REPORTER 1: Historic, never seen before. These are some of the descriptions of the flooding from residents in Boone today.
REPORTER 2: Meanwhile, in the mountains, North Carolina, leaders say all the roads should be considered closed.
Reporter 3: Helene brought torrential, record-breaking rain to our mountain
communities.
Reporter 4: We have talked and spent a lot of time talking about the flooding, but now we’re looking at the aftermath from Helene
Reporter 5: Governor Roy Cooper calls the storm one of the worst to hit the western part of the state
KYLA MCGHEE: In the time since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina. Jessica Muldowney, the director of operations of App Healthcare, has seen the community meet the moment.
JESSICA MULDOWNEY: First couple of days post-Helene, we really saw our community come together and help individuals in any way that they possibly needed help
KYLA MCGHEE: Stephanie Greer, president of the Avery health care market, says health care workers have been the real heroes
STEPHANIE GREER: In general, people who work in health care tend to be really incredible in times of crisis, right? You’re trained to do that
KYLA MCGHEE: Greer says the community has brought the saying mountain strong to life.
STEPHANIE GREER: There is a very real phenomenon called Mountain Strong. It was simply do the right thing for the people that we serve in the best way we know how to do that
KYLA MCGHEE: With time to reflect on their mental state. Greer says that and her staff want to move on and focus on how to prepare for future disaster relief plans
STEPHANIE GREER: We learned a lot about what works really well, and we learned a lot about what we need to be better prepared for
KYLA MCGHEE: According to Jason Kimak, Senior Director for North American ministries, Samaritan’s Purse has repaired 640 bridges, driveways, and culverts in the organization’s job isn’t finished
JASON KIMAK: Western North Carolina, as I said, we’ll be here until we get the job done with all that we’ve taken in for applications, when the work is there, and we’ve committed to that we’re going to stay
KYLA MCGHEE: Kimak and his team rely heavily on their spiritual beliefs to get them through as they continue their work in western North Carolina
JASON KIMAK: Scripture tells us to love the Lord our God with our heart, mind, soul and strength, and it says to love your neighbor as yourself. And we do that on the physical side. But there is this piece that is spiritual
KYLA MCGHEE: Greer Muldowney and Kimak have contributed in ways unimaginable for western North Carolina to have some sense of normalcy, both physically and mentally. I’m Kyla McGhee reporting
