IRR deployment to North Carolina returns
International Rescue and Relief, a branch of Union Adventist University known for its adventurous students and eagerness to aid others, was recently deployed to North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, which devastated the East Coast on September 27th. The disaster heavily affected the area of North Carolina within the mountainous regions, due to the improbability of a flood or tropical storm reaching the mountains. The area that IRR operated around and out of was Newland, North Carolina, which was heavily affected by the storm, as roadways were destroyed and debris was scattered through riverbeds and into people’s yards.
IRR was deployed on October 5, 2024, to go to Newland. Operations focused on point-of-distribution volunteering, mucking and mudding and sawyering work. Point of Distribution (PoD) work entails organizing and transporting incoming goods for the community and aiding local volunteers in coordinating the distribution of goods. Mucking and mudding involves the removal of important objects as well as debris from homes, and removing mud from the area. It involves heavy lifting and a significant amount of personal protective equipment, such as a full-body suit and a respirator. Sawyering is chainsaw work, clearing yards of fallen trees and sticks and providing firewood for individuals in need, as well as clearing ground and ensuring the safety of the operators and the civilians in the area around large fallen trees.
IRR went with a willingness to aid, which was seen and heard by individuals in North Carolina. Members of the community even went so far as to call Union President Yami Bazan, detailing how the students interacted with the community and how their volunteer service affected them. Many accounts detailed how the students worked with a smile, and had a desire to help. For IRR students, the deployment was an opportunity to help an incredibly resilient community and gain an understanding of the field that many of them seek to go into. The experience was a unique look into the world of disaster management, and how the community itself bands together in such a strong way in order to help each other in an absolute sign of resilience.
The deployment returned on October 13 with a greater understanding of disaster management and resilience than when they left, and with new experiences unique to each of them. It allowed for personal growth, the test of grit, and a promotion of resilience in the face of hardship. Finally, it prepared them more for the future of their career, and with memories that won’t be forgotten.
by James Smartt