Locals return from storm-ravaged North Carolina

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Misty Maynard grew up in Arden, North Carolina — one of the areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene. She lives in Huntington now and got back Wednesday night from delivering supplies to those who need them most.

“I called my family and asked if they were in need of anything … my sister said they were low on water, and they wasn’t prepared foodwise … and not to have the essential of the electric to cook,” Maynard said.

She started buying food and supplies right away, loaded her car and headed south.

Maynard said it was “pure destruction, I lived there most of my life,” painting a picture of what she saw firsthand.

“Complete devastation, it will never be the same,” she said.

Others reached out to Maynard when they heard she was heading south to see if they could get some help, too.

“I had people saying ‘can you bring me water?’ ‘Can you bring me that loaf of bread?’ ‘I just want that thing of peanut butter,’ and simple daily things that we take advantage of, that they want little of,” Maynard said.

While she was helping people, she said there was a moment that really stuck with her.

“She was crying because I gave her a loaf of bread. I asked her if she needed water. She didn’t want to take it. She said ‘there’s somebody in need of that worse than I am.’ She was an elderly lady. I left hygiene products with her, peanut butter, but she wouldn’t take the water because she thought somebody else might need it more than her. As she began to cry. I got in my vehicle and cried because the daily things that we take for granted everyday aren’t available to my hometown,” Maynard said.

Maynard is asking people to lend a hand.

“A little bit goes a long ways right now, with everyone. And if we can provide a glimpse of hope or a supply that may provide somebody in need, that’s one need provided to that one person that is needed,” Maynard said.

She said there’s not enough supplies going around and hopes people will step up, and pitch in.

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