Aviators Assist with Hurricane Relief Efforts in North Carolina

NC – When you think of states that are regularly impacted by hurricanes, you probably think of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, but did you know that North Carolina is the third most likely state to experience hurricanes? In fact, 47 hurricanes have hit the state since 1851. That’s a hurricane every 3.68 years. The latest hurricane was Hurricane Helene, and it’s been almost two months since the storm made landfall near Perry, Florida. Helene was a massive Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds, and it created an incredible path of destruction and death. However, it also showed the resilience and determination of the affected communities. Immediately after the storm passed, individuals, non-profits, and organizations all sought to help those affected by the hurricane, and two of those individuals were pilots Alex Gertsen and Luis Quiñones. Together, they flew a relief mission from Maryland to Ashville, NC, delivering more than $5,000 worth of supplies.

Understanding Hurricane Helene’s Wide Path of Destruction

Hurricane Helene carved a wide path of flooding and destruction. After the hurricane hit Florida, it traveled through Georgia before slamming into eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. The storm caused an astonishing 230+ deaths. It was responsible for more than 700,000 power outages, and it’s estimated to have caused as much as 53 billion dollars in damage.

Aviators Bring Help to Hurricane Victims

Once the storm had passed, multiple agencies, non-profits, and individuals began collecting and transporting aid into the affected areas, and some of those individuals were pilots. One notable pilot was Alex Gertsen. He works as the NBAA’s Senior Director for Airport Advocacy and Vertical Infrastructure. In other words, he works tirelessly to protect small airports so that they’re available for private and corporate use. However, his desire to protect goes far beyond small general aviation airports. Once the hurricane made landfall, he was determined to help the people in North Carolina. You see, Alex Gertsen both advocates for airports and flies airplanes, so he has a unique understanding of the importance of small, community airports.

Raising Relief Funds After the Storms

In times of need, general aviation airports are a valuable resource. They allow pilots of airplanes and helicopters to get to disaster-hit areas quickly in order to deliver relief supplies, and that’s exactly what Mr. Gertsen used them for. Upon learning of the hardships of those affected by Helene, Mr. Gertsen quickly got in touch with his friend, Miranda Barrett, who is originally from Hendersonville, NC, and was once a colleague in the White House Travel Office. In fact, she still has family in the area and was eager to help Mr. Gertsen raise money to provide supplies for the community of Hendersonville, and in just 48 hours, they were able to raise $5,000.

What Supplies Were Needed?

The hurricane-hit community needed every kind of supply imaginable. They needed non-perishable foods, paper plates, utensils, water, shelf-stable milk, diapers, baby formula, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, first aid supplies, and personal hygiene products, among many other things. With the $5,000, Mr. Gertsen went on a hurricane relief shopping spree. Unfortunately, he ran into a problem. As he took inventory of everything he was able to purchase, he realized that his Mooney didn’t have the cargo capacity to carry it all. It was time to ask for some help from his flying friend, Luis Quiñones.

Getting a Helping Hand from Another Pilot

Mr. Gertsen needed another pilot, so he asked Luis Quiñones for help. Luis Quiñones is a cyber security sales expert and a pilot, and in his spare time, he flies volunteer medical missions. Needless to say, Mr. Quiñones didn’t hesitate to say ‘yes’ when Mr. Gertsen asked him for help. Together, they flew the hurricane relief supplies from Gaithersburg, MD, to Asheville, NC, landing at the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), where friends were waiting.

Landing in Ashville, NC

Mr. Gertsen and Mr. Quiñones landed in Ashville and taxied to the tarmac, where they were greeted by Miranda Barrett’s parents and one of his friends from grade school. The planes were unloaded and transferred to vehicles before being transported the final few miles to Hendersonville.

A Memorable Experience and a Fantastic Opportunity to Help

Mr. Gertsen and Mr. Quiñones were honored to be able to help the North Carolina community of Hendersonville. Mr. Gertson was quoted as saying, “Learning about so many people cut off from the essentials they need to survive due to the destruction of roads and bridges in the wake of Helene, I found myself in a unique position to use [my Mooney and piloting skills] to help.”

Continuing the Mission After Ashville

Ashville wasn’t Mr. Gertsen’s only stop. Once he unloaded his supplies, he took off for Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (JQF). Once there, he took part in Operation Airdrop. In total, he logged 8.2 hours of flight time and helped countless families begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

How are the relief efforts going now?

Relief and rebuilding efforts are still ongoing. More than 1.2 billion dollars has been approved by the Biden-Harris Administration to help those affected by Helene, and it’s estimated that more than 1,400 Disaster Assistance Survivor Team Members from FEMA are still on the ground in the affected areas. FEMA has also approved more than 185 million dollars to help 116,000 households, and an additional 189 million dollars has been approved to help clear all the debris.

If you are in need of assistance due to being impacted by Helene, you can apply at FEMA.gov. Assistance is currently being offered to individuals who reside in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.