Post 248 Hurricane Helene disaster response

Blue Ridge, GA

Members of Post 248 of Blue Ridge, Ga., quickly provided disaster response in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The post is located in Fannin County, which borders western North Carolina. While our area was largely spared from the disaster, one member had numerous trees down across her driveway, trapping her on her property. She reached out for help and several post members responded and cleared her driveway within a few hours of her request. Those members included Kerry Dills (and his son), Tim Doherty, Fletcher Stroemer, Daryl Westberry and SAL member Chas Auten.

Post and Auxiliary members also volunteered to support our Fannin County Fire Department (FCFD) and Emergency Management Agency (EMA) in receiving and sorting donated disaster relief supplies and loading trailers that were transported by the FCFD/EMA directly to those impacted counties in western North Carolina and eastern Georgia, including the Augusta area. This was a multi-day mission which began right after storm impact and continues today. Post volunteers included Commander Jim Callender, Chris McKee, Paul Russell, Mark Smith, Tim Doherty, Jeff Immel, Katrina Rmiglietta and Bob Bradley. Auxiliary volunteers included Leslie Callender and Star Smith. SAL member Chas Auten also volunteered. In addition to volunteering in this effort, the Post Executive Committee approved an immediate expenditure of $500 for disaster relief supplies, which were purchased and provided to the FCFD by Rmiglietta, the post deputy finance officer.

Post members Chris McKee, Paul Hunter, Harold Bargeron, John Grizzell, Bill Stodghill, Bob Bradley, Floyd Balance, Commander Jim Callender and SAL member Chas Auten collected cash donations for disaster relief supplies for six hours on Sat, Oct 5, near the Blue Ridge Walmart and Dairy Queen restaurant to purchase additional supplies.

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