The path of Hurricane Helene reached an astonishing 500 miles north of the gulf coast, traveling through North Carolina creating a disaster zone unlike we have never seen before.   The flooding swept away homes, roads, trees and anything in its path leaving behind devastated small mountain communities.   The people we’ve met and are helping are so grateful and hard working and would give you the shirts off their back.   

When Hurricane Helene struck Florida this week, we were pre-positioned and on site to help in Florida and Georgia. The storm kept moving north for an astonishing 500 miles and caused total devastation in some areas of Tennessee and North Carolina. Many lives have been lost and some communities will take many years to rebuild.

More than 200 homes were destroyed in the storms that swept across several North Texas communities. Many people were caught off guard when the storms hit, and Valley View residents reported that tornado sirens didn’t go off, leaving some to scramble for safety. Despite this, residents and friends from all over have united to help. We are proud to join them, using our trucks and equipment to assist with the heavy lifting. 

According to a preliminary report, an EF3 tornado with 140mph winds touched down in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Roughly 100 homes sustained significant damage, and authorities asked us to help clear driveways and homesites covered in fallen trees and debris. It was an honor to once again partner with the Tennessee Rangers to help families with the overwhelming and often difficult task of clearing heavy and challenging debris. 

Nebraska was hit by nine tornadoes, including an EF-3 in Elkhorn, just west of Omaha. With winds reaching 165mph, the tornado stayed on the ground for over 30 miles, leaving only a few walls of several homes standing. The number of volunteers who came to help was astonishing. In just a few short days,  all our combined efforts made a visible difference in the cleanup progress. 

A total of eight tornadoes struck central Ohio. Our Team responded to the Lakeview area, where an EF3 tornado devastated over 200 homes, tragically claiming the lives of 3 community members. Within hours,  kind-hearted friends and neighbors from near and far came together to start clearing home sites, and we were proud to join them in their efforts! 

To end the year, the Team served in middle Tennessee where 7 tornadoes touched down, one which stayed on the ground for more than an hour. These tornadoes resulted in 84 injuries and 7 fatalities. We were able to partner with the Tennessee Rangers, clearing trees and debris from home sites and helping to clear roads.

The Team arrived in Florida’s Big Bend hours after Hurricane Idalia slammed into one of the most rural and economically challenged areas of the state. A hurricane of this size has not hit this area since the 1800’s which also means some of the trees are huge from years of growth. Roads are blocked everywhere and families need help with clearing trees from their homesites. 

The cleanup has begun in the tight knit community of Moss Point Mississippi where an EF-2 Tornado left many homes and businesses damaged. Thankfully and miraculously there were no fatalities and only a few injuries. 

A widespread and deadly tornado outbreak, described as historic, occurred from March 31 – April 1, 2023. In total there were 226 tornado warnings issued. At certain points of the outbreak, over 20 simultaneous tornado warnings were active. The Team is focusing their efforts on serving in Tennessee and Arkansas. Along the way we are finding some of the most hard working and kindest communities. Each day progress is made, bringing everyone closer to restoring what was lost.