Red Cross works to reunite families after Helene

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene it’s difficult to know the exact number of those who are still missing in western North Carolina.

Loved ones across the state and country are looking for ways to make sure those on the ground know to be looking for specific people. Some counties like Buncombe are now posting their own website pages where people can report a missing person. The Red Cross of North Carolina is another way people can do that.

Tai Wong is the communications manager for Red Cross of North Carolina. Wong is based in Raleigh and has been in the mountains for the last several days.

He spoke to CBS 17 about what he has seen in the disaster zone and what people can do to report someone missing:

“From what we’re seeing is just a lot of devastation, a lot of trees down, cars completely flattened, and some homes even just split in half by the trees that have toppled over them because of Hurricane Helene. a lot of the roads are actually still blocked, and if they’re open, there’s still some debris left in the roads, and they’re also very muddy.”

“When it comes to trying to help reunify or find someone for certain individuals it’s just very important that we remind everyone that we’re trying our best. We’re trying our hardest. We are working with our community partners to help provide that support and relief. And we also understand that during disasters. That can truly be someone’s darkest time in their life.”

“If you are looking for someone we do encourage you to go to redcross.org/helene. From there they can click the reunification link and send in all the information that they have about this individual, their whereabouts, anything that they have that can give the most description for our reunification team to be able to help track down those individuals.”

“A lot of people that I’ve spoken to feel like they were not prepared. In this area some have said that minor flooding is OK, it’s expected, especially in the mountains or when you live at the bottom of a mountain. But something at this magnitude just really took them by surprise and even for myself, someone that was watching this system as it made its way through the Carolinas, it was surprising. It was shocking. And now that I’m seeing it first hand, it truly is devastating to see and hear what happened in our communities.”

If you need assistance locating or connecting with a loved one after Hurricane Helene, click here.

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Russ Bowen

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