Hurrican Helene

Hurricane Helene brought widespread devastation as it swept through the region, unleashing torrential rains and powerful winds that triggered catastrophic flooding. The storm, initially feared for its hurricane-force winds, quickly became even more dangerous as relentless downpours overwhelmed rivers, drainage systems, and communities. Roads were submerged, homes were destroyed, and thousands of residents were forced to evacuate in search of safety. Emergency services struggled to keep up with the scale of the disaster, while families faced the heartbreaking loss of property and loved ones. The floods that followed Hurricane Helene left a lasting impact, turning once-thriving neighborhoods into disaster zones and marking one of the most severe natural disasters the area had ever faced.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the devastating floods that followed, we reached out to a client and friend in East Tennessee to check on him and his family. Thankfully, they were safe—but his emotional account of the destruction in his community was a sobering wake-up call and an urgent plea for help. We couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. Knowing that a slight shift in the storm’s path could have brought that same devastation to our own Chattanooga community, we sprang into action. We immediately began making phone calls and launched a Call to Action on Facebook and Instagram. The response was overwhelming—nearly $18,000 was raised in just a few short days. Recognizing that both people and animals were in desperate need, we quickly sent $2,500 in supplies directly to Johnson City, TN, where our client’s community had been hardest hit.

Through this effort, we were connected with Dan and Kendra Messer of the Western North Carolina Regional Livestock Center in Canton, NC. Without hesitation, they transformed their entire facility—including cattle chutes and stalls—into a full-scale donation hub for displaced families and livestock. They worked tirelessly around the clock, offering support to their own community and surrounding areas. We stayed in daily contact with Kendra to ensure we were meeting the most urgent needs. High-priority human supplies included generators, mini propane tanks, camping stoves, batteries, gas cans filled with gasoline, chainsaws, sleeping bags, blankets, small portable grills, portable toilets, rakes, brooms, shovels, five-gallon buckets, water tanks, lighters, and matches.



We were also blessed to connect with Sand Hills Pony Club, who helped us identify and meet critical needs for animals and livestock. With their guidance, we funded the purchase of premium horse hay, high-quality dog food for search and rescue K9s, hoof picks, Betadine, vet wrap, thrush treatment, feed pails, kitty litter, eye wash, wound care supplies, alcohol pads, and more. It was a true testament to the power of compassion, community, and rapid response—and a reminder that even in the face of disaster, people will rise to help one another.