Help Burnsville Rebuild After Hurricane Helene's Devastation

My name is Ammon Ehrisman from Wake Forest NC and my parents and my brother -- along with many neighbors -- were hit very hard in Burnsville, NC by Hurricane Helene. While aid is reaching Asheville and other areas already, these smaller communities have yet to receive some of the critical supplies they need.

My parents have been entirely cut off from communication, power, and the ability to leave their property due to the road failures on SR 80. They have no power and are likely to completely run out of fuel for their generator by today. Gas and diesel are virtually gone from the town. Jacob has been using his dwindling supply of fuel to drive down some side roads to see if there is any way to access my parents' property safely and without impeding the roadwork and rescue operations.

My family members and I have already spent a couple of thousand dollars gathering gas cans, emergency equipment, and other supplies.

Jacob has shared with me that some of the most urgent needs they have today are:

I have identified and verified a safe path up into Burnsville and will be driving out with all the supplies I have tomorrow morning (Oct 2nd) to deliver them.

Another huge problem is the total lack of internet and communications in many areas. I’ve purchased a Starlink Satellite Internet device and now need to pay the fee to get it up and running. I have connected with our local church group who is bringing in supplies as well, and I intend to coordinate my efforts with them when I arrive. Using this mobile Starlink satellite, I will be able to facilitate better communications.

There are still many people missing and I have a professional drone to assist with search and rescue operations for those people as needed.

I’d like to raise $5,000 to help cover these costs and enable us to purchase more supplies if they are available.

If you are unable to donate, can you please share this campaign with your network? Even a few dollars will help and will immediately go to helping out this isolated community.

If you have supplies to donate, we will have an additional group going up by Friday and they can deliver those supplies as well.

Thank you so much!