ALBEMARLE — In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s destruction last week, the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office has sent a team of deputies to western North Carolina to help meet the urgent needs of the region.
The sheriff’s office announced on Friday night that a unit was being deployed to provide aid to state and local agencies with search and rescue operations, public safety efforts, and general support to law enforcement agencies in the affected areas.
“We continue to pray for the families affected, as well as the volunteers who are sacrificing their time, safety and resources to provide as much assistance as possible,” Sheriff Jeff Crisco said in a media release. “I am immensely proud of the continued, overwhelming support by citizens of our county and could not be more proud to be part of Stanly County.”
The western part of the state has been disrupted with catastrophic flooding, power outages, and considerable infrastructural damage.
“The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office remains in communication with emergency management officials and will continue to evaluate the situation to provide further assistance as necessary,” the SCSO announced. “We extend our thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the storm and are committed to doing everything possible to support recovery efforts. The teams we have sent to the western part of NC continue to work around the clock helping communities in desperate need.”
For an assistance shipment that will be transported this weekend, the SCSO is accepting donations at its Albemarle location at 223 S. Second Street every weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
After gauging the scene on the ground, the sheriff’s office has been advised by volunteers that the donations of highest priority are baby items such as diapers, wipes, and formula; toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, feminine products, sealed water, pop-top canned food and shelf stable food are also listed as items of need.
Along with the assistance efforts being made by the sheriff’s office, the Locust Police Department is also collecting supplies to help support first responders and aid the victims of the flooding in the western part of the state.
The LPD has already completed a delivery to the Burnsville area of Yancey County and is now in the process of taking a delivery to the Lansing area of Ashe County.
“We were able to provide teams with things they needed, as well as link-up with a captain from the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office who found us a place to drop off the rest of the items as a distribution point,” Locust Officer Eric P. Fore wrote in a social media update. “As far as I can tell, we were the first to make a delivery in that area. He was very grateful and said to bring all we can. They have not received any federal assistance at this point in food, diapers, etc.”
All donations in Locust can be left beside the front door of the Locust Government Center (186 Ray Kennedy Drive) 24 hours a day, or given to on-site employees during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.