The big hurricane thread is focused on upcoming worries, so I wanted to shine to a bright light or two on recovery efforts.
I know many Florida peeps are looking towards Milton, but if you have any feel good recovery bits, post them.
Tony Hancock was passing through Hot Springs on his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail when Hurricane Helene hit. Hancock, who is from Marion, Virginia, has been helping out at the elementary school since efforts first began Sunday, Sept. 29. Hancock was scheduled to do a work-for-stay with Terry Thirion, owner of Gallery339, across the street from the school. Thirion was organizing the Hot Springs Art Trail, which was scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 5.
"They've helped me out more than I've helped them," Hancock said. "This town's been good to me."
"Anyone is welcome here," Stancil said. "We've got groups coming in from Mississippi, Arizona.
The chaos of Helene did not distract Haywood County residents enough for them to bypass group of hungry and stranded travelers Saturday.
A number of truck drivers found themselves stranded at the Pilot fuel station off exit 24 in the Crabtree community. Low on fuel, with Interstate 40 west shut down and power out to most of the region, they couldn’t afford to drive back east in search of another travel center that had power. So they waited.
Some waited for 24 hours — and they were hungry. Though the Pilot was well stocked with food, the staff said they could not sell to the drivers without their electrical system in place, not even on a cash and carry basis.
Several truck drivers started trying to spot motorists who looked like they were locals, offering to pay if they would bring back food.
“We’ve got plenty of cash, we just need to eat,” one driver said.
Enter Mark Sullivan. Sullivan, who lives in Crabtree near Presnell’s Produce, headed to the house for his propane stove, a portable table and some food. He also returned with the bacon donated by a neighbor. Growers donated produce, others donated bread, one motorist provided a stack of paper plates. Others brought chips and sandwich meat for later. Sullivan left his grill and a significant portion of hamburger meat and Ramen noodles for supper.
Sullivan was joined by Perry Karaha, a truck driver, who made pancakes, and Nick Stockton, a student at Western Carolina University as well as two Canadians, Anubhav and Manjet. The improv kitchen crew fed all who needed a meal, from drivers to stranded travelers.
I know many Florida peeps are looking towards Milton, but if you have any feel good recovery bits, post them.
Hot Springs relief efforts 'should be studied' as entire town teams up amid Helene's chaos
"Hot Springs residents are tough," Mayor Abby Norton said, as the town officials have teamed up with school officials in a unified relief effort.
www.citizen-times.com
Tony Hancock was passing through Hot Springs on his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail when Hurricane Helene hit. Hancock, who is from Marion, Virginia, has been helping out at the elementary school since efforts first began Sunday, Sept. 29. Hancock was scheduled to do a work-for-stay with Terry Thirion, owner of Gallery339, across the street from the school. Thirion was organizing the Hot Springs Art Trail, which was scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 5.
"They've helped me out more than I've helped them," Hancock said. "This town's been good to me."
'There's going to be a book written about this town'
Hot Springs Town Board member Wendy Stancil has been at the elementary school assisting with efforts on the ground since Sunday, Sept. 29."Anyone is welcome here," Stancil said. "We've got groups coming in from Mississippi, Arizona.
Stuck on I-40 after storm: Locals step up to feed stranded truckers
The chaos of Helene did not distract Haywood County residents enough for them to bypass group of hungry and stranded travelers Saturday.
www.themountaineer.com
The chaos of Helene did not distract Haywood County residents enough for them to bypass group of hungry and stranded travelers Saturday.
A number of truck drivers found themselves stranded at the Pilot fuel station off exit 24 in the Crabtree community. Low on fuel, with Interstate 40 west shut down and power out to most of the region, they couldn’t afford to drive back east in search of another travel center that had power. So they waited.
Some waited for 24 hours — and they were hungry. Though the Pilot was well stocked with food, the staff said they could not sell to the drivers without their electrical system in place, not even on a cash and carry basis.
Several truck drivers started trying to spot motorists who looked like they were locals, offering to pay if they would bring back food.
“We’ve got plenty of cash, we just need to eat,” one driver said.
Enter Mark Sullivan. Sullivan, who lives in Crabtree near Presnell’s Produce, headed to the house for his propane stove, a portable table and some food. He also returned with the bacon donated by a neighbor. Growers donated produce, others donated bread, one motorist provided a stack of paper plates. Others brought chips and sandwich meat for later. Sullivan left his grill and a significant portion of hamburger meat and Ramen noodles for supper.
Sullivan was joined by Perry Karaha, a truck driver, who made pancakes, and Nick Stockton, a student at Western Carolina University as well as two Canadians, Anubhav and Manjet. The improv kitchen crew fed all who needed a meal, from drivers to stranded travelers.
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