Help Helene Survivors Stay Connected

Andrew. Katrina. Helene. These are the names of hurricanes that will be remembered for lifetimes. My name is Tisa. I’m just a mom trying to help however I can, and I am dear friends with survivors of Hurricane Helene.

(Cassie, TJ, Me & my husband AJ)

Thursday, September 26, I texted several of my friends and family who were in the path of the oncoming Hurricane Helene. Most of them were unbothered by the warnings on the news. Some got extra supplies ready. Most replied with apathy.

Hurricanes affect me on the coast of Virginia. We are so used to “Flash Flood Warnings” that we usually ignore them because we’re already prepared and know not to drive through water. My friends in the mountains of western North Carolina don’t get hurricanes. They live in “bear country,” not “coastal flood country.”

Friday morning, September 27, I called my friends to see how well they made it through the night. It was rainy and windy, but everything was okay. I was FaceTiming with my friend Cassie, who was showing me through the window how the wind was blowing her trees nearly sideways. At 9:05 am, we lost connection. But I was just talking to her. She was fine… right?

(She actually broke her elbow falling off a ladder while adjusting the gutter. Then she and other friends drove to evacuate.)

I spent the remainder of that day attempting to make contact with anyone and everyone I knew in the Appalachian Mountains. I attempted messaging apps like Facebook Messenger. I checked “Find My Friends” on my iPhone. I called. I texted. I watched in horror as one of the largest hurricanes to hit the United States flooded my friends, breaking dams, washing roads and buildings away in mudslides only possible in mountainous terrain!

I didn’t hear from anyone till 4:30 that afternoon. Slowly, I started getting a text message here and there from friends. I am beyond grateful to say that everyone I know survived the hurricane. Thank you, Jesus!

However, everyone had to drive to the local Walmart or up to the tops of hills in order to get even those few messages out. As they drove around looking for any kind of internet or cell phone service, they quickly realized how lucky they had been.

My buddy TJ lives off a dirt driveway. It’s long and steep. It was now muddy and full of holes. As he drove down his driveway onto the normal paved road… he found out he was stuck. All the directions were blocked by large trees that now crossed the road. Except one direction right by his home. That road was simply GONE! I didn’t hear from him till 6:30 that evening. He had to get a neighbor’s help to haul a tree away in order to leave.

My friend Bobbi evacuated to a local casino. She went back the next day to check on her home. All the bridges were broken and closed, so she and her husband walked to her home. They ended up staying in a hotel in South Carolina because there is literally no way in or out of their neighborhood.

We have now all seen the horrible photos and videos from Helene survivors that evacuated. ENTIRE TOWNS… completely gone! It’s no wonder no one in the region is able to get reliable cell or internet service now. All the infrastructure is destroyed!

This is where I need help now. My friends have been utterly devastated by the destruction of their towns. They are depressed. They feel cut off and isolated from each other and from the rest of the country. We all want to help, but the best way I can help from 6 hours away is to provide a small bit of that connection again. I want to get them reliable data service again!

My goal is to raise enough money to purchase a Starlink Satellite kit for my friend Cassie, and my friend TJ. I may increase this goal to include my friend Bobbi when roads have been repaired enough for her to return home. I have done a TON of research recently, and Starlink is the most reliable data provider for rural or remote areas. The startup kit includes everything each home would need for installation and provides enough broadband for typical home usage, like messaging, video streaming, and light conference calls (for those taking online college courses). Right now, Starlink is offering free service through the end of the year to anyone affected by Helene. Normally, it’s $120 per month, which isn’t terrible considering I pay $89 per month with Fios.

*Sample purchase from Home Depot nearby.

This may seem like a luxury, but please consider these are homes with adults attending online college classes, young kids not able to safely play outside, teens with no video streaming. These are friends who can’t call their families to let them know they’re safe. They can’t call each other to see how they can help. They are isolated at night because it’s unsafe to drive the roads, and it’s demoralizing during the day to see the destruction everywhere.

So please help me provide just two families (maybe three) with the means to stay connected so they can better help their neighbors and their towns.

Thank you for your generosity and love for each other!

God bless,

Tisa