PPM Disaster Response: Hurricane Helene

It was good for a group of us to be on the ground in Valdosta, GA. The damages are much greater than we could see from scrolling on our phones. It will take many months, if not years, for many communities to return to normal. It will take all hands on deck for that to happen. Please join us! As of next week, we will start responding in Valdosta, the Appalachian Highlands, and Western North Carolina. You can join us by giving, giving, or going. 

We are stronger together! 

Today, we have another partner church in Louisburg, NC  collecting donations to take to WNC.

Additional staff made it to Valdosta, GA today and are seeing the aftermath of the Hurricane. The city is facing many challenges including roads being littered with debris, fallen trees, and downed power lines. We can see home damages ranging from minor roof leaks to structural damage from fallen trees and winds. 

We have lodging and supplies to put volunteers to good use starting now. We will be facilitating volunteers here for the foreseeable future for anyone who is willing to come. Roads are easily accessible with many businesses in the city open. Power is hit or miss depending on where you are - our lodging has power.

Despite those challenges, the Valdosta community is demonstrating remarkable resilience. Neighbors are helping neighbors, and the church is coming together to assist those in need. We are humbled to be a part of the recovery effort in this region. Thank you for joining us either by praying, giving, or going.

Since we stayed at Ms. C's a little longer than planned, we needed to get off the mountain before dark so we decided to try to meet with the Pastor in Newland another day. On our way down the mountain, we saw an area with signs that said "cell service, supplies: HERE!." Since we hadn't had much cell service all day, we decided to take a few minutes to tell our families that we were ok and heading home. But here is where things get a little weird... 

As I was talking with the lady who owns the property, I found out that she is the cousin of one of our partners- you guessed it- Wallyce! The home has actually been in Wallyce's family for many decades. My mind was absolutely blown, and if that wasn't enough, through more conversation- God also connected us with an entirely new network of churches who are looking for long term partners to walk alongside them for the next few years as they rebuild. It's going to be a long, long recovery. 

God has continued to show up in big ways- opening up doors and partnerships and directing our next steps. 

After our meeting with Gabriella, the rest of our day was full of unexpected twists- but in the BEST ways! 

God continued to show us how small our world is- we met volunteers and community leaders who were from the same towns we are!

As the day went on, our original plans changed. We received a phone call from our long term partner in Eastern NC, Wallyce, who connected us with a pastor in Newland. So, we pivoted to head that direction- not knowing entirely what the roads were going to be like as many are still impassable. 

When we made that decision to pivot, we also made a decision to try and help a family friend who was in the area who needed fuel. We wanted to head to her first.

The power of rushing water was revealed to us on the way to Spruce Pine. Roads washed away, so many trees and power lines entangled together... 

We arrived at Ms. C's house and filled her car with fuel and got to work with some other volunteers to help her get part of a tree off of her house. 

We were able to meet with one of our seasonal staff who goes to App State. She shared her story and stories of strength that the students and residents have shown. 

In addition to Florida and Georgia, Hurricane Helene's wrath was felt in Western North Carolina, East TN, and parts of West Virginia. Many parts of Western North Carolina were completely washed away. Entire towns destroyed, bridges and roads were washed away, leaving no road access to hollers, isolating the city of Asheville and many others. 

On Monday, our staff set out to meet with partners just outside the affected areas to determine how we can best respond, and when. Emergency responders in many areas are asking that volunteers stand down until they can finish rescues and resources become more readily available. 

One of our partners took us to an airport that has a huge operation of receiving donations and getting them in airplanes, and get them out to isolated communities that are only accessible by air. The energy and community rallying to help WNC, especially, was beautiful and breathtaking. 

We met with county leaders, many church leaders and pastors yesterday to help determine the next steps to get people help. There is a call to action here. There is no question that the churches are responding and will need help to sustain the efforts to help all of Western NC. 

We are continuing our trek west, heading into Boone, NC today to meet with more church leaders and staff. Stay tuned for more updates from the field. 

Yesterday (Monday) we had staff mobilized in Western North Carolina, Valdosta, Georgia, and New Orleans. Our staff group in New Orleans was meeting with partners who have endured countless storms over the years, making them experts in response and recovery. They were able to provide us with necessary and needed supplies as we travel from New Orleans today to meet our staff in Valdosta.

It's been 3 years since Hurricane Ida severely damaged the area where our church partner in New Orleans is based. When you look around, you can only see glimpses of it's impact, with much of the area restored. Pastor noted (paraphrased) "A well coordinated and executed volunteer response is the lifeblood of an effective long-term recovery effort." Volunteers will be needed for months and years to come as these areas recover and rebuild. May we respond and deploy with humility and respect as we serve those who have been so deeply impacted by this storm. 

A number of staff and partners have begun making our way to the affected area in Valdosta, GA this morning. I am looking forward to visiting our partners at Valdosta UMC while another delegation begins a donation drive from New Orleans to Valdosta this morning as well.  One partner church has done a great job of collecting 16 pallets of supplies for the communities there.

The assessments both in FL/GA and in Western North Carolina are staggering. Reports this morning have raised the fatalities to 95, largely in the Appalachian region. Our hearts go out to those communities and families who are experiencing so much loss.

Please join us in prayer for these brothers and sisters and consider volunteering to help the recovery in both regions.

Hurricane Helene intensified into a Category 4 storm when it made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on Friday, September 27, 2024, causing widespread devastation across the southeastern United States. The storm's impact was felt across the Southeast region of the United States stretching into Appalachia. 

The hurricane caused significant damage to infrastructure, homes, hospitals, utility services, and the list goes on. Trees were uprooted, power lines were downed, and flooding has been widespread, specifically across the Appalachian mountains, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Millions of people were left without power in the aftermath of the hurricane, disrupting daily life and essential services.

Emergency responders are working tirelessly to rescue people trapped in flooded areas and mudslides. Many are still stranded in their homes and on roofs as of today. The affected regions are facing a long road to recovery, with extensive cleanup and rebuilding efforts underway.

The exact extent of the damage and the number of people affected are still being assessed, but it is clear that Hurricane Helene profoundly impacted the Southeastern United States.

At Praying Pelican Missions, we are all brokenhearted to witness the devastations and the suffering caused by the hurricane. May our heavenly Father who is an ever-present help comfort those affected by the Hurricane. 

We are mobilizing friends and our ministry partners to respond to the extent we can, and we invite you to join us. The affected communities and individuals will face a long road to recovery. We are committed to our mission to encourage, build up, and assist local churches, communities, and individuals in this time of need. 

We are stronger together! 

From our partner in Lehigh Acres “ Update: we were hammered by the end tail band for almost an hour... heavy rain and wind. 

Calming down now! ??

Watching the reports, Helene is serious matter and it brings memories from Ian 2 yrs ago.”

We are continuing to pray for those in the path, and those feeling the impacts, of Hurricane Helene. It is currently making landfall in Perry, FL as a strong Cat 4.

Hurricane Helene is now a Category 2 storm that is expected to land on the Florida Big Bend coast this evening as a strong Cat 3, possibly a Cat 4, with sustained winds of 115-130mph.  North Carolina faces life-threatening flood risk. The storm is expected to bring catastrophic winds and surges to the region. Residents in the affected areas are urged to evacuate and take precautions to protect themselves and their property. After the storm makes landfall, it is expected to move inland over Georgia. Serious flooding is possible in the Southeast, with half a foot of rain forecast in Atlanta and 10-20 inches in a narrow swath of the southern Appalachian Mountains.

Many regions of the Coastal, Eastern, and Central US are starting to experience heavy rainfalls. As safety measures continue to take place,  residents are preparing for the storm by boarding up windows, fueling up their vehicles, and filling up sandbags before Helene's potentially dangerous hit. Evacuations have been ordered in Florida’s Big Bend. A state of emergency has been declared in 61 FL counties.

Please join us in praying for safety and wisdom for the local authorities and the residents as they make decisions for their communities and loved ones. 

We have been checking in on our partners in the South and they are busy! They are preparing their homes, possibly preparing to evacuate, checking with family and congregants, and more. But they are good. Every single pastor we spoke with shared their peace in the Lord right now. Please join us in praying for them as they continue to prepare- that they would also get supernatural rest.