DANVILLE, VA. (October 31, 2024) – All eyes were on Hurricane Helene as it made landfall as a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane along the Gulf Coast of Florida. However, no one was prepared for the widespread damage the storm would bring to the mountain towns of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia – as well as numerous communities throughout Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.
Faith-based nonprofit, God’s Pit Crew – headquartered in Virginia – sped into action to assist its neighbors as the chaos of Helene unfolded, bringing deadly flooding and destructive tornadoes.
Pearl’s Home Encased in Mud
God’s Pit Crew volunteers met Pearl while assessing storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Old Fort, North Carolina – a small town where houses sprawl across mountainsides and throughout the valleys between them. Upon entering Pearl’s house, crew members were met with a six-inch layer of mud in every room.
During the storm, every room of Pearl’s home was filled with deadly flood waters, and once the waters receded, mud encased everything inside. As she and her daughter worked to salvage what they could, God’s Pit Crew volunteers were able to step in and lift the burden of cleanup from the women’s shoulders.
If the flood wasn’t heartbreaking enough for the family, Pearl’s dear husband passed away only three days after the storm.
The help provided by God’s Pit Crew volunteers does not only come in the form of physical labor, but in the prayers and love they pour into people like Pearl.
Vietnam Veteran Rhonard’s Testimony
The time spent in Old Fort, North Carolina, also introduced God’s Pit Crew volunteers to Rhonard – a Vietnam Veteran who has called the mountain town his home for many years. Rhonard was walking the mud-covered streets of Old Fort, surrounded by washed-out roads and crumbling homes, when crew members spoke with him.
Rhonard was in good spirits as he shared that he was out walking and enjoying the now sunny weather. He led volunteers to his mobile home where he explained he had ridden out the storm and watched the flood waters slowly rise toward him. By this point, Rhonard had been living days without electricity in his mobile home.
Thankfully, God’s Pit Crew volunteers were able to provide Rhonard with a generator and fuel to help restore power to his home. Crew members also handed him a Blessing Bucket – a five-gallon bucket filled with over 30 critical supplies such as food, water, hygiene items and much more – and once Rhonard saw the Bible inside, he told us of his years spent as part of the U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership.
A Dry, Warm Place to Call Home
What would you do if a tree came barreling through your home making it unlivable? That was the horrifying situation Randy, Natasha, and their two children faced following Hurricane Helene’s rampage on the Old Fort community.
When their roof caved in from a downed tree, the family just happened to be in the only area of the house that was not crushed – ultimately saving their lives – but leaving them with nowhere to go.
God’s Pit Crew had just received a gracious camper donated to the ministry to be used as a blessing for anyone impacted in Western North Carolina. So, crew members quickly furnished the camper and hit the road to deliver it to this family needing a place to live.
Volunteer Help for the Volunteer State
God’s Pit Crew’s Rebuild Team joined forces with the Coca-Cola Consolidated Rapid Response Team to provide help to storm victims in Trade, Tennessee.
Jody and Tracia Lynch’s beautiful mountain home was unfortunately not spared from Hurricane Helene’s damage. The extreme wind gusts and rain-drenched ground sent a massive tree through the roof of this family’s home causing severe damage both inside and out.
God’s Pit Crew and Coca-Cola Consolidated sped into action to help repair the Lynch’s home, repairing the roof along with the damage incurred inside, as well.
Loads of Hope on the Move
As volunteer crews work tirelessly to cleanup homes and communities ravaged by flood waters and remove damaged trees threatening to collapse at any moment, more selfless helpers in red shirts continue working to provide critical relief product to impacted areas.
In less than a 30-day span, over 40 tractor-trailer loads of product have been delivered to various states and communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and tragic flash flooding in New Mexico.
We may not be able to see the overall outcome of these storms, but we continue to place our faith in God who walks through each day of recovery with us, knowing He will provide.
How to Help
Many residents continue to clean up the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene’s impact over a month ago, and God’s Pit Crew plans to assist with relief efforts as much as possible. After witnessing the massive amounts of damage, a second volunteer deployment has been deemed necessary for Western North Carolina. Crew members will return to the area to continue providing help and hope to those who need it most. Details regarding this response will be announced at a later date.
For more information regarding God’s Pit Crew’s ongoing relief efforts, as well as opportunities to volunteer or donate to the cause, resources can be found by visiting GodsPitCrew.org or by calling (434) 836-4472.
