families and how grateful I was to have a home, food, and water.”
When Hurricane Helene hit the High Country on September 27, 2024, Long saw things from a different perspective—and she shared with us how not only she but also her peers and ASU in general, navigated the storm, the university’s closure, along with the related challenges and ultimately, the return to life in a “new normal.”
A native of Northampton County, Long is a senior at App State, majoring in communication sciences and disorders, with a minor in American sign language. Student body president since April, Long has the responsibility for advocating for the student body to upper administration through relationship-building and active engagement. She serves as the student representative on the Board of Trustees, and this year, also on the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee.
According to Long, before Helene approached the area, the App State family began receiving messages from the office of
STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS
Interim Chancellor, Heather Norris—texts, emails, and phone calls about the storm, flash flood warnings, and curfew updates through the App State Alert System. And those messages continued throughout the storm, and long afterward.
“On Thursday, many of us were thinking that the storm wasn’t going to be bad,” Long recalls. “We thought we were just going to be out for a couple of days. But, as the alerts started to come in, I began to think that it could be devastating.”
Long was able to go out after the storm and onto the campus on Saturday. “It was really hard to find words to express what it was like, to see a place you love, and call home torn apart. The air was just thicker and there
It was really hard to find words to express what it was like to see a place you love and call home torn apart. The air was just thicker and there was truly a feeling of helplessness.
- KATHRYN LONG
App State’s Student Body President Kathryn Long said in her four years in Boone, she has never seen the community and students be as close and supportive of one another as they have been since Helene. Photo submitted.
An aerial image of Edwin-Duncan Hall on App State’s campus, which is currently under renovation. Construction equipment was damaged by the hurricane. Photo by Wes Craig, courtesy of Appalachian State University.
was truly a feeling of helplessness,” she said.
Because she did not have cell service, she wasn’t aware of the extent of the damage for several days. She never imagined that something like Helene would happen here in these mountains.
“I knew a thing or two about hurricanes, but until you experience it for yourself, you don’t really know,” she said. “I expected a lot of rain, but I didn’t think about landslides, sinkholes, and mudslides.”
While she didn’t experience personal damage and loss, she certainly has empathy for those who did. “Some faculty, staff, and students lost a lot; some had damage to their homes and apartments and were displaced—and some, like me, came out OK.”
As most students did, Long left town, driving five hours to her home on Monday after the storm; wanting to “do something” she returned on Saturday.
“I think the hardest part was that the [rest of the] world kept going, while ours kind of stopped,” she shares. “When classes were canceled, I immediately thought about COVID and convinced myself that I would be fine out of school because I had a similar experience four years ago.”
But, she added, the problem this time, was the fact that it was “just us.”
“At home, my family still went about their daily activities. I didn’t have any motivation to do anything and just felt paralyzed by the unknown—wondering if my friends and professors were OK, what the future was going to look like, things like that.”
Long shared that, like many others in the area, a lot of students have struggled with survivor’s guilt.
“Why was I so lucky to be OK, when so many people lost everything?” she asked herself. She doesn’t have an answer.
“Since the storm, every day I wake up more grateful than the day before,” Long said. “I appreciate the little things more. I ask my professors and peers how they are doing more often; I have been holding more of my meetings outside; I have gone to Caldwell Community College to watch the sunset more in these last
few weeks than I ever have in my time at Appalachian—and I just appreciate living in Western North Carolina so much more now than I did before Helene.”
It warms her heart, Long acknowledges, that App State, as a whole, has been helpful to not only its family but also to the community in general.
Counseling, always available on campus, Long said, was even more present at the Disaster Relief Hub to help students, faculty, and staff at their most vulnerable state.
“I’ve been able to talk with many of them through the process and am glad that many needs are being met through the state disaster relief fund, related to damages, lost wages, etc.,” she said.
“The campus dining hall served free meals to anyone who needed them for several weeks; a water pickup was available in the library circle on campus, and the Red Cross was stationed in the Holmes Convention Center, which served as a community shelter with supplies.”
Beyond working in the Disaster Relief Hub, Long also helped in the dining hall, sweeping floors and washing dishes.
Her past experience with disaster relief keeps coming to mind, she admits, and the gratitude she felt at that time for home, food, and water.
“Today, I feel that same gratefulness, but even more,” she shared. “There are no words to express what this community has endured and what more is to come. There are no words to express what it feels like to see your friends, teachers, and mentors in line for food and be able to hug them. There are no words to express what it feels like to wash dishes at your college dining hall, six years after you did the same on a mission trip. There are no words to express what it is like to watch hurting people try to support other hurting people. And there are no words to describe what it feels like to know that in the midst of chaos, the Lord is still faithful.”
When asked about the surrounding community and its response, Long didn’t hesitate. “For a long time, I have felt that the relationship between locals and students has always been a
Kathryn Long spent much of her time helping around campus while classes were cancelled due to damage from Helene. Photo courtesy of Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds, Appalachian State University.
This legendary location on campus, and a local venue for special events through the years enjoyed by many, definitely felt the brunt of the storm. Photo by Chase Reynolds.
I am in awe of this community and how we lift each other up. I am blessed to call Boone my home. Thank you, Boone, for making me the woman I am. I promise to do everything in my power to give back just a fraction of what you have given me.
- KATHRYN LONG
Long said Norris’s efforts were particularly evident in her emails about consulting with the town and county regarding decisions to return to class. “I had faith that the right decisions would be made.”
She continued, “In my four years here, I have never seen the community and students be so close and supportive of one another. Our emotions across campus were mixed, but to be able to see everyone and know they were OK was so helpful.”
She added, “I hate that it takes something like a hurricane to make improvements to this relationship, but I hope that the overall sense of compassion and community is something that is maintained for the years to come.”
little strained, but under the leadership of Interim Chancellor Norris, I feel that that relationship is improving and more of the town officials are having a say in the decision-making process.”
Long was interviewed by several news outlets, including WRAL, on her first day back in class. “I had no idea how it was going to look coming back,” Long acknowledged. “A ton of different perspectives and opinions were out there, but I felt that the UNC System and Heather Norris would make the best decision for us all. Knowing that we all went through some pretty devastating events, and to be back on campus and resume (almost) normal activity as quickly as we did, for me personally, has been incredible. There's a peace that is hard to describe. It's nice to be back together, to share stories, as well and work together to settle back into our routines.”
And about that first home football game and victory against Georgia Southern on October 26? “It is my hope that it helped to further unite App State and our community,” she said. “Nothing compares to an App State football game in Boone. I felt that it was good for our local businesses, since October is the busiest month for tourists, and the storm had such an effect on small businesses. It was my hope that fans came, supported locally, and went back home. I think they did, plus we won!”
Early on, Long shared her thoughts on social media and said they remain the same today: “My heart goes out to everyone in this community and WNC, from students to locals and everyone in between. We have a long way to go, but if there is one thing I have learned in my four years here, it is that the people of Appalachia are resilient, hard workers.”
Long surmised, “I am in awe of this community and how we lift each other up. I am blessed to call Boone my home. Thank you, Boone, for making me the woman I am. I promise to do everything in my power to give back just a fraction of what you have given me.” t
Volunteers are pictured at College Circle on App State’s Boone campus, distributing cases of bottled water to campus and local community members impacted by Hurricane Helene. Photo by Chase Reynolds, courtesy of Appalachian State University.
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In Memory of Those We Lost …
We Will Endure
ANONYMOUS
In the quiet where shadows fall, We stand alone, yet still we call. The winds may howl, the earth may shake, But hearts still beat, and souls awake.
For in the ache, there's space to grow, Through every tear, through every woe. The past may linger, soft and near, But strength is born from facing fear.
We rise like dawn from darkest night, Each step a whisper of our fight. Though loss may bruise, we learn to heal, And in the breaking, we are real.
Through every storm, we will endure, For in our scars, we find the pure. t
Photo by Addison Rudicile.
