There are disaster areas in western North Carolina after Helene. Those are completely cut off just days after the hurricane hit, many people still don’t have power, don’t have cell phone service or are simply left alone. Struggling in loneliness right now, but there are also these incredible stories of resilience emerging amidst this devastation like this man Sam Perkins walked eleven miles to get to his elderly parents home, traveling on foot over a badly damaged road carrying water bottles and fresh food even though he had no contact with them. Today’s Sam Perkins joins us now. I know a lot of us can try. Your fear was not being able to get to your parents, knowing the devastation caused by the hurricane and wondering if they’re still alive, first of all how are your parents right now.
This is not a new low river area on our Rouge. So a lot of the roads are washed out. Landslides and there’s really no vehicles around or out at this time. They really wanted to get into the isolation and you’ve been gone since then because you didn’t want to raise the cause they had a limited amount of resources so let’s take us back to the beginning of your journey, you couldn’t reach your parents, it’s been forty eight hours, you got worried and didn’t know if they were dead. How was it an eleven mile walk to reach them. So I’ve done the math in my head. You know how long can a person survive without water, you know even then I need more urgent medical help. So it was forty eight hours, I decided I need to try to get there. Marian is closed off from the town below the mountain, there was a soldier.
was blocking the highway. He said if you want to walk you can walk. I had a backpack and solar water. Some food supplies or a power bank to recharge the phone and I just started trekking and I was able to get a lift with someone for a little while. One of the paths where the road was relatively clear. Until it was like we had a spot where the road was washed out. There was a pretty bad landslide
Ironically, a crew came from Florida. Who helped with chainsaws and at that point hiked the rest of the way up the mountain to get to them. Eventually my dad was out in New York, you know trying to do whatever work he could with his chainsaw. You don’t use, it was the biggest relief in my life, I learned how to tell him his majesty icon that bold then when went in and found his mom. I just can’t imagine how emotional it was. Because when you’re on this track you really think that maybe they didn’t survive and then you see them. I mean really why take so long for that moment?
He said you were near a creek in my parents, which were pretty far away. I understand they didn’t get caught in the flood directly, but I was worried about the landslides trees and I can’t tell you how many there were. Landslides and collapsed roads and trees I had to cross, get to them and so the higher I went the more worried I got, it got worse, undoubtedly there were tornadoes. Tiring hi crawling through the woods, Jim of the trees and landslides forced them to do that, but I’m glad I did it. I was relieved to know that they’re okay, their neighbors are okay. Call got a list of needs and came back. I did everything I could and wow same park and what a sign oh my gosh and what a story. Just adjust to the challenge of the physical challenge. The emotional challenge and you did it and you got to your parents. We really appreciate you coming.