Samaritan’s Purse Is Rebuilding Homes after Hurricane Helene

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Joe Sherwood was playing checkers when Hurricane Helene made a devastating strike. His peaceful morning took a dramatic turn when a landslide roared down the mountain behind his house, crashing through a wall and hurling the piano across the room. Joe was pinned beneath the piano for several hours, unable to move. It wasn’t until his son came to his rescue that Joe realized the extent of the damage—his home of 55 years was in ruins.

“It was completely knocked off its foundation,” Joe said.

The deadly storm tore through western North Carolina, dumping several feet of rain and causing catastrophic flash flooding. Hundreds of families were stranded, with nowhere to turn for help after the hurricane washed out roads and bridges.

In response to the historic disaster that devastated the community where Samaritan’s Purse's headquarters is located, staff coordinated one of the largest civilian airlift operations in U.S. history. Teams delivered emergency relief supplies, such as food, water, medical supplies, and generators, to the hardest-hit areas. Samaritan’s Purse partnered with local churches in the storm’s aftermath. Alliance Bible Fellowship in Boone, North Carolina, served as the base of operations for volunteers serving in Watauga and surrounding counties.

“Everywhere you drove, the land was scarred,” said Michael Talley, discipleship pastor at the church. “It was a representation of the physical marks on this community.”

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After meeting families' immediate needs by clearing debris and mudding out homes, the organization has transitioned to a long-term rebuild program. Teams are repairing damaged homes and providing new stick-built and mobile homes for families displaced by the storm.

“We are in this for the long haul,” said Luther Harrison, vice president of U.S. Rebuild. “We are not leaving.”

Joe was overjoyed to receive a new home from Samaritan’s Purse. The home was built just a few yards from where his original house once stood. Joe’s children, grandchildren, and friends joined Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteers for a special ceremony to dedicate the new home to the glory of God.

“I’ve been blessed beyond measure. I’ll forever be grateful,” Joe said.

Joe received an invoice stamped with bold red letters that read PAID IN FULL because his house was provided without charge. The framed invoice is a visible reminder of his faith in Jesus Christ.

“That’s just like our sins,” he said. “They were paid in full when Jesus went to the cross.”

Alison Moretz, Joe’s daughter, was encouraged that so many volunteers contributed to bringing her father home. During construction, they even wrote Bible verses on the beams and white walls—a reminder that Christ would always be Joe’s firm foundation.

“To have believers give up weeks and weeks of their time to come and help and be here to love on Dad—it was so cool. He loved getting to talk with all of them,” Alison said through her tears. “They’re the hands and feet of Jesus.”

Alliance Bible Fellowship continues to serve as a base of operations during the rebuild effort. In a conversation with On the Ground podcast host Kristy Graham, Talley discussed the ongoing relationship as “really fruitful and rich.”

“We love partnering with Samaritan’s Purse because they meet the physical needs, but they do it in the Name of Jesus,” Talley said.

To learn more about Samaritan’s Purse’s rebuild efforts, visit samaritanspurse.org/explore.

On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse is also available on Apple Podcasts or listen directly at ontheground.samaritanspurse.org!

Photo credit: ©Samaritan's Purse