Posted on 10/10/2024 6:32:54 PM PDT by Libloather
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — When Helene hit the mountains of WNC, it was evident many would need relief supplies quickly. However, as many roads were destroyed, a fleet of volunteer pilots took to the skies, flying them into the Jackson County Airport.
The airport sits atop the mountains at over 2,800 feet; of late, there's been heightened activity.
"In 11 days, we've had 33% of what we would have in a whole year," said airport manager Jim Rowell.
Shortly after Helene hit, he and organizer Crystal Cochran coordinated the arrival of hundreds of private volunteer pilots, who flew in vital supplies for flood victims.
"We just made as many runs as we could per day, and we've been doing that all week. What better way for us to help out," said pilot Daniel Gardner.
"On Friday, I think we had close to 98 planes, and Saturday, we had close to 95 planes...and overall, I think we've had close to 400," Cochran says.
Once word got out, they came from all over.
"North Dakota, Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida. The Pickens County airport has been great," said Cochran.
Once the planes land, an army of volunteers appears, ready to distribute supplies to hard-hit areas.
"As we saw the photos and the videos of the devastation in the greater area, we just wanted to be able to give back," said Brandon Core.
Cochran said the whole community is involved.
"Western's (WCU) basketball team, soccer team, baseball team, kids from area schools. We had a church that took a trailer out to Hendersonville, and they walked everything into Bat Cave," said Cochran.
The non-profit veteran's group, Warrior Clan in Waynesville, moved supplies into Cruso.
"We had a medical plane from Kentucky that calls us daily asking us if there's any need,"...
(Excerpt) Read more at wlos.com ...
FJB
Thank you. I don’t want to lose track of Helene recovery.
Important to remember there's still lots of good people in the country...
They might want to arm their planes for when the feds move against them.
THIS is a great, feel good story.
God bless these pilots and the airport manager who coordinated all of this.
The updates and the rest of the media only talk about Asheville. That’s because Asheville is super liberal and likely to vote for Kamala. You are not hearing about the 90% of north west NC that has been devastated - much worse than Asheville. Neighbors and local churches are helping but FEMA is nowhere to be found.
Amen!
The media will report from where the good hotels with well-stocked bars are.
During the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 there were about 250 people killed on the Thai resort island of Phuket, many vacationing European tourists, and the media flocked there. There were plenty of unscathed hotels and the airport, which can accommodate large jets, was never in jeopardy. The devastation and tragedy of Phuket was played up big time.
Along the east coast of India, which had no good hotels or well stocked bars, ten thousand or more were killed. No news media, though.
They seem to have done some good reporting. I’ve watched a lot of their vids on youtube.
Cruso is outside of Waynesville on 276. 276 from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Waynesville was a beautiful stretch of highway...I recall seeing fields of tomatoes along the road.
The hardest part now is getting the roads and bridges re-built.
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