• Shelley Henderson

Daily Update: The Salvation Army of the Carolinas Response to Hurricane Helene

Hendersonville, NC (October 3, 2024)--The Salvation Army’s response is expanding in North and South Carolina as roads become more accessible. Though flood waters are receding, flooding is still a problem in some areas. Debris on the roads, especially secondary roads, is making travel very difficult for both residents and service agencies trying to get in to help. After the storm, over two million customers in North and South Carolina were left without power. Crews from power companies are working tirelessly to restore service, but nearly 650,000 customers remain affected. Unfortunately, in some areas, progress has been slowed as linemen have discovered the bodies of missing residents. Many communities are experiencing water shortages, facing either complete lack of access to clean water or supplies that are unsafe to drink.

The Salvation Army’s Response in the Carolinas:

Buncombe County (Asheville NC Area)
Power has been out in the Asheville/Buncombe County area for almost one week and, in most places, the water has not been restored. Today The Salvation Army has mobile feeding units in Swannanoa, Weaverville, Asheville, and Fletcher, NC, reaching into places where people are hungry for hot food, cold drinks, and hope.

Yesterday, as The Salvation Army arrived at an apartment complex tucked away from the main roads, residents greeted the mobile feeding unit with cheers as food was unloaded. “We thought we had been forgotten,” one resident told Lieutenant Susan Garland, who was serving alongside Dee Hellersperk, a trained emergency disaster services volunteer and Advisory Board member. A line quickly formed to receive hot meals, with many eager faces being children. Lieutenant Garland and Dee began to sing “Jesus Loves Me” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and soon, the entire line joined in. “It felt like church right there on the mountain amid the disaster,” said Lt. Garland. “Some people were hesitant at first, but by the end of the first song, everyone was singing along.”

Hendersonville, NC
The Salvation Army in Hendersonville, North Carolina, has power and is serving meals two times a day at The Salvation Army Corps. Power is being restored, but Henderson County was under a boiled water advisory until October 3.  Through the meal feeding, The Salvation Army has become a community meeting space where people are encouraged to stay, enjoy a warm meal, charge their devices, and find a comfortable space to relax and as word is getting out, more people are coming to The Salvation Army for a hot meal. Churches and volunteers are coming together in Hendersonville to help the feeding effort at the Hendersonville Corps. On Wednesday, Salvation Army Advisory Board members from St. James Episcopal Church treated the community to a hot meal.

A Praise wall has been set up in the community center. Colorful post-it notes, and markers are in the center of every table in the room. Prayers dot the wall under the cross, thanking God for His grace and love.

Haywood County, NC
The Salvation Army is serving a shelter in Haywood County, west of Asheville. Haywood County is the third largest county in North Carolina but is rural, rugged, and sparsely populated. Flooding was especially bad in the Haywood County area, triggering mudslides and washing out roads.

Salvation Army officers Majors Mike and Susan Rodgers were finally set to venture into the community to check on their corps officers. During their visit, they encountered an elderly mother and her daughter who were trapped in their home. They quickly called 911, and a search and rescue team arrived to assist.

McDowell County, NC
The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory and High Country is actively roving in the rural, mountainous regions of McDowell County, North Carolina.

Boone, NC
Immediately after the storm passed, The Salvation Army was requested to open a temporary shelter in the mountain town of Boone, North Carolina, offering shelter, food, and drinks to people displaced by the storm while the county shelter was being established. The temporary shelter has closed, and they are currently working alongside the police and fire departments to provide support by delivering hot meals to people in the community.

Hickory, NC
The Salvation Army is serving meals at The Salvation Army of Hickory and the High Country. Though power is rapidly coming on in the community, hot meals and cold drinks are needed for residents there.

Aiken, SC
The Salvation Army of Aiken, South Carolina, is feeding meals at three locations daily. Power outages are still impacting much of the area, and people cannot cook food. The emergency shelter continues to accommodate those affected, including individuals whose homes were destroyed. Salvation Army case managers are working with residents to help them navigate a way forward.

Yesterday a group of children sang in a nursing home without power where The Salvation Army was delivering meals.

Greenwood, SC
Recognizing that power outages were preventing people from charging their phones, The Salvation Army in Greenwood, South Carolina, responded by opening as a charging station for the community.

Disaster response is an extension of The Salvation Army's everyday mission to meet human needs, offering compassionate care and hope in Jesus Christ during the most challenging times. In the coming days, The Salvation Army will deploy additional mobile feeding units and Emotional and Spiritual Care officers to provide meals, drinks, and desperately needed support to those affected by the storm.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40