Last month, Hurricane Helene struck the Big Bend region of Florida and proceeded through the southeastern United States, where it brought rains and winds to the Carolinas and eastern Tennessee. It was the deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland United States since Katrina devastated Louisiana and Mississippi in 2005.
The epicenter of the destruction is western North Carolina, where city resident Steven R. Mullins spent five days working on hurricane relief efforts with the North Carolina based Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse.
“I found myself watching the news in utter shock about the aftermath of Helene. Upon learning about the federal government’s slow response, I knew that I could no longer watch from the comfort of my living room, but needed to act,” said Mullins, the City’s Fair Housing Commissioner and a longtime Allingtown volunteer firefighter. “I immediately signed up with Samaritan’s Purse, purchased a plane ticket and made hotel reservations.”
Mullins, 50 was based in Asheville, the seat of Buncombe County. He also worked in two additional counties, Yancy and Milton.
“Pictures cannot describe the destruction and the lives left devastated. In addition to homes, flash floods washed away roads and bridges. Home appliances and pieces of rooftops were found fifteen feet up in trees. I spoke with one man who lost five friends to flooding and knows several people missing,” Mullins said.
Hurricane Helene is responsible for 228 deaths and 27 missing and feared dead. The storm cost an estimated $88 billion in property damage. Tens of thousands of residents and businesses haven’t had power for weeks. Water must be boiled prior to consummation. As a result, many restaurants have been temporarily closed.
Mullins joined volunteers in repairing the homes and businesses of local citizens. Repairs included replacing sheetrock, roofing, flooring, and debris removal. He spent an entire day shoveling a basement knee deep in mud from a mudslide.
This project is not Mullins’ first hurricane relief effort. In 1999, he joined Habitat for Humanity and New Haven’s St. John’s Episcopal Church in working on Hurricane Mitch relief in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Samaritan’s Purse was founded by the Rev. Franklin Graham. The organization responds to aid in storm relief efforts all over the world. This is the first time that they have had to respond in their own area.
Per Samaritan’s Purse tradition, a Holy Bible is presented to every family served by the organization as a sign of hope. The Bible is signed by all responding volunteers.
“Despite losing their homes, pictures and other personal effects, the people of western North Carolina remain very strong in their faith,” said Mullins, a Eucharistic Minister at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit. “They have truly inspired me in faith.”
He had one final reflection on the experience.
“The entire experience was certainly a rewarding one. There is so much work to be done and I felt guilty while boarding the plane to come home,” he said. “I am truly blessed that I had the financial means to make that trip to lend a hand, albeit only for five days.”
He is encouraging the public to make financial contributions to Samaritan’s Purse. Donations can be made at: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/pray-for-those-in-helenes-path/.