Hurricane Helene made landfall on Thursday, Sept. 26 as a category 4 storm. Most weather forecasters predicted a lot of damage along the coast and then it would quickly die out, but instead it picked up steam and stalled over North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and neighboring areas. Up to 30 inches of rain dumped hundreds of miles inland in areas that expected little if any rain from the storm.

Flash floods resulted with the most damage seen inland in recent memory.

Electric power was lost to 4.5 million homes. Millions are without cell phone service. Roads and bridges were destroyed causing many to be isolated from the outside world.

On Friday, Sept. 27, Americans rose to the challenge.

Mules, Horses, Pack Goats, ATVs, Dirt Bikes and privately owned helicopters were all brought into service — voluntarily to help people in need.

Country folks with pickup trucks and trailers and tractors and bulldozers helping their neighbors.

On Black Mountain North Carolina, the Mountain Mule Packer Ranch launched search and rescue missions up in the mountains where no vehicles could get through the debris. They took food, water and medicine by pack mule up to the local residents. After delivering ice and insulin to an elderly mountain dweller, he replied “How many days do we take for granted the simple things? In times like these, we recognize how much we are blessed with! We are so grateful the mules have helped deliver essential items to those in need.” (from the groups FB post) By October 5, they had received multiple truckloads of supplies from folks across the country. All voluntary!

Missouri citizens are helping in many ways. We are home to Missouri Task Force 1, a highly trained search and rescue team sponsored by the Boone County Fire Protection District. Task Force 1 was deployed before Helene made landfall to be in a position of readiness. Read about Task Force 1 at www.bcfdmo.com

Missouri Lineman from several of the major electric companies including Ameren and Evergy are in the Hurricane mountain region right now restoring power to the millions of residents who lost power.

If you want to help the hurricane victims, please don’t go there in person. That only complicates things. Best way is to donate to an organization that is actively helping and preferably one that does not pay their top staff a million dollars a year.

Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief is mobilized and sending people and supplies to the area of Helene. One of the Missouri response units can make 10,000 meals per day. Modr.org

Samaritan’s Purse is supported by many churches in Missouri. The organization, based in North Carolina is headed by Franklin Graham. They are all hands on deck in response to Helene. www.samaritanspurse.org

There are a lot of great people here in our state and a crisis is the time so many selflessly step up and give or serve. Missouri citizens are the most generous in times of need.