More than 100 volunteers used shovels to clean a once-gorgeous North Carolina town now covered in brown sludge and debris thanks to Tropical Storm Helene, which left the area in an “apocalyptic” state.
Even with their greatest efforts and minimal outside assistance, residents were in desperate need of more diesel, gloves, and shovels. Some structures, such as Marshall Town Hall, which doubled as the Marshall Police Department’s headquarters, were completely destroyed by the flood and were not rebuildable. Ryan and Magon Hof were attempting to rescue Chief of Police Kenny Brown from the debris of the Town Hall since guns and evidence were still there. “I’ve seen war zones with less destruction,” Ryan Hof said
Although Marshall’s tale may include the devastation and debris that the historic town in Western North Carolina experienced following Tropical Storm Helene, the cleanup effort is primarily the result of the community’s residents and small business owners trying to salvage and dig out of the completely destroyed town, which had about 800 residents. At the moment, Marshall is essentially handling its recovery effort on its own, with about 100 volunteers.
The relief effort is driven by heartbroken community members (
The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Red Shed Woodworks and Construction owner Matt Yeakley hauled in his construction equipment at 7 a.m. on September 30 in response to messages posted on social media by the town fire department and local government announcing the start of a volunteer clean-up event.
By the following day, Yeakley had surveyed the entire town and given volunteers orders to clear mud from roads, pursue water lines, and create room for large machinery. In addition to gasoline provided by the county, Yeakley stated that a large portion of the equipment is community donations. locals set up many cooking sites and relief stations as they began cleaning, handing out Krispy Kreme donuts and grilled meals to passing locals and volunteers.
Roads were completely pummeled with sludge-like mud (
AP)
Yeakley had an informal, yet “instrumental,” part in the cleanup, according to one volunteer, Madison County resident Van Hutchins. He simply decided that it must begin. “Nobody appointed me to this position,” Yeakley said. “You know, if somebody doesn’t gain control of it, it’s going to sit here for days.
Yeakley described the ensuing flood in Marshall, which hit the downtown area, as “apocalyptic,” given that Tropical Storm Helene is officially believed to have killed at least 100 people throughout the Southeast US.
