MORGAN CO., Ala. (WAFF) – One truck has shipped off and two more trailers are filling up to be shipped off to help even more people affected by storm damage from Morgan County.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Posse began collecting donations just one week ago. Just one week later the semi-truck trailer was overflowing and it was shipped off to North Carolina.

Sammy Lawrimore from the posse says many areas are still in need after Hurricane Helene and since Milton was not as bad as they expected these other trailers may be sent to Tennessee or Georgia.

Lawrimore adds that he is so proud of his community and it feels good to help those in need.

“It’s been awesome. There are about five of us here every day with the sheriff’s posse. We have really worked hard to get this done. The community has really come together if it wasn’t for them it wouldn’t be possible,” said Lawrimore.

Project Unify has been on site aiding in hurricane relief. Cody Michael with Project Unify says he and some of his team plan to go to Florida to help out there but they will not leave Georgia until their work is done.

He is hoping that more volunteers will step up and they will have enough to have crews in each state.

“We do we are going to be here at least through the weekend. There are a lot of people here that still need help, there are a lot of homes in dire need. But we are looking at probably Sunday night to Monday we will transition down to Florida and be down on the coast,” said Michael.

The Sheriff’s posse will continue to take donations at any of these drop-off locations.

• Weavers Bait and tackle in Hartsel
• Summerville Town Hall
• The Morgan County Jail
• Pizza Ed’s
• Fredricks OutdoorsSheriff’s

Cash donations can be brought to any of the drop-off zones or you can call 256-502-0463 to arrange to have them picked up.

Project Unify is looking for all kinds of help, from monetary donations to volunteers, to prayer. To find out how you can help out Project Unify click here.

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) — As Western North Carolina nears two weeks since Helene hit causing widespread destruction, the recovery and cleanup efforts are still a huge undertaking.

Aerial Recovery is a non-profit made up of veterans and first responders that go to natural disasters all over the country and are now in Western North Carolina. Seth Griffith with Aerial Recovery says, “What we found is veterans and first responders work really well in disaster response. We have skills that we learned in the military we are not afraid to work. We’ve been doing everything from reconnaissance missions in remote areas, to extract people that need to get out.

Griffith says they’ve been getting medical supplies in remote areas along with basic living necessities.

“If we can give them a heater, a generator, bring them food, just talk and be human with them for 10 minutes, pray with them.” He stresses the importance of working with local authorities. “Work along with them, not by ourselves. We want to be a force multiplier, not be the tractor, or come in like cowboys and take over, it’s not our show, we want everyone to work with us aiding and assisting alongside.”

Dee Pitzer is one of the homeowners who needed help. “I’m still kind of stuck because I can’t get out down there.” The rain and mud from Helene washed out a large chunk of not only the road in front of her home but her entire driveway.

“The water on the road was waist deep. It was just coming in so fast no one could stand up in that, so I just stood up on the porch and prayed.”

Volunteers with Aeriel Recovery brought in skid steers to try and make navigating out of their Garren Creek neighborhood easier. Justin Foles with Aerial Recovery explains what they’re doing, “We are trying to make sure the road is nice is smooth. It’s really just a quality-of-life type thing, so they can get in and get out. If we can we try and put some culverts in that way the water has a place to flow and not just up and over the driveway to erode it even further if any more rain comes in.”

Another homeowner along the road Van Smith says the outpouring of support hasn’t stopped including visits from the National Guard and law enforcement, who all brought big smiles to his 4-year-old grandson, Oliver when they let him get in their vehicles and escape from all of the destruction around his home.

“We are getting a lot of help. Gotta give your hats off to all of these guys they’ve been super good. Everyone pulling together and making it happen we have to.”

Randy West and his wife also received help from the volunteers. During Helene, two mudslides brought the trees down, some narrowly missing his house.

“That’s all we lost is the back door. We are so fortunate to have this place after everybody around us lost their lives. Their homes, their driveways. We are so fortunate,” West tells ABC11.

A crew with Aerial Recovery surprised West Thursday. Foles said, “We want to make their life a little bit better, give them everything they want and need.”

Crews spent hours cutting up all of the fallen trees that blocked access to his spring, which is also his source of water. After they finished the job, West said, “It helped a lot. They cut me a trail right here to get up to my spring. I cannot thank that crew enough for showing up.”

Just before the crew left, West let them in on a little surprise, “Y’all don’t realize this, but that is my birthday today and this is the best present I could have gotten, “West said.

Aerial Recovery says they will be in Western North Carolina as long as there is a need.

SEE ALSO | 11 members of same family killed when mudslide wiped out ‘Craigtown’ during Hurricane Helene

ALSO SEE | Brothers stranded by Helene walk 13 miles through thick mud, washed-out roads

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels, 34-24, in their ACC opener on Oct. 5 at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. in front of a national audience.

The game, which aired on ESPN2 for a noon kickoff, saw 645,000 viewers tune in to watch the Panthers get their fifth win of the season, according to SportsMediaWatch. It ranked No. 19 overall for Week 6 and fifth highest in the noon slot.

It also ranked third most for any ACC matchup and fourth most for any matchup involving an ACC team in Week 6.

No. 8 Miami coming back from 25 points to defeat Cal on the road, 39-38, saw 1.92 million viewers at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN, No. 15 Clemson dominating Florida State on the road, 29-13, saw 1.41 million viwers at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN and Syracuse defeating No. 25 UNLV on the road, 44-41 in overtime, at 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 4 on FS1 saw 698,000 viewers.

It is the second highest viewership for a Pitt game this season, with their 38-34 comeback win vs. rival West Virginia at Acrisure Stadium in Week 3 on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m. bringing in 1.15 million viewers the most so far.

They also made their largest comeback in 50 years vs. Cincinnati on the road in Week 2 at noon on ESPN2, bringing in 304,000 viewers. Pitt vs. Kent State in the season opener in Week 1 at noon on ESPNU saw 83,000 viewers tune in.

Pitt is now 5-0, which is their best start to a season since they had the same record in 1991. They also finished undefeated in non-conference play, which was the first time they ever acheived that since joining the Big East in that 1991 season, after historically playing as an independent previously.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein completed 25-of-42 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns to one interception. He also led the Panthers on the ground with 10 rushes for 76 yards and one touchdown, giving him four scores in the victory over the Tar Heels.

Junior running back Desmond Reid finished with 18 carries for 55 yards, but 11 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown, earning himself ACC Receiver of the Week honors.

Pitt has two more nationally televised games coming up, both at home and on ESPN. They face ACC newcomer Cal on Oct. 12 at 3:30 p.m. and rival Syracuse on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

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