Red Cross sending supplies from Massachusetts to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene
DEDHAM -- Rochelle Reich celebrated her first birthday as a child in Massachusetts, and her latest ankle-deep in mud at her Asheville, North Carolina apartment that flooded to the ceiling with water.
Hurricane Helene did her worst, and now Reich and emergency crews are picking up the pieces. The American Red Cross sent crews to Asheville on Wednesday, and the support can't come soon enough.
"It's like a scene in a movie. You'd think that's not how it would be, but it totally is how it was," said Reich.
When Reich was able to re-enter her apartment, the water dripped down from the insulation, and every piece of furniture was saturated and thrown effortlessly.
"The refrigerator was upside down and wedged between the wall and the oven on its side," said Reich. "All of the other neighbors in my building were evacuated by boat."
All they were able to salvage was three boxes of pictures and keepsakes along with what clothes they could de-mud.
"I know I saved at least one Patriots shirt, and one of my son's," said Reich, a long time Patriots fan who plans to take her son to Gillette for a game next year as part of a graduation present. "We salvaged three small boxes of candle sticks and wine glasses that were my kids' grandmother's, and my jewelry."
Last Thursday they fled to a friend's home in Charlotte. While they were there, two trees fell on the home. Another friend also stayed the night.
"Their road got flooded, and she watched her car float away. Her husband hitchhiked to another city to rent a car and she is five months pregnant," Reich said.
Reich is an Executive Director for a synagogue in the area. So far, people have raised $30,000 to help their family, but Reich plans to give most of it back to her community. As a faith leader in the community, she says it's just what she does.
"Rosh Hashanah starts tonight, and we wanted to grab 48-hours to pretend that it's normal," said Reich. "We now have something to wear to synagogue that is not plastic."
Supplies on the way from Massachusetts
Locally, the American Red Cross Massachusetts chapter is sending supplies their way. They expect to reach North Carolina by Thursday night.
"The purpose is to provide deliver meals to shelters and anyone in the community," explains Peter Schubert, a Regional Logistics Coordinator with the American Red Cross. "These people really, really need us. They are homeless. They have no place to go and it's people helping people."
American Red Cross trucks are on their way to Asheville now. They expect to join 20 to 30 other vehicles down there. The support can't come soon enough.