By: Bethany Bray Patterson
“I knew what the Red Cross stood for. I made one phone call,” and help arrived.
With a population of just over 2,000 people, everyone knows everyone in the small town of Ninety Six, South Carolina.
It’s the kind of place where neighbors look after neighbors. And it has been no different in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The aftermath of the category 4 storm downed powerlines, uprooted trees, and caused intense destruction that closed every major roadway in and out of town.
The rural community was inaccessible for three days. With power out, the food in residents’ refrigerators and freezers soon became inedible.
Mayor Gregg Brown said that his primary concern for Ninety Six residents in Helene’s immediate aftermath was access to food and water. And the community banded together to look after its own.
Now, more than two weeks after the storm, the power is back on for most residents – but many urgent needs remain, Brown says.
That’s why Brown made a phone call to the American Red Cross. Soon after, trucks filled with bottled water, snacks, tarps, work gloves, shovels and other essential clean-up items arrived.
“I knew what the Red Cross stood for. I made one phone call,” and help arrived, he said.
“We hope we never have the need to ask you all for help again, but this has created a relationship and forged a connection to access help again if we need it ... You [the Red Cross] are part of our family now.”
Once the trucks arrived, Brown spread the word on social media, and residents lined up at the town police station to pull their vehicles through the parking lot and have essential supplies loaded into their trunks, backseats and pickup truck beds. The need was clear, as the line of cars stretched down the street.
Residents gratefully accepted cases of water, ready-to-eat meals, shovels, clean-up kits with garbage bags, bleach, and other items. In some cases, they also accepted extra items to share with neighbors who were shut in or unable to come themselves.
“The Red Cross has been a blessing to us during our time of need ... This shows that people care,” Brown said as he watched car after car pull through. “I want to thank the Red Cross publicly. This [Helene] has been an eye-opener for all of us. And with y'all's help, we’ll be better prepared for the next time.”
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The American Red Cross has launched a massive relief effort to make sure that no one faces the heartbreaking destruction from Hurricane Helene alone. Our work began before the first drop of rain, and we’ll be side-by-side with our partners helping for weeks and months to come.
You can help this important work by joining the Red Cross as a volunteer, donating blood or making a financial contribution. Find out more or get involved at RedCross.org. You can also text the word HURRICANES to 90999 to make a donation.
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