SWANNANOA, N.C. – Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction when it hit the Southeast on Sept. 26, and more than two weeks later, the region is still grappling with the aftermath. Cage Hendry from Rathdrum was heartbroken to see the devastation on the news and online, prompting him to take action to assist with recovery.
“These people lost everything, lost family members. There hasn’t been anything like this in a long time, if ever. Just everything washed away,” Hendry said. “It looks almost apocalyptic. And if this place ever is the same, it won’t be for years.”
Determined to help, Hendry drove solo from Rathdrum to North Carolina, bringing equipment, supplies, and an excavator. Despite a challenging start when his trailer lost four tires, he successfully reached his destination in Swannanoa.
Upon arrival, Hendry made an immediate impact by assisting an elderly woman.
“She couldn’t get to her house because it had been washed out, so I spent this morning clearing out a bunch of debris and cars and then making her a nice little road to get across the river to her house for the first time,” Hendry said.
Cage plans to stay in Swannanoa for at least another week. His aim is to help residents recover and move forward from the devastating hurricane.
Other Inland Northwest businesses are also working to aid the Southeast after Hurricane Milton made landfall last week.
Two Avista crews were dispatched to Florida to assist with power restoration. The utility company told NonStop Local that Florida Power & Light released the crews before they arrived in Florida. The Avista crews safely returned to the Inland Northwest on Oct. 12.
