Winter weather impacting recovery efforts in western North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA — As snow and below-freezing temperatures move into western North Carolina, the needs of Helene survivors continue to grow.

And unfortunately, the winter weather is making it more difficult for people like him to offer help.

Channel 9′s Eli Brand spoke with one local man who said he has been driving a truck full of supplies west almost daily. However, he is finding it difficult to continue offering aid.

Joe Stull has been using his truck for months to do whatever he can for those recovering from the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene.

He said he has been a part of crews that have built over 20 tiny homes for victims, donated 12 campers, provided over 500 heaters, and given $48,000 worth of supplies.

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“75 days, I believe it has been since the storm, and I have put 11,000 miles on this truck,” Stull said.

But winter weather in the area has made Stull’s two-wheel drive useless in the harsh temperatures and snow on the mountains.

And his story isn’t a unique one. He said overall volunteers have had major struggles trying to reach mountain-dwelling residents because of the weather.

“We have people that want to volunteer and want to come, but they might be from Florida; they might be from Texas. They’ve never seen snow,” Stull said.

He said he plans to try and get a new four-wheel-drive diesel truck that will let him get around safely. It would also allow him to pull supplies up the mountains.

“I can’t risk my life or anybody else’s life, or I’m no good to nobody,” Stull elaborated.

Stull has set up a GoFundMe for the new truck. You can find that link here.

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