The Floyd Connection

The Floyd Connection STORY BY DOLORES SMITH

O

n the evening of September 27, Bill St. Pierre sat in his and debris, I still thought, ‘This house is a total knockdown.’“ home in Floyd, VA, transfixed by what he was watching Bill and his colleague, Matthew Thomas, got to work clearing unfold on the television screen in front of him—what the muck and debris and in about two hours they had cleared appeared to look and feel like the imminent destruction of an the home’s exterior of the damage nature had wrought. Yet, he enormous piece of his neighboring state of North Carolina. still left the home with a heavy heart, feeling that the rest of the Across town, on the other side of Floyd, Sam Calhoun, damage to the home was beyond repair. someone with deep ties to the High Country, also watched in When the storm struck, Angela could not get over the shock horror as the wind, rain, and mud of the extent of the damage and threatened to devastate huge swaths destruction to her property. “When of Western North Carolina. it happened, I just couldn’t see the As it happened, Sam Calhoun, light for the trees, let alone dream whose profession is organizing and of what tomorrow would look like. producing, and Bill St. Pierre, whose After Bill and his friend cleared away profession is moving earth, are the muck and debris, I could finally friends and professional colleagues, see that there was definitely a path and the collaboration that ensued back to normal, again,” she said. helped to feed, clothe, warm, and Today, the King family's home provide safety and comfort to untold stands as a testament to what can numbers of Western North Carolina be accomplished through the residents. extraordinary efforts of neighbors The first High Country resident and community, which also included that Bill St. Pierre was made aware of the help of Samaritan’s Purse, Acts who needed help was Angela King. of Mercy, Jay Adams of Eaglewood “I went to Angela’s home over off Construction (who handled interior Deerfield and cleared all of the mud mud removal) and numerous other that had pushed through her carport local volunteer organizations who and all the way up her kitchen door provided support to the effort. and steps, and then into the house.

Kerry Hines's family home, and But to be honest, although I knew that of her nearby in-laws, suffered Sam Calhoun and Eric Rogan strategizing a delivery route and donation pick up. Photo submitted. that I could excavate the mud, trees, extensive damage to the grounds. The

The carport at the King family's home after Helene.

Photo submitted.

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The carport after following St Pierre’s and others' restoration efforts.

Photo submitted.

When it happened I just couldn’t see the light for the trees, let alone dream of what tomorrow would look like. After Bill and his friend cleared away the muck and debris I could finally see that there was definitely a path back to normal, again.

- ANGELA KING driveway became impassable and with a young baby at home, access to the road was not optional. While she and her family were able to stay at a local hotel that provided complimentary rooms to the relief volunteers, and to some affected residents, the driveway and roadway to both properties clearly needed repair.

And these two families were two of the first to benefit from Bill’s efforts. “I was so grateful and surprised when someone reached out to me and told me that help was on the way if we needed it, and I told her that we did and that we very much appreciated it!”

Over six weeks, Sam and his colleagues organized and delivered over 15,000 pounds of relief supplies to North Carolina’s High Country, including scarce and precious commodities such as kerosene, chain saws, and heating equipment, along with non-perishable foods, diapers, clothing, and even children’s toys and games, at times making two and three trips in one day from Floyd to Banner Elk and Boone, and back. Sam

recently returned November 8-9, bringing additional supplies and providing cleanup.

Bill has also returned repeatedly, including as recently as press time for this story, shoring up residents’ driveways, retaining walls, and creek banks, providing hope to so many, along with the comfort of knowing that things can be, and will be “OK” again.

Many if not most recipients of the help received from these two professional colleagues and friends, may not have realized, and may never know, or become aware that Bill St. Pierre and Sam Calhoun, along with their colleagues volunteered 100% of their time and effort. And as far as Sam, Bill, and the other volunteers are concerned, that’s just fine, because what’s important to them is seeing the light in someone’s eyes when they realize that the road to recovery will now be just a little bit easier and maybe a lot less stressful. When asked what motivated them to react with such enthusiasm Sam Calhoun replied, “We didn’t think twice. How could anyone

One of numerous loads collected and delivered to North Carolina.

Photo submitted.

UNSAFE notice posted on the King’s family home.

Photo submitted.

in a position to help think twice? These are my people.” And as for Bill’s newfound love of the High Country, he remarked, “These are my people now, too. And they are some really, really great people.” t

Chainsaws and other supplies delivered for first responders.

Photo submitted.

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