Hurricane Helene is now the second-deadliest US hurricane this century, killing at least 190 people in flooding and devastation, and hundreds are still missing.
Rescue workers are still searching for John Norwood’s fiancee.
“We looked out and there was a 30-foot high wall of water, rocks and tree debris coming towards us,” he said, crying. “And it hit our house straight, with all of us in it. She went one way and I went the other. The last thing I said to her was, I love you. And that was the last time I saw her Was. ”
*** Click here to help victims of Hurricane Helen
Their entire neighborhood of Marion, North Carolina was wiped out. Norwood was rescued on a stretcher with his legs crushed.
Lauren Meidinger says they are still searching for her mother-in-law as well.
“She’s loved by a lot of people. She’s very strong,” Meidinger said. “She’s the strongest woman I know so it’s not hard to hold on to that hope. And I mean, I pray every day, every moment, that she’s found and that she’s safe.”
After hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane last week, Helene moved through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, inundating the region with unprecedented rain and flooding.
“It’s heartbreaking. This is a record-breaking flood. There hasn’t been a flood this bad since 1916… so many people couldn’t get out” – Hayley Hansen, OB’s national media contact. Please help the needy: https://t.co/q088292ptVFor volunteer opportunities: https://t.co/IKYzGcrxem, pic.twitter.com/UXDKjO3NlQ
– Operation Blessing (@operationbless) 2 October 2024
Days later, many people are still stranded, without power, cell service or running water.
Patricia Miranda is using water from the bay to flush her toilets and wash clothes. “We have nowhere to go,” she said.
President Biden has ordered the deployment of 1,000 troops to the region. They join more than 6,000 National Guard troops from 12 states already there.
On Wednesday, Biden flew over the hardest-hit areas of western North Carolina, surveying the damage from the air.
“I’m here to say that the United States, the nation, supports you,” he said during an operational briefing. “The country is with you. We will not leave until you get back on your feet.”
CBN’s Operation Blessing is on the ground in Asheville, distributing water, food boxes, hygiene kits and other supplies.
“It’s especially important that we stay here because of the nature of this storm, it destroyed water, it destroyed power, it destroyed cell phones,” said Bob Burke of Operation Blessing. “There are an amazing number of people who are stuck in the mountains or who have lost everything and the words aren’t coming out, so it’s important that we get that message out.”
Hayley is back with another #HurricaneHelen Disaster Update! We are still serving those deeply impacted by this storm in Asheville, NC. Despite access difficulties, we are committed to reaching those in need however we can! https://t.co/q088292ptV, pic.twitter.com/z86DL6QMLc
– Operation Blessing (@operationbless) 3 October 2024
Operation Ashirwad Also at work in Valdosta, Georgia. Volunteers are serving hot meals in the Anchor Church parking lot and helping homeowners recover from the devastation.
At Belinda Cobb’s damaged home, they are clearing debris and putting tarps on the roof. She tearfully recalled the story of praying on the phone with her son, whose path was blocked by fallen debris the night of the storm.
“When he said ‘Mom, I don’t think I can do this,’ we prayed together before he got out of the car,” she said. “And I know that God raised that tree or he gave it the strength to do that, I don’t know which, but basically it was God either way.”
Operation Blessing’s international relief team is also on the ground in North Carolina. This is the first time they have been deployed to the United States to assist in disaster relief efforts.
If you would like to support Operation Blessing as it helps those severely affected by Hurricane Helene, you can call CBN at 1-800-700-7000 or Click here to visit Operation Blessing’s website.
***Please sign up CBN Newsletters download more cbn news app To ensure you get the latest news from a uniquely Christian perspective.***
