Indiana State Rep Mike Speedy Flying Into Action Helping NC Recovery Efforts

Asheville, NC – October 2, 2024 — The city of Asheville is reeling from the aftermath of Storm Helene, which swept through the region late Sunday night, causing extensive damage and power outages. Residents are assessing the destruction as crews work tirelessly to restore normalcy.

The storm, which arrived with little warning, brought high winds and torrential rain that resulted in fallen trees, damaged homes, and disrupted power to thousands of residents. Emergency services reported over 150 calls related to downed trees and structural damage throughout the city.

Local authorities have declared a state of emergency, enabling rapid deployment of resources to assist affected neighborhoods. Asheville’s Public Works Department is actively clearing debris from roadways and restoring access to key areas.

As Asheville begins the long process of recovery, the community is already coming together to support one another. Volunteer efforts are being organized to assist with debris removal and provide aid to those most affected.

One of those volunteers is Indiana State Representative Mike Speedy. Listen to his firsthand account of the recovery effort in Ashville.

Tony Katz:

State Representative Mike Speedy got in a plane and headed over to North Carolina to bring aid to people affected by Hurricane Helene, and that number is growing. There’s still a million people without power.  You have over 150 people known to be dead. And that number is going to go up. The damage is not quite calculable, but State Rep Speedy has been there, seeing it for himself. Joins us right now. Sir, thank you for taking the time. I appreciate it. Let’s start with the basics. Where are you in North Carolina and what have you seen?

Mike Speedy:

Good morning, Tony. Thanks for having me on. Yes, I’ve flown twice to Asheville. Initially, it was meant to be Hickory City, but FEMA’s taking that over to make it a helicopter staging base. So, we flew to Asheville, which was extraordinarily busy with general aviation aircraft as well as military Chinooks and Blackhawks. They’re a very busy airport with a commercial traffic as well, but there were dozens and dozens of planes of all type landing there Monday and Tuesday. I’m back here today, hope to go back in the next day or two. But you had jets, turboprops and piston airplanes all carrying in anywhere from a couple 100 lbs of supplies to thousands of pounds of supplies. To get it to where it’s needed via the helicopters.

Tony Katz:

Talk to me about your plane, right. This is, this is a private aircraft. I don’t know if it’s yours a friend’s, a constituent’s. I’m not sure. I didn’t know that you were a pilot in, in that way. What have you been able to bring and what have you seen? From the air.

Mike Speedy:

This is my plane. I’m blessed to be able to have it, to have the flexibility to it. It’s a Kodiak. It’s a plane that was initially designed to be a missionary plane. By that I mean land in 3rd world countries on grass strips side of the mountains that where there’s very little maintenance and people to work on your plane. It’s kind of simple, it’s very robust and umm, I use it for my business and family vacations and the like and I, it’s got a great payload. It’s not real fast. And I thought, well, this is the perfect use of this plane is loaded up, take it to where they want, will allow me to drop it off. And I’ve done that twice and it’s been a, it’s been a very rewarding experience. And I’m very blessed to be able to do it.

Tony Katz:

 So, you’ve been on the ground, you’ve been able to talk to people, tell us about what it is you’ve seen in terms of destruction and what it is people are telling you.

Mike Speedy:

Well, when I flew in both Monday and Tuesday, there were really under IFR conditions, so there were lots of clouds and rainstorms still in the area. We couldn’t see a lot what was on the ground. But as we near to Asheville, you could start to see rivers over their banks as well as flooded fields all around the hills and areas as you approach the airport. When I got on the ground, I saw people from several states, from Georgia, from all through the Midwest and the South’s doing the same thing that I’m doing. A lot of people have stepped up and they are doing what they can with what they have and it’s making a difference. And I’m real proud to be a part of it. And I’m proud to have met up with a great organization, Civilian Crisis Response Team, they’re out of Franklin and they’re the ones that put me in touch with, uh, with this whole effort and they’re doing great work down there.

Tony Katz:

You can find more about them at Civilian Crisis Response Team – Home (7ccrt.org). You mentioned that there’s still flooding in the area. I don’t think people understand the level of water and the issues with homes and families being quite literally septic swept away by the surge. Are you hearing anything about when this water is expected to recede?

Mike Speedy:

No, we’re not hearing anything. I kept asking people on the ground, marshallers from the at the airport, they obviously coordinating the dumping office supplies and also loading the Chinook helicopters. And they’re asking the same question. And everyone’s kind of saying, well, it’s going to at least go through another, another week. It’s really unclear at this point.

Tony Katz:

Has there been a discussion with you about the needs of the area you talked about the aid that that you have brought, what have you brought and what is it that you are going to be continuing to look for, to bring to these people? I’m sure there’s a list on the website also on their Facebook page, but it’s material that is robust enough to travel to the area. They’re the principal needs. Think baby diapers, baby formula, canned foods that are easy to eat and prepare even for dogs and cats, but you also have tarps and garbage bags. And paper plates and utensils and things of that nature, there’s a whole list, but those are all travel well. And they, they, they will make a difference in getting people the help they need before the whole, the, the first responders and the military and the National Guard folks can, can take over and assist even more. State Representative Mike Speedy, I appreciate you taking the time to be with us. Fly safe. Be well.

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