More locals get involved in Hurricane Helene help
As Butler Senior High School alumnus Tyler Kotch delivers supplies to people in his current home of Asheville, N.C., his father, Richard Kotch, is gathering supplies in Butler to help his son’s efforts in the city devastated by Hurricane Helene.
Ann Snodgrass, Tyler Kotch’s aunt, of Harmony, said the family plans to take a truck of whatever size is necessary to Asheville next week. Richard Kotch is collecting clothing, nonperishable foods, hygiene items and baby needs at his insurance agency at 201 South Duffy Road in Butler Township, in preparation for the delivery.
The family plans to depart Butler with the caravan of supplies Oct. 16, and Snodgrass said she is hoping to fill a truck with donations to deliver to the people of Asheville. She said they plan to take donations at Richard Kotch’s office through Oct. 15.
“Once we heard about this devastation, we said we’re going to put together a donation drop-off,” Snodgrass said. “We don’t know what kind of truck we’re going to need; we’re expecting more to come in throughout the week.”
Other people in Butler County are getting involved in the Hurricane Helene relief effort from home. Valerie Mueller is a Red Cross volunteer from Meridian who is working remotely on tracking and reunification efforts of people in the areas affected by the storm.
Since the storm hit, Mueller has been working 10- to 12-hour days answering the phone for people calling the Red Cross in search of people who were in the storm’s path. Mueller said operators take messages from “seekers,” and put a call out online for the person they are seeking. With phone and internet reception spotty after the hurricane, Mueller said many people are looking for any way to locate friends or family in North Carolina.
“We can send a note to our on-the-ground team; we can check the shelters and see whether they are there,” Mueller said.
“We are working at least 20 cases each day,” Mueller continued. “I started at 8 (Thursday) morning sending out text messages. I have received some back saying they have been found, and some saying they haven't been found.”
Nicole Roschella, Red Cross regional communications director, said the agency has people on the ground in disaster areas, but people also can work from wherever they are on other efforts, including reunification.
Mueller used to travel for disaster relief work through the Red Cross, working as a shelter transition staffer in Hawaii and Guam after they were struck by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. While the work is time-consuming and emotional at times, Mueller said she felt compelled to help through the Red Cross after seeing areas devastated by extreme weather.
“You're sitting here thinking what can I do to help people,” Mueller said. “What drew me to the Red Cross was helping out. I knew that Red Cross went to fires locally, that's how I started.”
Roschella said anyone can sign up to be a volunteer through the Red Cross and can get involved with the Hurricane Helene efforts online at redcross.org/helene.
“These responses take a long time,” Roschella said. “We will be helping these areas for months and months to come.”
