ROCKINGHAM — Local efforts to give aid to those devastated by Hurricane Helene in the North Carolina mountains continue, including from the county coffers.
The Richmond County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved the allocation of $10,000 from funds set aside to improve quality of life, to help those in the western region of the state.
The suggestion was made by Commissioner Andy Grooms.
“This is a catastrophe that nobody seen coming,” Grooms said. “There might be some people in Richmond County that want to give but stuff’s tight right now, so this’ll be their taxpayer money going back.”
Chairman Jeff Smart suggested the amount.
“I know if we were in the same situation — and we may be one day — that others would step up for us, as well,” Smart said.
During discussion on the motion, Commissioner Justin Dawkins suggested delegating the authority on how the money is used to County Manager Bryan Land.
Grooms added a stipulation that the money be used to purchase goods, with Dawkins tacking on that it be spent in Richmond County. Commissioner Dr. Rick Watkins also suggested considering using some to help family members of those in Richmond County.
MANPOWER
The county is also lending out some of its employees to help in western counties.
According to Emergency Services Director Bob Smith, four members from his department have been deployed.
Deputy Director Travis “T.J.” Wilkerson, Training Coordinator Samantha Peaks, and Telecommunicator Sarah Jones are assisting in the Mitchell County 911 Center; and Shift Supervisor Christine Collins is working with Regional Coordination Center in Newton (Catawba County).
On Tuesday, Smith said there were more than 280 calls for service pending in Mitchell County, with crews working on around 80 calls. A lot of those calls, he added, were welfare checks.
Smith also said there had been calls from Richmond County residents wanting to coordinate welfare checks for family members in the affected areas.
Land added that the sheriff’s office has also offered four deputies and two jailers, and two volunteers have offered to help with building inspections.
“We’re doing our part to try to help the folks out in Western North Carolina,” Land said.
DONATIONS
Smith said supply donations must be organized through the state Business Emergency Operations Center.
“What’s happening is people are being turned away on the interstates because they don’t have permission to go into those areas,” Smith said. “All the roads, basically from Hickory … to the west are closed. “They’ve got people staged there not letting anyone in without an actual resource request approval.”
Anyone taking donations, Smith said, should send an email to beoc@ncdps.gov and write “logistics support” in the subject line and include what you’re bringing, why you need special access, when you plan to move and where you’re coming from, where you’re going and when you will arrive at the borders of the disaster area.
“This allows them to be able to have people expecting you,” Smith continued.
Those with small quantities of items are encouraged to partner with the county to lessen the traffic, Smith said.
Some involved in the recovery efforts are having to be flown in by helicopter, according to Smith.
When Smart asked about monetary donations, Smith suggested Samaritan’s Purse.
“Every dime that goes there goes straight back into product or, in some cases, even monetary help to help some of these victims to recover,” Smith said.
Citing those in the disaster area, Smith said, “It is some of the most catastrophic things they said that they have ever seen…just because of the mudslides and the amount of flooding that they had…the more the waters recede, the worse it gets.”
Commissioner Jason Gainey mentioned the relief effort with Richmond County Schools, that was scheduled to leave Thursday morning and head to Boone with water and other supplies.
Commissioner Robin Roberts said that VFW Post 4203 is serving as a drop-off location for items that will be distributed following the VFW state convention in Greensboro.
Bostick BP and Towing announced Wednesday that a 30-foot trailer had been filled and the new goal is to fill a 53-foot trailer.
Click here to read about local collection efforts.
“The effort’s been amazing with everybody pitching in,” Land said.
LOCAL WATER LEVELS
With the Pee Dee River starting as the Yadkin River just east of Blowing Rock, Smart expressed concern about how Richmond County could be impacted.
“We definitely are a pass-through for most of that water,” Smith said. “We have been in contact with Duke (Energy), Duke has kept us up to date with water levels. We will probably see a little bit of a spike in water, but nothing that would be life-threatening or detrimental to any of our citizens here.”
Smith said he does not recommend kayakers or other boaters to be in the river “just because of the swift-moving water.”