Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath: an update from our partner George Slusser

As Hurricane Helene ravaged communities, we’ve been in light communication with our partner, George Slusser, who is located at the heart of the devastation. Despite the destruction, George and his family are thankfully safe and faring better than many in the region.

Here’s a recent update from George:

“We are doing very well compared to most in our area. We only suffered minor damage to our house with a fallen tree and were able to get the roof tarped within a few days. So only some water damage inside. We are also at a pretty high elevation and did not get the devastating flooding of the valleys. Many roads into and out of our community are washed away and expect it to be a while before those are fixed. Some roads were spared but they are working to get all the power lines out of them.

Our internet was restored last night. We still do not have power (day 8) but are told maybe by next week. We have a generator that has been wonderful. We are using it sparingly now as our propane tank is getting lower. When the generator is on I am now able to use wifi calling and the internet.

Hope to be back in full service next week sometime. Thank you for all your help informing! I really appreciate it.”

While George and his family are managing with limited resources, his message is a sobering reminder of the severe impact this hurricane has had on the surrounding communities. Many homes were washed away by flash floods, roads have been obliterated, and power outages have extended for over a week. It’s going to take some time for life to return to normal.

At times like these, every bit of support counts. It means the world to those amid the devastation if you are able to provide help in any way possible, whether by spreading the word or contributing. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to fuel helicopters and provide aid to the isolated mountain communities that were hardest hit. Your support could be the lifeline these families need as they wait for essential repairs and services to be restored.

Click Here if you would like to donate to the GoFundMe campaign.

Thank you for keeping George, his family, and the affected communities in your thoughts during this time of recovery. Every act of kindness helps, and together, we can make a difference.