National Guard says it has rescued over 865 people in western North Carolina after Helene

ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — It’s been about two months since Hurricane Helene hit the Carolinas, and the North Carolina National Guard this week shared an update about its efforts to help western North Carolina recover. 

The National Guard said it has rescued over 865 people, delivered over 22,000 tons of relief supplies, and cleared over 1,600 obstacles during the repair of roadways, bridges, and culverts.

With over 6,200 National Guardsmen from 16 states helping, it’s the longest sustained response to a natural disaster in the history of the North Carolina National Guard.

“As you return to your universities, colleges, places of employment and families, I want you all to know how much a difference you have made in helping others in Western North Carolina,” Brig. Gen. Wes Morrison, commander of the joint task force, said.