Disaster, Relief, recovery, Miracles, and Blessings
By Dean Honeycutt
Mitchell County
September 27 is a day that will live long in the minds and hearts of Western North Carolina families. Hurricane Helene brought death and destruction to our mountain communities. Every person I know was affected in some way. People we know and have known lost family members, homes, and private property. Many people are still missing seven weeks after the storm, and thousands of homes have been destroyed or damaged. Things will never be the same in Western North Carolina. But through it all God has been faithful and good.
Two of my adult children had to evacuate during the storm and seek a safe place to ride it out. Two of my adult children have now relocated and will not be going back to the homes they lived in before the flood. Pam and I lost contact with our family on Friday, and we were very worried about their safety. At Henson Creek, a large mudslide trapped us in the holler. With communication down and the road blocked, we had no idea how dreadful things were in other places.
Our story is only one of hundreds of stories we would hear and share with others. Stories of pain, loss, and despair. Our community friends, relatives, and neighbors came together with chainsaws and equipment and cleared our road. We were able to get a connection through Star Link and we realized the devastation that was all around us. At the bottom of Henson Creek at the Spear Country store, we will get information. We learned that the roads to Spruce Pine were not passable, and travel would be exceedingly difficult. We went into survival mode and prayed for our family to be safe. We felt helpless. We helped our neighbors and our neighbors helped us. This type of love and helping others was going on all over our mountain communities. Neighbors helping neighbors and just doing what you can. I bought a dozen eggs from my neighbor he did not want the money. Boy, those eggs were so good. We had an old generator and little gas, we cooked outside on a camp stove and burnt kerosene lamps at night. We had it better than some others who had no home to sleep in. This type of living went on for several weeks.
At the end of the following week, relief had arrived at Spear Country store. Supplies were now coming into our area by truckloads. Private airplanes and helicopters were landing at Avery County airport and unloading in the hangar. You could get free gas and supplies. Helicopters would land at the store and provide food and supplies. The store at Spear was no longer a store but a relief center. Free supplies would now fill the store. My wife and many others would spend hours sorting, organizing, and filling the shelves. Community volunteers would haul supplies and help unload supplies. A local ministry called Teen Valley Ranch would cook and provide free meals at Spear for several weeks. The whole community would come together and help. Men and boys on four-wheelers and side by sides would deliver food and supplies to those who could not get out. This would go on for many days. I would like to mention by name all those who would contribute so much, but I am afraid I would forget someone, and I do not want to do that. So, Pam and I want to say thank you to all of you who have helped. God bless you.
I would later hear from my daughters that they were safe, and our grandchildren were safe. I would learn that my son-in-law is spending countless hours helping others and my daughter was serving at a local fire department. My boys were out every day helping others in some way. Pam and I are incredibly grateful for our family. We went to Hickory and bought a generator and supplies. My family was blessed to be able to do this. Others would wait for many days before they were able to get a generator. I was able to make it over to Snow Hill Baptist in Mitchell County where I pastor. Our church became a distribution site, and we were blessed with an abundance of supplies and money to give out. We have helped over one hundred households with money, supplies, and firewood. Our men go out and help others clear trees. We have also remodeled a bedroom that was damaged by a falling tree. Every day got a little better. God is faithful.
Miracles were taking place in the mountains. There was a tragedy, but God performed many miracles. One miracle that I would like to share with you is the stall in the storm. Emergency management was getting daily updates about Helene. The storm was supposed to hit Thursday night into the early hours of Friday morning. The brunt of the storm flooding and falling trees would have been at night. But God stepped in and stalled the storm for three hours. That delay helped save hundreds of lives. I would continue to experience many miracles and hear testimonies of the amazing grace of God.
The serving, love, and helping others that was happening at Spear and Snow Hill was happening all over Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery counties. Loving people are the hands and feet of Jesus. Again, my story is just one of many amazing acts of God’s grace and mercy. Food trailers, equipment, and volunteers poured into our mountain communities with love and mercy. Many Christian organizations have sent relief, supplies, and volunteers. Thank you so much for all you have done. Pastors working countless hours helping and serving people through the body of Christ. One man said, “I can see the miracles of God in all this.”
It will take a long time to recover, and with God’s help, we will. Pam and I want to express our deepest condolences to those families who have experienced loss.
God bless you,
Pastor Dean Honeycutt
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Pastor Dean Honeycutt shepherds Snow Hill Baptist Church in Bakersville, NC. He may be reached at 828-385-0213, snowhillbaptist@gmail.com, or visit their website at www.snowhillbaptist.com.
You can read more good Christian news from Dean HERE.
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