The
Bluffton Blufft n Sun November 13, 2024 • Volume 27, Issue 22 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
Battle of the Bluff
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Heroic efforts provide North Carolina relief BY KAT RICE Contributor Bluffton local Tom Curry has built a legacy of providing boots-on-the-ground hurricane relief in the Lowcountry. When Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across North Carolina, state Representative Herbkersman knew who to call. Herbkersman asked Curry to fly emergency items like insulin, medical supplies, first aid kits and medications to the disaster zone. But after talking with relief workers on the ground, Curry knew the area was desperate for non-medical supplies, too. He could hear the desperation in their voices. The area was distressed and without food and water. That’s how he and his wife ended up spending their 30th wedding anniversary loading trucks with donated items, a familiar moment after having done the exact same thing nine years prior when Hurricane Joaquin killed 19 people and destroyed hundreds of homes in Columbia, S.C. Curry’s grassroots effort spanned the two weeks following Helene when relief was most critical.
TOM CURRY He organized a close-knit team including his wife, sons, family friends and employees, and he started by asking Facebook followers to join the effort. Curry says the response was overwhelming and
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immediate. “The original plan was to fly all the supplies up, but within 24 hours, we had collected an entire U-Haul van full of supplies. Within 48 hours, we collected three U-Hauls full of supplies. It was amazing. The people of Beaufort County were so giving, especially Sun City who donated about one third of the donations alone.” Because of the massive response, Curry transformed his hangar at Hilton Head Airport into a warehouse where the team could separate and load supplies. Sunshine Nursery in Bluffton and Green Thumb Nursery on the Island volunteered as drop off locations and Josh Sigler, owner of Palmetto Towing, volunteered himself and two of his drivers to take the supplies up. Between navigating closed roads, unloading the trucks and driving back, each trip took about 18 hours. Meanwhile, Adventist World Aviation was helping to get critical health supplies like insulin to the area, flying two to three loads a day for free. Curry organized everything, spending
HEROIC CONT. ON PAGE 3A
Counting our blessings: what we’re thankful for this season 23A
Advocates celebrate sewer approval, address remaining issues 40A
Nurse practitioners help bridge physician shortages, providing quality primary 44A and speciality care