Hurricane Helene heroes honored
Influencer Matt Von Swol (left) receives a medallion from Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) at the NC-11 GOP district convention at Tuscola High School on April 26. Cory Vaillancourt photo
Recovery from Hurricane Helene hasn’t been a partisan affair — on the ground, at least — but North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District Republicans took time out of a busy district convention day to honor those who helped.
“Let me first begin by saying thank you doesn’t even begin to cover the tremendous gratitude that the people of Western North Carolina have for you,” said Michele Woodhouse, then-chair of the NC-11 GOP. “You are each and every one of you a hero, and we want to recognize you today … Many of you are from Western North Carolina and call these mountains home, but many of you found a temporary home here, and we’re glad. We’d like you to stay. We’re not full. Unless you’re from New York.”
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) presented small medallions to the following people or organizations:
Cindy and Jeff Sellers, formerly of Haywood County, helped establish a distribution center for basic and lifesaving supplies.
Travis Donaldson, Haywood County Emergency Services director, accepted on behalf of what he called “a whole county full of heroes.”
Anchor Baptist Church in Transylvania County, named as a key member by Transylvania County Emergency Operations, managed large-scale distribution activities and used their radio station to communicate with neighbors.
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Elias McKim, of Highlands, helped supply hurricane victims via helicopter and secured key donations.
James Faircloth, CEO of Emergency RV in Franklin, provided donated RVs to hurricane and wildfire victims.
Margaret Ackiss took months off work and used her large social media following to connect rescue workers, volunteers and victims.
Nick Sortor, seen on Fox News, Tucker Carlson and Newsmax, helped install Starlinks across the region, ensuring emergency communications when internet and cellular infrastructure failed.
Sheriff Ricky P. Cannon of McDowell County went weeks with little sleep to serve hard-hit communities.
Rep. Dudley Greene (R-McDowell) lost his home in Avery County during Hurricane Helene but continued to serve neighbors and constituents. Greene serves as co-chair of the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery.
Chris Hall, part of “Operation Shelter,” helped with early efforts to bring Starlinks and RVs to the region.
Sean and Mona Hendricks of Greenville, North Carolina, spent months in the region and helped set up more than 60 Starlinks and met with Vice President JD Vance.
Matt Von Swol, of Weaverville, built a substantial following on X exposing FEMA’s failures.
Chris Rains unloaded airplanes, coordinated flights, sorted clothes and other supplies for seven months.
Stephanie Almeida, owner of Full Circle Recovery Center and founder of Smoky Mountain Harm Reduction in Franklin created a regional mutual aid hub and served free hot food, also distributing survival supplies, water, medical supplies while sorting over 250,000 pieces of clothing.
Griffin Lloyd, of Lloyd Construction in Highlands immediately went to Lake Lure and Flat Rock, building temporary shelters, feeding centers and a warehouse for donations over a two-month period.
Jack and Doreen Castle established a collection point at Victory Baptist Church in Macon County, took seven truckloads of food, water, toiletries and blankets to the Highlands distribution point and donated new mailboxes as a fundraiser for Asheville residents.
Paige Jones of WNC Strong donated six mobile homes to house hurricane survivors.
Bill and Susan Swift, small business owners from Franklin, secured vacant shopping center space as a supply staging point and helped transfer supplies and coordinate equipment and donations across the region.
Derek and Aaron Buchanan, owners of Spear Country Store in Avery County converted their business into a distribution center amid tremendous personal and professional loss.
Patrick Ward, a first responder from Madison County, worked around the clock across multiple counties and continued rescue and recovery operations for months.
828 Vets, an all-volunteer group helping veterans and families, collected and delivered goods to flood victims.
John Anglin worked at the Yancey County Command Center and helped ensure the county’s voting sites were ready to receive voters.
Jeff and Diane Patterson lost their home, but they worked the polls and volunteered at Trump’s Asheville rally last fall.
Tim Wright, sheriff of Polk County, led a rapid response team and later supported wildfire evacuations and recovery.
Precision Grading, of Saluda, has been active in construction and recovery work across the region and is especially recognized in the Chimney Rock area.
Anthony Penland, Swannanoa fire chief, oversaw a department that dealt with incredible devastation.
