ASHVILLE, N.C.. (WCAX) – More than a month after the remnants of Hurricane Helene devasted parts of the Southeast, Vermonters continued to head south to help in the recovery efforts.
“I’ve seen a lot of homeowners cry because they are staring at the homes and watching us gut them,” said Kirsty Greeno, who arrived in the Asheville area about three weeks ago as part of a volunteer group called Core. “They deserve to be home like all Vermonters deserve to be home.”
The Rutland woman doesn’t know anyone from the area but was compelled to help with hurricane relief, especially after the flooding that hit Vermont two years in a row. “Remembering how you felt when waters hit your house and recognizing that now other people are going through that, too,” Greeno said.
Other Vermont volunteers like like Val Delusky have connections to North Carolina. “I graduated college in North Carolina so it’s near and dear to my heart,” Delusky said. She’s with All Hands and Hearts, a group ripping out walls, removing furniture, and repairing homes. She says it’s exhausting but rewarding work. “This work can be emotionally and physically draining but also incredibly fulfilling at the same time.”
“We’re working in a neighborhood that was completely destroyed by Hurricane Helene,” said Kris Boyd, another Vermont volunteer with All Hands and Hearts and describes the destruction as heart-breaking. Full disclosure — he’s my partner. “The devastation is pretty severe,” Boyd said.
Trash in trees, cars crushed, businesses and homes in ruins, and lives ripped apart. Boyd says at a time when the country is so divided, everyone should come together to help during catastrophes like this. “This is a time and place where communities are coming together and I really wanted to represent Vermont in that,” he said.
The death toll from Helene is 229 across seven states, but North Carolina was the hardest hit and the death toll there just surpassed 100 this week. Some people are still missing and some communities remain uninhabitable — without water, sewer, or electricity.
“They are really fighting to recover their communities and we need to support them in doing so,” said Jess Sharman, an organizer with All Hands and Hearts. She says the group plans to be here for a year. “There’s an absolute ton of work that needs to be done here.)”
Greeno will continue volunteering here through December with Core and then join All Hands and Hearts through March — a long work schedule in an area facing a long recovery. “It’s definitely the hardest work I’ve ever done,” she said.
All Hands and Hearts is still looking for donations.i