Dave Nelson has been tirelessly working for the past few days, dedicating himself to assisting those affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Despite being over 1,000 miles away from his home in Eau Claire, he traveled to Tallahassee, Florida, to provide his support.
In the past few days, Nelson, along with 29 other dedicated volunteers from the American Red Cross of Wisconsin, swiftly mobilized to respond to the disaster. Supporting the recovery efforts, a group of 16 members from Wisconsin’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force was dispatched to North Carolina. Moreover, Generac, a Wisconsin-based company specializing in generator production, promptly dispatched a response team to South Carolina on Wednesday. Their primary objective was to repair generators for individuals who were adversely affected by the storm.
Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the southeast, resulting in extensive flooding and significant damage. According to a report from CNN, the death toll has surpassed 180 as of Wednesday.
The disaster relief specialists, also known as volunteers, are currently deployed in various locations across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Their duties involve working in shelters, distributing comfort kits, and providing meals, emotional support, and relief supplies to those affected by the disaster.
According to Warren, volunteers not only distribute water and food, but also offer support and compassion to those affected by the hurricane.
According to Nelson, additional volunteers, including some from Wisconsin, are currently operating emergency response vehicles to deliver the supplies to the heavily affected areas.
Nelson expressed that in certain instances, there is absolutely nothing remaining.
He added that sometimes, in the midst of trying to complete tasks and ensuring that people receive the necessary responses, one can easily become engrossed and forget about taking care of oneself.
Milwaukee County Supervisor and state Rep. Ryan Clancy, D-Milwaukee, has been generously offering his time to volunteer with the Red Cross in Hudson, Florida. With an impressive eight years of experience in responding to disasters, Clancy has been actively involved with the nonprofit organization.
Clancy expressed his deep concern, stating, “This is one of the worst cases we’ve ever witnessed.”
According to Clancy, Hudson has faced the impact of three hurricanes within the last 13 months.
Clancy emphasized the significance of actively listening to people’s stories as an integral part of the process.
Wisconsin firefighters help with rescue effort in North Carolina
“Supporting one another during natural disasters or emergencies is a foundational principle of emergency management. It plays a crucial role in building resilience as a nation,” emphasized Greg Engle, the Administrator of Wisconsin Emergency Management.
According to Rousonelos, the rescue teams have been skillfully maneuvering through the challenging terrain to reach the residents who have been isolated due to the devastating floods.
According to Rousonelos, the team members are also conducting “swift water searches,” which involve searching in areas with fast-moving water.
According to Rousonelos, the team is comprised of individuals with exceptional skills from various communities throughout the state. These individuals are capable of addressing both state and national emergencies.
More volunteers needed
Warren from the Red Cross anticipates that additional volunteers will make their way down south in the upcoming days. She mentioned that the esteemed nonprofit organization has already supplied over 25,000 meals and arranged more than 18,000 overnight accommodations to assist those affected by the hurricane.
According to Hernandez, the primary objective of this mission is to rescue rather than recover.
Hernandez has returned to Milwaukee and is currently working on bringing essential supplies, such as bottled water, clothing, diapers, shoes, and blankets, which she collects from the local community, back to Asheville.
“I want to personally go down there with supplies and dedicate my time towards helping,” she stated.
Hernandez expressed her desire to relocate back to Asheville within a year or so.
She expressed doubt that such a scenario would unfold, as she emphasized the immense effort and lengthy duration required for the reconstruction process.
