Search-and-Rescue Leader Describes Saving People in the Aftermath of Helene’s ‘Biblical’ Destruction in N.C.
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“The devastation is unbelievable,” he says
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
More Than 100 Dead After Hurricane Helene Ravages the South and 600 Remain Missing in 1 N.C. County: Officials
More than 100 people are dead and hundreds of others remain missing, including 600 in one North Carolina county alone, as southeastern portions of the United States recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, officials said. The death toll from the storm that made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday, Sept. 26, reached at least 107 as of Monday, Sept. 30, according to the Associated Press.
Capt. Chad Arnold is in charge of a team who has spent much of the last week rescuing people in the mountains of North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene.“It’s heartbreaking, I’m actually from the area, I grew up there, and the devastation is unbelievable,” Arnold, a part of the special operations for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, tells PEOPLE.As a captain, Arnold runs a swiftwater rescue team whose work has become key since Helene flooded much of western North Carolina beginning on Friday, Sept. 27, drowning mountainous communities in the Asheville area and beyond.The death toll continues to be in flux — and continues to climb — though officials and news reports say at least 200 people have been killed, with a significant portion of the reported victims so far in North Carolina.Arnold acts as a coordinator and says the men on his team, 21 total, with six rescue boats, have so far saved at least 50 people, pulling kids and adults from raging water, from rooftops and from landslides.“It’s hard to describe. It’s a biblical event, something you would never expect to see or witness,” he says. “The devastation is so bad.”Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission search-and-rescue operations
Detailing some of his team’s efforts, Arnold says, “There were several places they swam into residences and recovered individuals that were in the water, they performed several water rescues in the town of Marion.""Then they moved to Barnardsville, where there were several communities completely trapped and blocked from the main road due to bridges being washed out," he continues, "so they sent rescue swimmers across the river to go check on individuals who were trapped by the water.”Arnold did not want to comment on the search for bodies but acknowledges that work is ongoing, while teams have been searching for people who may still be trapped in the destruction.
Related: Pregnant North Carolina Woman Says She Survived Helene Floodwaters by Clinging to Mattress for 8 Hours
State and local officials have told PEOPLE that complete information is not yet available about the extent of the dead or their identities, amid the recovery work.A lifelong North Carolinian, Arnold says he’s been receiving calls from similar teams to his from across the country, with people volunteering to come to the area to join the rescue efforts.He’s grateful for the help.
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission search-and-rescue operations
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission search-and-rescue operations
“It is very mentally and physically draining and taxing, but my guys are doing the best they can to provide public safety for the citizens of North Carolina,” he says. “I am so proud of this group. This team is unbelievable.”Arnold says he's particularly proud of one operation, with food and water being “scarce right now across the region.”
Related: Dad's Last Message to Daughter Was to ‘Stay Safe’ During Hurricane Helene. Days Later, He Was Found Dead (Exclusive)
“A local water reservoir that held fresh drinking water, there was no way to get that water to the community,” he says, “and the team went in and cut a path to provide access so the people able to move the water were able to get there."To learn more about how to help with relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts from Hurricane Helene, click here. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People.
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