MARSHALL - Residents from throughout Western North Carolina and elsewhere are showing out in full force to provide helping hands however they can in downtown Marshall, where businesses and residences were devastated by Tropical Storm Helene.
The News-Record & Sentinel was in downtown Marshall Oct. 2, where a number of local residents had set up shop providing emergency assistance, food and water.
Tricia Haler and Morgan Yeakley set up shop outside right outside of the Madison County Courthouse in the days following the destruction.
"This is all personal effort and local business effort. This is the only coverage we have. We're doing first aid, water, food, snacks, PPE, some coffee, and we've got some emergency medical equipment," Yeakley said.
More:How to find help: Madison County emergency resource guide in the wake of Helene flooding
"It came together organically. Tricia and I on Sept. 30 started asking around about how to get involved."
Yeakley's husband owns Red Shed Woodworks, which was on hand assisting with the cleanup.
"(Haler) and I walked up like 8 miles on Monday, up and down dragging stuff up through mud up to our knees," Yeakley said.
Then, Amos with Nanostead, a small-scale sustainable design and building contractor located at 806 Walnut Creek Road, got involved with the efforts as well.
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Nanostead, next to Community Housing Coalition, is coordinating shuttles to downtown, and other efforts.
Yeakley said she has been very encouraged by the community's rallying around their neighbors in need.
"I've lived in this town for 22 years, and seeing people and we've all come together, and we all care, and we're all just giving each other's showers and food and laundry services," Yeakley said. "It's amazing. It's just such an awesome community."
Blake Barker works at Buchi, a drink manufacturer along Derringer Drive in Marshall. Barker, who has worked at the business for seven years, said it was important for him to help out.
"I wanted to be down here with the people I love and help out," Barker said.
Renee Panter, a Mars Hill resident, started showing up to downtown Marshall Oct. 1.
"This is my community," Panter said. "My friend Lisa's cooking up some burgers and hot dogs, so I'm bringing her some propane. I figured I would come and do what I can."
PPE distribution
Amid the devastation, some residents were doing their best to encourage volunteers to remember the effects of exposure to toxic chemicals.
Marshall resident Rachel Bennett is working with Nanostead to issue PPE and other protective gear, including boots and masks, to assist volunteers in their cleanup efforts.
"This is a really groundroots organization that we started Oct. 1, just a couple of neighbors of mine. We put it out there and just started organizing," Bennett said.
"We were supposed to get a big shipment of gloves, coveralls, masks, respirators, but we aren't. So, we're hoping to get more. Those are the big things because we're in cleanup right now. We need thick things."
According to Bennett, one of Nanostead's main efforts right now is to centralize and streamline volunteer efforts and distribution.
"Community Housing Coalition has been our hub, and then Beacon of Hope has been the hub for Hot Springs, and we've been communicating between the two," Bennett said.
"The huge thing is talking with the people and them communicating their needs so we can fund it, because we want to make sure we're buying the right things. Right now, it's boots, and it's hard to get people to put on gloves, because when you're in this, you're like, 'I'm already exposed.'"
Bennett said the volunteers need "full coverage," including gloves, respirators and boots.
Additionally, Bennett said a local resident performed a soil test Oct. 1 and is still awaiting the results.
While there may not be boots, masks and gloves for everyone, the town of Marshall continues to see residents show out and offer their help.
Magon Hof, a Marshall resident who grew up near the downtown area, was assisting Oct. 2 with the cleanup of Marshall Town Hall, which was destroyed in the flooding.
"I grew up here. I used to walk these streets as a kid with my Granny, and we'd go to Bowman's, which is now destroyed," Hof said. "For me, it's just, you know, you grew up here. So you want to do what you can to help."