10/07/2024
So first off I would like to thank everyone that donated to our group that went out to Western Nc.. We came home a little discouraged.. We were told one thing or another, that we would be doing this or that and it changed a few times before we even got there, and even more once we did.. I feel like we could have been so much more help to people if things had of been run a little different,, Once we arrived we were basically told to just drive around and see what we could do.. We were not really given any real direction,, So we tried to talk to loacls and find out where they thought we might be able to do the most good, find areas that they new were really hit hard. We were given some areas that they thought we should check.. We were able to get to a couple of those areas but for the most part they had already been gotten to. Other areas were blocked off by the state police and we were turned away.. I am not going to pretend that I would have all of the answers.. But I can promise I would have done some things different.. It was really good to see how much the donation centers that we came across had already collected and were giving out. But I know we could have been so much more help if we had of been allowed to get into some of the other areas that were not aaccessible by roads. We were only a small fraction of the people that showed up, with some of the most capable offroad rigs known to man, that felt sad,angry, frustrated, all of the above. If am being 100% honest I feel we could have done amuch better job that if femal and local government got out of the damn way.. All we wanted to do was help.. We didnt ask for anything.. We spent our own money to go try and help. Our current administration in Dc and Gov Roy Cooper should have a lot of questions to answer for the way that area, and this disaster is being handled. In the end I am grateful that I was able to help, even if it was not as much as I would liked.. I am not writing this to try and discourge anyone from helping and donating to this effort.. because they are damn sure going to need the help... Thanks again to everyone that donated items for us to take out there with us..