April 7, 2025:
I was only able to touch on the French Broad River, but there are so many others along the Nolichucky River that were affected as well.
This area extends and expands throughout the mountains from Greeneville, TN all the way south of Asheville, NC to Marion, NC and further.
Along with homes and businesses, bridges are still left laying in the riverbed all the way down both rivers.
We will have groups/teams spanning most of the region. Teams will be based in Greeneville and Newport, TN and also Marion, NC. We will have projects in Newport and Del Rio, TN along with Hot Springs, NC based out of the Greeneville, TN area. While the projects based in Marion, NC will span into Old Fort and Swannanoa, NC.
The expansive devastation is still hard to wrap my mind around. There are still new things I see and hear every time I drive throughout the area and speak to new people. There is so much hope and gratitude that has been shared.
-- Zach Brinkman, EM Hurricane Relief Field Staff (NC/TN)
April 1, 2025:
Here, we have a new build being done by Matt, that will be his parents' retirement home.
Matt and his daughter lived next door to his parents along the French Broad River. The only thing left of either house was a small remnant of Matt's bedroom. Matt is building on a higher spot on the property, away from the river.
Matt had reached out on Facebook to ask for some assistance. We actually met Samantha while trying to figure out how to get to him. After finally arriving, I was amazed at how much he had accomplished on his own. With his background in construction and property management, he is able to tackle so many projects, but with only himself and a friend here or there, it is taking a lot of time to move his parents out of their camper.
We were able to get a group from Oregon inside and help prep the space for sheetrock/drywall. This team had high-school students who varied in skills but were eager to jump in and serve. One of the young men had never worked with impact/compact drills and was able to learn from Matt as we moved throughout the residence.
It was truly amazing to see how invested the students and staff were and how happy and grateful Matt was as he was able to teach and build this home for his parents.
Matt has expressed that his faith has been shaken throughout his life and has shared some stories of how that has shaped who he is now. As I left his house the other day, for the first time he asked if we would pray for his family. I was so encouraged to see God working in this moment.
You never really know what seed will be planted and how it will grow. Whether that is a student learning a skill, a helpful hand relieving a burden, or a word from God that encourages someone going through an unbearable time. You truly never know. Even though we may not all get to see the fruit, God will continue to grow it and it can spread to places and people we cannot imagine.
Matt's family, among many, face the same situation. Most of the work is being done by one person, and in most cases, they just need hands to help.
-- Zach Brinkman, EM Hurricane Relief Field Staff (NC/TN)
April 1, 2025:
Samantha and her son, Corbin, live in the town of Del Rio, TN and were greatly impacted by Hurricane Helene. You can see, in this first photo, what the property looked like 3 days after the initial surge of water. It is hard to fathom that the water was even higher and raging through the area fast enough to float entire 2 story houses down the French Broad River.
A week before the storm hit, Samantha was already fighting to keep her family's property. Her parents had owned the property for her entire life and had sadly passed in April and September of 2024. After the floodwaters came through, the property was completely devastated. Her home had 11 feet of water rushing through, her 2 rental homes were lifted and destroyed, and her possessions left buried in the remaining sand, silt, and mud.
After all that has happened, she remains one of the most faithful and bright lights that I have ever met. She has shared with the groups her experience of walking along the railroad tracks in knee-deep water, taking her son to the house on stilts about 1/4 of a mile down the road. The water had never been above the railroad tracks before and was seldom up to the road. As they sat with other families on the raised porch, they saw just how bad the storm would actually turn out to be. 2 story houses, oil tankers, and shipping containers are just a few things that were hurled down the French Broad River.
She said, as they sat and prayed with the other families, they were amazed to see how the water had almost moved completely around this home they were all fortunate enough to make it to. The Army National Guard airlifted everyone from this house, but it would be weeks before they could return.
She remains hopeful, optimistic, and steadfast in her faith as she walks this long road to recovery.
-- Zach Brinkman, EM Hurricane Relief Field Staff (NC/TN
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