The morning light revealed the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene which is being called the worst disaster on American soil since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. The waters swept inland and upward, 400 miles from the ocean; leaving in its wake, a path of destruction like none ever seen. Bridges and pieces of the interstate washed away, whole towns have disappeared, no cell service, no way for the cries for help to be heard; yet the silent cries are being heard and help is coming from all directions in every all forms.
Mule trains are being utilized to haul supplies to the most rural sections of areas unreachable by cars. The mules step up the roads, going between the mountains and the washed-out roads taking medicines, food and lifesaving water to survivors. In the air, an army of privately owned helicopters, swooping in and dropping off food, ropes to areas they cannot land on and pulling survivors off the side of the mountains and roads; their homes washed away.
It is a true grassroots effort taking place, along with the efforts of the government and several other organizations working hard to get to the people. Two organizations from vastly diverse backgrounds have been working tirelessly from the moment the news broke about the crisis and devastation. One grew up in the area, one has fled from such experiences in his home country and has vowed to bring as much help as possible to the people.
It’s personal for Cynthia Thomas Finch. Newport Tennessee, one of the hardest hit areas on the Tennessee side of the devastation, is her hometown. Born and raised there, she is well known for her efforts to vaccinate more than 80,000 people during the pandemic. Upon hearing of the devastation, she, city Councilmember Gwen McKenzie and Keira Wyatt with CONNECT Ministries, jumped into action and within hours had a U-haul and several cars loaded with supplies. The team set up as close as they could to the devastation at New Zion AME Zion Church and handed out needed items.
Yassin Terou was also able to get to Greenville with his supplies and team of volunteers. A man who knows what it is to lose everything, rushed to the aid of those who are now without.
Terou is from Syria. He came to America in 2011 with nothing but the clothes on his back, but in the last 13 years built a successful restaurant business – named the nicest place in America in 2018 by Readers Digest and Good Morning America. His passion for those without has led him to daily feed the homeless and travel to disaster areas to feed families both in and outside of the United States. After learning of the flood, Terou headed to Greenville, Tenn. where he set up in the oldest Black church in the city, Tabernacle Presbyterian, to prepare hot meals for those in need.
Photo cutlines:
Flood1:
Mountain Mule Packers carrying supplies up the mountain roads. The mules will trudge up the mountain when the trucks can go no further. (Photo credit: Margerat Massey-Cox)
Flood2:
Cynthia Finch, founder of New Directions Healthcare, coordinates the set-up of supplies brought to help the flood victims in Newport, Tenn. (Photo submitted)
Flood3:
Yassin Syrian, owner of Yassin’s Falafel Hous, holds a sign as his team brings in truckloads of donations from Knoxville and food to cook hot meals on site in Greenville, Tenn. (Photo submitted)
Flood4:
More signs of distress as animals seek food among the ruins in North Carolina (Photo credit: Margerat Massey-Cox)
Flood5:
Aerial view of Downtown Asheville (Photo credit: John Kristeiner)
Flood6:
Patients and employers on top of the flooded Unicoi Hospital. (Photo credit: John Kristeiner)
Flood7:
New Zion AME Zion opened its doors to be a safe haven for victims of the flood. (Photo credit: Cynthia Finch)
