TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction across the southeastern United States, Michigan’s communities are stepping up to help. From individuals organizing fundraisers to animal rescues gathering supplies, the Mitten State is showing its heart for both the people and pets affected by the catastrophic floods. With supplies like bottled water, baby products, and pet food pouring in, Michigan residents are making a difference for those facing the aftermath of the storm.

Neighbors helping neighbors – even from hundreds of miles away.

Across Michigan, local communities are setting up collection points to gather much-needed supplies for hurricane victims. In Traverse City alone, there are several different groups and many different locations where they are collecting items like baby products, batteries, medical supplies, and food for both humans and pets. One of the biggest efforts comes from a coalition of radio stations, including 106-KHQ, who are working with the Burnsville Fire Department in North Carolina to deliver aid.

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A volunteer taking in donations at 106-KHQ over the weekend shared that the goal was to bring as many supplies as possible to Burnsville. It’s an area, like many others, that has neighbors who are dealing with their own devastation but are still lending a hand to others, some babysitting, some walking shelter pets, and many volunteering to hand out donated supplies. The town, in the northwestern part of the state, is listed as having a population of 1,612 in the 2020 census.

The volunteer at 106-KHQ said that there had already been plans to head down south to support communities in need, so the group decided they might as well collect essential items to take with them – and the community responded with overwhelming support.

Animal rescuers mobilize.

While the human victims of the floods are receiving crucial aid, Michigan’s animal lovers haven’t forgotten about the pets displaced by the storm and the animal shelters needing help. Lansing-based Happy Feet Pet Rescue sent a van loaded with supplies and empty pet crates to North Carolina with plans to bring back as many abandoned animals as possible.

Their Facebook page said on Friday that they were headed home with “44 rescued animals, hearts full of both hope and heaviness.”

Patience Cole, the co-director of Happy Feet, had said before the trip that she was deeply moved by the news coverage of the devastation and knew they had to do something. She said, “We couldn’t just sit on our hands and watch the news. Because we were both first responders and have always run toward, not away, from events like this. I still have connections to bring people together and this is the least we could do.”

Their mission: deliver supplies to Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue and then load up adoptable pets to bring back to Michigan, freeing up space for the flood-affected animals in North Carolina shelters.

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While they were there, they witnessed many things including: neighbors helping neighbors who were rebuilding a damaged senior beagle sanctuary in the area; shelters without power using generators and makeshift lighting to care for animals; and donations from far away bringing tears of joy when residents saw the supplies donated for both people and pets.

Happy Feet Pet Rescue says they will need extra hands to foster, care for, and find homes for the animals they’ve saved with donations of pet food, cleaning supplies, and money urgently needed to support their efforts.

Boots on the ground: Michigan Task Force rescues stranded flood victims from Michigan.

It’s not just supplies and support from ordinary citizens that has been and is being sent to hurricane- ravaged areas. Michigan has also sent trained rescue teams to aid in the recovery efforts. Michigan Task Force One, a highly specialized group of firefighters from across the state, returned from North Carolina recently after spending seven days rescuing more than 40 stranded residents.

The team faced overwhelming devastation, with entire neighborhoods washed away and once- familiar landscapes rendered unrecognizable. Their efforts included everything from water rescues to hiking into remote areas in the mountains to search for survivors. According to team members, emotions ran high as they witnessed the scale of the destruction.

While there, they were able to save a Michigan couple. Dan Dawe, a retired officer from the West Bloomfield Fire Dept., said, “The first couple that we happened to rescue was actually a couple from Michigan. They were over there staying at an Airbnb hoping to get away from the devastation from the hurricane, and they ended up being trapped on the far side of the river.”

The Task Force performed a water rescue and were able to bring the couple and their three dogs to safety, amid the fast-moving water.

In addition to Task Force One, about 40 Michigan National Guard soldiers headed to South Carolina to help assist areas with severe flooding with debris removal and road clearing.

The brave work of Michiganders underscores state’s commitment to helping others, no matter the distance. As Michigan lends its collective strength to hurricane victims, it’s clear that the state’s compassion knows no bounds. Whether through rescuing stranded pets, driving vans filled with donations, or pulling people from floodwaters, Michiganders are proving that the spirit of community and support runs deep in the Great Lakes State.