Helping the Hurricane Helene Victims
BY Herschel Smith
1 month, 3 weeks ago
It’s all very difficult. I would be in the mountains helping if I could. It makes no sense to me if the FedGov or local government claims that they’re better off without help like I could offer. I would be willing to strap on a backpack and hike up a mountain 15 miles to determine if someone’s parents were still alive, or carry medicine to them. And I would fully indemnify all parties in the case of my demise.
I think that only an idiot would say that I’m not welcome. But merely volunteering just doesn’t do it.
If you’re not on government orders, you’re not going in here. Period.
If you’re a member of a group like this, it seems to be easier. That is, if you could bring bad publicity for being shut down by FEMA, they seem to leave you alone.
SWANNANOA, North Carolina — Hundreds of special operations personnel in North Carolina have formed their own homegrown rescue and supply operation in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene after they grew tired of waiting for the federal government to get its act together.
The Post found an all-volunteer operation being run out of a Harley-Davidson dealership with ruthless efficiency and military precision.
“Who’s FEMA?” ex-Green Beret Adam Smith derisively responded when asked about the agency’s presence on the ground …
“This disaster has definitively proven without a shadow of a doubt FEMA’s incompetence and incapability,” he said, noting that the agency didn’t even show up until Thursday — almost a week after the storm that has killed at least 232, nearly half of them in the mountainous west of the Tar Heel State.
I’m not sure if it’s incompetence and incapability or intentional.
This Harley-Davidson dealership has become a forward operating base, complete with a fleet of 35 helicopters that have flown hundreds of rescue, reconnaissance and resupply sorties.
Organizers are calling the effort the “Savage Freedoms Relief Operation,” but Smith says they’ve proudly adopted the alternate moniker — “the Redneck Air Force.”
The dealership teems with current and former soldiers decked out in camo pants and army boots with handguns strapped to their chests and hips. Crop duster pilots, helicopter tour guides and special operations pilots — most of them off-duty or retired military — have answered the call from Smith and others in North Carolina’s extensive military community.
They’re using their own aircraft to fly doctors, medicine, generators, fuel and food to isolated residents cut off from the world by the unprecedented floods to washed out mountain roads and wiped entire towns off the map.
Supplies and fuel for an operation of this magnitude don’t come cheap, but the group has relied entirely on donations, including around $190,000 raised through a GoFundMe page, Smith said.
[ … ]
Now that the effort has taken on a life of its own, Smith and others leading the operation have gone from cursing FEMA for its absence to hoping they never come back.
Smith said he fears their carefully calibrated rescue mission will be bogged down with governmental red tape if the feds show up.
“Nobody out here wants the federal agencies to come in. FEMA has walked into operations centers like this and has attempted to just take over and tell them what they’re doing is illegal and they’re not allowed to keep going. I’ve seen it firsthand in this area,” Smith told The Post.
“My biggest fear is they’ll move into the area and in the process they’ll reinvent the wheel and rebuild the entire process.”
Yeah, I’ve heard other curse FEMA as a result of this as well. I don’t blame them.
If I can help in any way, please let me know. I’ve donated $$$, but it was probably all confiscated by FEMA for use by illegal aliens. Or spent on Covid. You read that right. Covid.
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On October 7, 2024 at 10:52 pm, Michael Gilson said:
Why don’t FEMA officials want people using helicopters? They’re afraid that some day they will be thrown out of helicopters.
On October 8, 2024 at 1:02 am, StillSworn said:
We are strong believer in Samaritan’s Purse. ( https://www.samaritanspurse.org/ )
They are there now and not run by any government.
On October 8, 2024 at 5:21 am, Joe Blow said:
I live in East TN… The hatred for the government is at the boiling point here. It was simmering before, but this settles it. I would say History will look back at this moment as an inflection point.
Samaritan’s Purse is a good one. If you can find a LOCAL org in Western NC or East TN, you could donate $$$ there, too. Local Sheriff’s are also a good place… those are local people, helping neighbors. Don’t touch anything federal.
I think you’re about to see some fireworks. Milton’s gonna hang a left once it makes landfall, you watch. State reps are aware of weather modification technology, are watching the government planes flying funny patterns in the gulf. The people know this was done to them. It wasn’t natural. When they steer that second one into the mountains again this weekend, they will be kicking off the civil war.
On October 8, 2024 at 6:31 am, Wes said:
Lots of deskwork yesterday, so fired up the ADSB to see that airspace for awhile. W-NC & E-TN. In numbers, privateers outnumbered .MIL 6:1. of who was airborne at any one time. A few UH-60’s and 4-5 CH-47’s. The latter can move a lot of stuff, so…
Everything from private Blackhawk & Huey down to Bell’s, Eurocopters, Robinsons, and Hughes Little Birds. Samaritan’s Purse & Joe Gibbs Racing around too. Tons to do. It will be YEARS.
On October 8, 2024 at 11:00 am, Lagman said:
I want to inform with this comment; I am not denying that Samaritan’s Purse is having a significant, positive impact.
However, my current thinking: this disaster will continue for years; today the information available suggests the focus of effective rescue and recovery efforts should be based on the principle “subsidiarity” (“The principle that government power ought to reside at the lowest feasible level, i.e., at the local or regional level, instead of the national or supranational level, unless the latter presents clear advantages.”). The future will likely dictate otherwise, and so the future involvement of larger organizations will be more important and impactful.
Today, my choice is to donate to https://saveourallies.org/ ; but there are many other small charities with significant ties to the affected area.
Samaritan’s Purse is a very large organization with vast resources, including significant grants from the Federal Government (Calendar 2023 – $53.3 million; and liquid assets at 12/31 – $1.4 billion, including marketable securities – $662.9 million). As well, know that Samaritan’s Purse is a global organization with executive compensation worthy of a for-profit corporation of similar size. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/financial-accountability/
Separately, the Red Cross states (https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2024/red-cross-responds-to-hurricane-helene.html) it has “Some 2,100 Red Crossers are working tirelessly to provide safe shelter, food, water and support to people impacted by Helene.” Has anyone read of Red Cross activities elsewhere ?
Related, one of my son’s spoke with two friends who last week went from nearby to volunteer; they were each robbed several times during a short stay. Any one hear similar stories ?
Last, Re:Public US (https://republic.us/people-news/13385) states: “Lithium in the Mountain Mines and the Department of Defense Wants It”. What do those of you in the surrounding regions know of this ?
On October 9, 2024 at 3:33 pm, Gryphon said:
“Never attribute to Incompetence what is Obviously done out of Malice”
Too Many examples of Outright Interference with Local and/or Volunteers helping people any way they can to think it isn’t being Ordered from the “Swamp”. Biggest Example is how Elon Musk sent Millions of $ of Satcom Equipment, Crews and Helicopters into there, and was initially Harassed like he was Bubba Nobody. He is someone like Trump, who could, if he wanted to, Publicly Declare “Rebellion” against the fedgov, and within 48 Hours there would be No effective Influence by any “Agency”, 3-Letter or Not.
I think this may become the ‘Black Swan Event’ that kicks off a proper Rebellion to the feral ‘government’.