Hurricane Helene: volunteering in the aftermath
October 23, 2024
Steve & I have always felt drawn to North Carolina. Long before we met (before Arizona was even a thought) Steve attended the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville & often explored sections of the Appalachian Trail outside Hot Springs. His post-hike routine included local food at downtown taverns & soaks in the rejuvenating springs.
Before Arizona Off Grid Solutions was born, I went to school in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains where I hiked & biked to waterfalls by day & studied by the fire in a mountain cabin by night. So when we heard the devastation Hurricane Helene left in its wake, we felt called to help.
Everything seemed to point us toward NC. It just so happened we had driven across the country to visit family in GA as Helene’s waters receaded. We’d randomly decided last minute to drive our 4Runner, meaning we could drive damaged roads and help the reported 75% of residents whose vehicles had been washed away or damaged.
Furthermore, we had blocked extra days at the end of our trip to explore the unknown. As those days appoached we saw a Facebook post from Steve’s dear friends Ken & Amy Kashuba with Mountainside Cabins who, while housing residents in need, had also designated a cabin for volunteers. With the stars seemingly aligned we hugged our family, stocked up on Goodwill work clothes & pushed North to Hot Springs.
Heaviness set in the closer we got to our destination. It had been 2.5 weeks since Hurricane Helene’s wrath but from what we saw, it was tough to imagine there’d been progress. Vehicles, logs, debris, concrete slabs, empty riverfront lots, families in tents… it was surreal to see first hand the devastation we’d seen on the news. But while news coverage seemed to stop, these towns were still destroyed.
The first morning was a bust. We drove from one government volunteer site to the next, chasing rumors & itching to grab a tool. Most areas were still without internet or cell service so while frustrating, the disorganization was understandable. We finally decided to drive ourselves to residential riverfront neighborhoods, get our boots on the ground & just start asking whoever we came across how we could help.
Marshall, NC is where we ended up. This town was one of the most devastated by Hurricane Helene. Our hunt finally ended when we found a 90 year old widow whose riverfront home had severe flood damage. After a disaster like this there are very strict rules about parking or staying in RVs. For 2 weeks she had waited with her family on her front lawn in camp chairs & tents for inspectors to condemn her house so she could apply for aid. But one thing was clear: her floors needed to be ripped out to prep for rebuild.
Carly removing nails from destroyed floorboards
Was Steve excited or what?! After driving around all morning he couldn’t wait to grab a tool. We teamed up with a father & son volunteering from Idaho who, like me, had never demolished before. But Steve’s labor & leadership skills guided us to work as a cohesive team & I even picked up the nickname “Demolition Queen” by the end of the day (tehe).
Steve cutting destroyed floors for removal to prep for rebuild
As the sun set we rolled back to our cabin & washed away the day’s toxic sludge. Over dinner, a strange mix of emotions hit us. Yes, the devastation was horrendous & a lot to take in… but we felt strangely hopeful. This community had put aside their beliefs, be them political or religious, in order to rebuild. One resident put it best:
“The hippies & rednecks are working side by side.”
We felt hopeful because to us, that is the American way.
The next day we hit Steve’s old stomping grounds: downtown Hot Springs. Again & again we heard there was a shortage of skilled laborer & Steve felt inspired to help his favorite haunts get even an inch closer to being back in business.
The missing foundation from flooding at the Spring Creek Hotel in Hot Springs, NC
Once downtown we met David Wagner with the Spring Creek Hotel (soon to be the Scout Hotel) which had been in his family for generations. Check out my INTERVIEW WITH DAVID where he shares his account of Hurricane Helene, the aftermath & how we can help his hotel & community rebuild.
Steve & David Wagner, the owner of the Spring Creek Hotel
While Steve demolished sheet rock & framing to prep a repair on the foundation, I picked up another bizarre nickname cleaning sludge off the next door Spring Creek Tavern’s memorabilia: “The Culture Keeper.” We helped these 2 businesses the next day as well. At the end of our trip we felt overwhelming hope that American citizens can and will set aside their differences for the greater good.
Steve prepping the Spring Creek Hotel for rebuild
Click to donate to REBUILD THE SPRING CREEK HOTEL and to REBUILD HOTSPRINGS. Stay tuned for updated interviews on David’s hotel & the community’s progress.
Cleaned memorabilia from the Spring Creek Tavern