September 19, 2025 • 17 mins
When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina nearly a year ago, Navy veteran and lifelong Henderson County resident Bud McCall saw a need and stepped up. What began as simple acts of delivering donated supplies from his church has evolved into the Appalachian Navy, a volunteer organization providing critical aid across the region.
"There's no end in sight right now," McCall shares, describing communities still struggling with basic access and necessities. While main roads have been repaired, countless smaller roads remain impassable, forcing residents to walk across rivers or use ATVs just to reach their vehicles. The geographic isolation compounds challenges – many affected areas have just one grocery store per county, requiring up to an hour's drive for essentials.
The Appalachian Navy has expanded its reach from Henderson County to communities throughout Western North Carolina, including Asheville, Burnsville, Newland, and areas near Boone. Their work includes delivering supplies, rebuilding bridges, and operating a critical propane exchange program for people living in temporary shelters. Through partnerships with Prince Propane Gas Company and organizations like the Appalachian Reclamation Coalition and Samaritan's Purse, they're tackling larger projects including home reconstruction.
McCall, drawing on 25 years of experience as a Boy Scout leader, coordinates with a small team of dedicated volunteers while balancing his full-time job at Kimberly Clark. His story exemplifies how individual initiative and community collaboration create powerful responses to disaster. The recovery continues to be, as he describes, "a marathon of recovery and restoration."
Want to support the Appalachian Navy's ongoing hurricane relief efforts? Find them on Facebook at Appalachian Navy WNC, on YouTube, or contribute through Bethel Wesleyan Church's relief fund. Your support helps ensure no community is forgotten as the long road to recovery continues.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The George Real Estate Group radio broadcast is
celebrating 10 years on WHKP.
The George Real Estate Group iscelebrating 10 years on the
radio live every Thursdaymorning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7
FM and AM 1450 and streamingonline at WHkpcom Each Friday
(00:25):
morning at 845,.
The George Real Estate Grouppresents the Hometown Hero Award
to someone in our community whogoes above and beyond to make
our hometown a better place tolive.
Here's this week's HometownHero Show Time now for our
George Real Estate GroupHometown Hero Show Time now for
(00:45):
our George Real Estate GroupHometown Hero Series.
Every Friday morning we gettogether, courtesy of the George
Real Estate Group, and bringyou some of our hometown heroes,
folks who are making adifference in our community.
And we always welcome NoahGeorge to the microphones.
Hello, noah.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Good morning and happy Friday.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
man.
Well, so much to be thankfulfor, and it's always a privilege
and honor to sponsor theHometown Hero series.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Well, we do this every Friday morning, and the
list is long of people that weget to talk with here.
We've got a lot of peopleslated in the future to come
talk with you.
There's no shortage of peoplein our community that help us
out, right?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
There is not, and the list of Hometown Hero alumni
keeps getting longer and longer.
But it's amazing the stories weget to share each Friday
morning and around the mics.
It's powerful Again peoplehelping people, neighbors
helping neighbors and peopleserving our community it's what
makes our community what it is.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
It really is and it's what keeps the wheels turning,
and in so many different ways.
I mean we find, and you find,especially in the real estate
business, that people loveliving in an area where giving
is so much a part of ourcommunity.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
That's right.
Well, the generosity iscontagious and we have people
moving here from all over theworld, actually, and people
moving into western NorthCarolina.
We've had the privilege ofhelping almost 1,600 families
throughout the years with theirreal estate needs.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
And again it's contagious.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
People want to be here, they love living in the
mountains and we certainly sawthe resilience of the mountains
coming up on a year since thehurricane and we're going to
talk more about that thismorning with our hometown here.
But just a quick snapshot onthe real estate market.
We're averaging about 125single-family homes a month
selling.
We're technically still in theseller's market.
The interest rates have comedown significantly, really
(02:40):
Significantly.
They're the lowest that they'vebeen since October 2024.
Okay, I even heard this week youcan get a 20-year mortgage at
5.25% Wow, fixed rate, I mean.
So you can get in the fivesright now, which is, I mean it's
been over a year since we'vebeen able to say that.
So interest rates are comingdown.
It's making it more affordablefor buyers, it's going to free
(03:02):
up a lot of uh activity and andagain it's a the market's the
market, the interest rates ofthe interest rates.
But it's a very healthy marketthat we live in.
But before we get going, uh, 89victoria park drive in
hendersonville, we have an openhouse this saturday.
Two to four want to share aboutthat.
89 victoria park drive inhendersonville, 430 000, three
bedrooms, two and a half bath,2,100 square feet.
(03:25):
It's a deal.
Open houses this Saturday, twoto four.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
A lot of people still coming out to open houses, I
guess.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Open houses are well attended.
I mean we've not slowed downactually.
I mean we've helped more peoplealready this year than we did
year to date last year, andwe're just so grateful.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Thank you, noah, and please join me welcoming bud
mccall with the appalachian navy.
Bud, good morning, thank yougood morning.
It's good to have you with ushere this morning.
How are you?
I'm great.
How are you?
I'm good, I'm good.
You, uh, you have been workingsince the storm and, and as noah
mentioned, uh, we're exactlyone week away one week, week and
(04:03):
a day from when HurricaneHelene did so much damage to our
area, and you and your crewhave been helping folks not only
here in Henderson County butalong a lot of other places.
So tell us about theAppalachian Navy, will you?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Yeah, so we got started basically through our
church, you know, right afterthe storm a lot of donations and
supplies started showing up atBethel Wesleyan Church in Flat
Rock and through social media Istarted finding needs and it
fell on my heart to starthelping people and we were able
to take a lot of that stuff topeople that needed it and I
(04:44):
started branching out intoAsheville area and then into
Burnsville and I'm going all theway up towards Boone, now even
McDowell County, polk County,rutherford.
We're helping a few families inGreenville County, south
Carolina actually, and we'vebeen able to go to Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Milwaukee did I see you were in Milwaukee recently.
Oh, I was in.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Neenah, Wisconsin with my job.
Oh, okay, okay, yeah, butthere's a lady that lives there
that helps me, that helps us,yeah, so I'm with a bigger group
called ARC, the AppalachianReclamation Coalition, and the
lady I met her name's Carmen upin Neenah, wisconsin.
She is kind of the backbone ofthat group that helps people
(05:34):
with paperwork.
With Samaritan's Purse We'vebeen able to help install
bridges for people to accesstheir property and they're
helping.
We're building some homes.
There's one we're building nowin Barnardsville, just north of
Asheville.
Yeah yeah, and so there's a lotof people involved in all this,
so I'm just one little piece ofit.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Were you doing this prior to the hurricane?
Can you share how this evolved?
I mean, it was just you steppedup in a time that was needed
Well before that.
You know, it was just youstepped up in a time.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
That was needed.
Well before that, you know Iwas a Boy Scout leader in the
area for about 25 years.
I'm an Eagle Scout and you knowthings changed with that and
then when the storm happened,like I said, it just part of who
I was.
I just started seeing peoplehey, can someone help me?
People I knew on social media.
There was a young lady that Igraduated high school from East
(06:27):
Henderson that lives inBurnsville and she started
posting stuff that what peopleneeded and I reached out to her
and that's kind of how I gotstarted going that direction.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
The storm really wreaked havoc all the way from
here to all the way to Booneone.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
You've been working in the newland area I think,
yeah, I do a lot in newland umit's, it's so widespread, it's
incredible.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Well, talk about bat cave.
Uh, I know, uh I saw, I believe, on your social media page that
, uh, you just recently gotinvolved building a bridge, uh,
replacing a bridge down there.
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
No, we're not replacing one Through the video
I posted where we replaced one.
Up in the Newland area I wascontacted about a community in
Batcave, off of Highway 64 thatneeded some help with their
bridge.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
So I went down and got the process started for them
, but we haven't done anythingin particular yet with their
bridge, yeah, so I went down andgot the process started for
them, but we're not.
We haven't done anything inparticular yet with those people
.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
What's the greatest need you still see going on
right now?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
It's.
You know there's so many needs.
You know I've done stuff withfood security.
You know a lot of those.
You know we're fortunate herein Henderson County we got
numerous options for you knowdaily of those you know here
we're fortunate here inhenderson county we got numerous
options for you know dailyneeds, groceries and everything
but those communities up thereit's.
You know there's one grocerystore per county and it's up to
(07:53):
an hour drive for some peoplejust to get to an ingles or a
walmart or anything.
And food delivery.
Yeah, and a lot of people.
It's a lot harder for them toget out, or some people still
don't have a vehicle, that losttheir vehicle or and roads
washed out I mean like it'sstill, I mean for it's hard to
imagine.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
I mean here we are, you said, in henderson ville,
henderson county, and there's somany of areas that are just,
you know, quote, unquote, backto normal and then there's so
many areas that are still justground zero in recovering.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Most of the main roads that I've seen have been
repaired, but there's a lot ofside roads and smaller back
roads that are just completelytrashed.
It's so hard for people.
There's people that are havingto use ATVs just to get to their
car, or they're having to walkacross the river to get to their
car that's parked across theroad, on the main road, and it's
(08:46):
just that's still a realityright now for so many yep wow,
and you have volunteers workingwith you as well.
I have a small group, you know I, my church, has been very good
at helping me, um, and justabout everybody in the church is
willing to do anything if I, ifI ask them to to help, they're
glad to do whatever they can,and I've got a few people that
are kind of my officers yeahthey really help me do stuff,
(09:12):
you know, on a daily basis, andI've met people from all over
the country that have helped meout with this.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
It's been crazy me out with this.
It's been crazy.
One of the uh, I think did Iread where, uh, you are
especially able to help peoplewith propane needs.
Yeah, tell us about um so westarted.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Uh, you know, one of the main groups that helped me
was there's a youtube channelcalled deep river farm, um a
gentleman named wayne allred hishis uncle was our pastor when I
was a kid and he started anorganization called Operation
Mountain Relief and that's whereall these donations came from.
(09:52):
And you know when the needs lastwinter started showing up that
people were in campers andneeded help with propane.
You know people starteddonating, going online and
purchasing bottles for us andthey started showing up.
And then we started partneringwith Prince Propane Gas Company
in Landrum and we have anaccount down there where we take
(10:16):
bottles, they fill them up andthen we deliver them to all
these different centers up inwestern North Carolina where
people can go exchange a bottlefor free and they actually did
their own drive where peoplecould they still can call Prince
Propane and donate funds to ouraccount and it goes to help
(10:37):
people with their needs.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
I'm sure you're ongoing.
This is something that'sprobably not going to end for a
long time.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
There's no end in sight right now.
I mean, it's every week.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
People can contribute to your cause and help you to
help others.
I'm sure how do they do that?
Speaker 3 (11:02):
They can go online to .
If they you to help others, I'msure how do they do that.
They can go online too If theywant to help financially.
We've been running the fundsthrough our relief fund at
Bethel Wesleyan Church.
There's websitesBethelWesleyanorg.
I'm on social media.
I'm on Facebook.
Appalachian Navy WNC.
(11:24):
That's how I found you.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
How did you come up with Appalachian Navy?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
So well, I'm a Navy veteran and I was trying to.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Oh, thank you for your service.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I started my YouTube channel, which is not a big
channel, but I was thinking of aname and I really like the name
Cajun Navy.
I saw those guys up here a lotand I thought that'd be neat,
but I'm not.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Cajun, you're Appalachian.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I started thinking what fit for me and that just
came to mind.
That's amazing.
And a friend of mine a youngman in Burnsville named Cody he
designed that logo for me.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
That's awesome.
You're native for HendersonCounty.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, I'm born and raised right down on Tracy Grove
Road.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Oh, yeah, so you're right in the neighborhood here.
Well, bud, we sure appreciatewhat you do and continue to do
for our community.
Again, it's called AppalachianNavy.
Yes, and if anyone needs to getin touch with you about their
needs, I'm sure you're open tohelping others.
Oh, I certainly am.
With my new people every day.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
People reach out to me all the time.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Again, it's continuing to be a marathon of
recovery and restoration for ourcommunity and it's happening
day in and day out Because ofpeople like you and giving back
and showing up.
It takes the community, ittakes everybody coming together.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Yeah, here we are a week away from when it happened.
What was your situation at yourhouse?
We were forging.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
We were just without power for a couple of weeks.
As far as damage, there was nodamage or anything at my
property and nothing like somany others experienced.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Right, we were fortunate, and especially right
in this area.
You couldn't get anywhere.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yeah, you couldn't go less than a mile in any
direction for a few days, or youwere blocked by water or trees
or power lines or something.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Well, our friend Brittany Rowland is the one who
told us about you and theAppalachian Navy, and Brittany
was here a couple of weeks ago.
She's continuing to work forpeople and help people and
there's many, many differentorganizations involved and we've
been trying to kind of shine alight on all of you folks who
(13:44):
are working.
What's your day job?
What happens during the?
Speaker 3 (13:50):
My full-time job.
I'm working maintenance atKimberly Clark here in
Hendersonville.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
All right, been there 25 years.
Wow, you're busy.
Yes, you are.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Well, bud, thank, wow , you're busy.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yes, you are Well, Bud.
Thank you so much for all youdo.
We've got a certificate herefor you that just expresses a
little bit of our gratitude forwhat you do and again get us in
touch with the Appalachian Navyhow people can find you and
(14:19):
contribute.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Okay, so you just go Facebook, go to Appalachian Navy
WNC.
Or YouTube is Appalachian Navyand my email address and
everything is on there and youcan contact me like that.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
All right, bud McCall , appalachian Navy.
Thank you so much, noah.
You've got an open house thisweekend.
We've got about a minute leftto check in with the real estate
business and, of course, get usin touch with where you're
located Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
You can find us online at realestatebygregcom.
You can call us at 828-393-0134.
You can follow us on socialmedia as well.
And again, we do have an openhouse tomorrow, a Saturday open
house, two to four 89 VictoriaPark Drive in Hendersonville.
Incredible home 2,100 plussquare feet, 3, 2 1⁄2, 2,004
home for $430.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well, join us every week as we salute a George Real
Estate Group Hometown Hero andif you have a nomination for our
Hometown Hero series, you cansend that to info at whkpcom.
I get notifications all thetime from folks who are telling
(15:29):
us about heroism in our area andwe thank you so much.
We'll be back next week withanother George Real Estate Group
Hometown Hero.
Thank you very much for joiningus, bud and Noah.
Have a great weekend everyone,and thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Maybe the house feels a little too big these days,
the stairs a little steeper, thepace of life a little too fast.
But what if your next movewasn't about letting go.
It was about making space Forpeace, for freedom, for what
matters most?
At the George Real Estate Group, we understand that real estate
(16:06):
isn't just about the house.
It's about transitions, timingand trust.
We've helped thousands offamilies in Western North
Carolina make smart, thoughtfulmoves Closer to nature, closer
to family, closer to home.
So when you're ready toright-size, simplify or start
fresh, we'll be here.
(16:27):
The George Real Estate Group,local, trusted, proven.
Call us today, 828-393-0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygregcom, because
your next chapter deserves tofeel just right.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat
Rock, north Carolina, nearHendersonville in Henderson
County.
You can find them online atrealestatebygregcom.
The George Real Estate Groupcan be reached at 828-393-0134
or stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, flat Rock,
(17:04):
north Carolina.
North Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 10 0 5 AM on WHKP
107.7 FM and 1450 AM, or streamonline at whkpcom or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
The George real estate groupbrings you the WHKP hometown
(17:28):
hero series every Friday morningat 8 45.
The George Real Estate Group radio broadcast is
celebrating 10 years on WHKP.
The George Real Estate Group iscelebrating 10 years on the
radio live every Thursdaymorning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7
FM and AM 1450 and streamingonline at WHkpcom Each Friday
(00:25):
morning at 845,.
The George Real Estate Grouppresents the Hometown Hero Award
to someone in our community whogoes above and beyond to make
our hometown a better place tolive.
Here's this week's HometownHero Show Time now for our
George Real Estate GroupHometown Hero Show Time now for
(00:45):
our George Real Estate GroupHometown Hero Series.
Every Friday morning we gettogether, courtesy of the George
Real Estate Group, and bringyou some of our hometown heroes,
folks who are making adifference in our community.
And we always welcome NoahGeorge to the microphones.
Hello, noah.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Good morning and happy Friday.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
man.
Well, so much to be thankfulfor, and it's always a privilege
and honor to sponsor theHometown Hero series.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Well, we do this every Friday morning, and the
list is long of people that weget to talk with here.
We've got a lot of peopleslated in the future to come
talk with you.
There's no shortage of peoplein our community that help us
out, right?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
There is not, and the list of Hometown Hero alumni
keeps getting longer and longer.
But it's amazing the stories weget to share each Friday
morning and around the mics.
It's powerful Again peoplehelping people, neighbors
helping neighbors and peopleserving our community it's what
makes our community what it is.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
It really is and it's what keeps the wheels turning,
and in so many different ways.
I mean we find, and you find,especially in the real estate
business, that people loveliving in an area where giving
is so much a part of ourcommunity.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
That's right.
Well, the generosity iscontagious and we have people
moving here from all over theworld, actually, and people
moving into western NorthCarolina.
We've had the privilege ofhelping almost 1,600 families
throughout the years with theirreal estate needs.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
And again it's contagious.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
People want to be here, they love living in the
mountains and we certainly sawthe resilience of the mountains
coming up on a year since thehurricane and we're going to
talk more about that thismorning with our hometown here.
But just a quick snapshot onthe real estate market.
We're averaging about 125single-family homes a month
selling.
We're technically still in theseller's market.
The interest rates have comedown significantly, really
(02:40):
Significantly.
They're the lowest that they'vebeen since October 2024.
Okay, I even heard this week youcan get a 20-year mortgage at
5.25% Wow, fixed rate, I mean.
So you can get in the fivesright now, which is, I mean it's
been over a year since we'vebeen able to say that.
So interest rates are comingdown.
It's making it more affordablefor buyers, it's going to free
(03:02):
up a lot of uh activity and andagain it's a the market's the
market, the interest rates ofthe interest rates.
But it's a very healthy marketthat we live in.
But before we get going, uh, 89victoria park drive in
hendersonville, we have an openhouse this saturday.
Two to four want to share aboutthat.
89 victoria park drive inhendersonville, 430 000, three
bedrooms, two and a half bath,2,100 square feet.
(03:25):
It's a deal.
Open houses this Saturday, twoto four.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
A lot of people still coming out to open houses, I
guess.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Open houses are well attended.
I mean we've not slowed downactually.
I mean we've helped more peoplealready this year than we did
year to date last year, andwe're just so grateful.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Thank you, noah, and please join me welcoming bud
mccall with the appalachian navy.
Bud, good morning, thank yougood morning.
It's good to have you with ushere this morning.
How are you?
I'm great.
How are you?
I'm good, I'm good.
You, uh, you have been workingsince the storm and, and as noah
mentioned, uh, we're exactlyone week away one week, week and
(04:03):
a day from when HurricaneHelene did so much damage to our
area, and you and your crewhave been helping folks not only
here in Henderson County butalong a lot of other places.
So tell us about theAppalachian Navy, will you?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Yeah, so we got started basically through our
church, you know, right afterthe storm a lot of donations and
supplies started showing up atBethel Wesleyan Church in Flat
Rock and through social media Istarted finding needs and it
fell on my heart to starthelping people and we were able
to take a lot of that stuff topeople that needed it and I
(04:44):
started branching out intoAsheville area and then into
Burnsville and I'm going all theway up towards Boone, now even
McDowell County, polk County,rutherford.
We're helping a few families inGreenville County, south
Carolina actually, and we'vebeen able to go to Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Milwaukee did I see you were in Milwaukee recently.
Oh, I was in.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Neenah, Wisconsin with my job.
Oh, okay, okay, yeah, butthere's a lady that lives there
that helps me, that helps us,yeah, so I'm with a bigger group
called ARC, the AppalachianReclamation Coalition, and the
lady I met her name's Carmen upin Neenah, wisconsin.
She is kind of the backbone ofthat group that helps people
(05:34):
with paperwork.
With Samaritan's Purse We'vebeen able to help install
bridges for people to accesstheir property and they're
helping.
We're building some homes.
There's one we're building nowin Barnardsville, just north of
Asheville.
Yeah yeah, and so there's a lotof people involved in all this,
so I'm just one little piece ofit.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Were you doing this prior to the hurricane?
Can you share how this evolved?
I mean, it was just you steppedup in a time that was needed
Well before that.
You know, it was just youstepped up in a time.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
That was needed.
Well before that, you know Iwas a Boy Scout leader in the
area for about 25 years.
I'm an Eagle Scout and you knowthings changed with that and
then when the storm happened,like I said, it just part of who
I was.
I just started seeing peoplehey, can someone help me?
People I knew on social media.
There was a young lady that Igraduated high school from East
(06:27):
Henderson that lives inBurnsville and she started
posting stuff that what peopleneeded and I reached out to her
and that's kind of how I gotstarted going that direction.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
The storm really wreaked havoc all the way from
here to all the way to Booneone.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
You've been working in the newland area I think,
yeah, I do a lot in newland umit's, it's so widespread, it's
incredible.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Well, talk about bat cave.
Uh, I know, uh I saw, I believe, on your social media page that
, uh, you just recently gotinvolved building a bridge, uh,
replacing a bridge down there.
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
No, we're not replacing one Through the video
I posted where we replaced one.
Up in the Newland area I wascontacted about a community in
Batcave, off of Highway 64 thatneeded some help with their
bridge.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
So I went down and got the process started for them
, but we haven't done anythingin particular yet with their
bridge, yeah, so I went down andgot the process started for
them, but we're not.
We haven't done anything inparticular yet with those people
.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
What's the greatest need you still see going on
right now?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
It's.
You know there's so many needs.
You know I've done stuff withfood security.
You know a lot of those.
You know we're fortunate herein Henderson County we got
numerous options for you knowdaily of those you know here
we're fortunate here inhenderson county we got numerous
options for you know dailyneeds, groceries and everything
but those communities up thereit's.
You know there's one grocerystore per county and it's up to
(07:53):
an hour drive for some peoplejust to get to an ingles or a
walmart or anything.
And food delivery.
Yeah, and a lot of people.
It's a lot harder for them toget out, or some people still
don't have a vehicle, that losttheir vehicle or and roads
washed out I mean like it'sstill, I mean for it's hard to
imagine.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
I mean here we are, you said, in henderson ville,
henderson county, and there's somany of areas that are just,
you know, quote, unquote, backto normal and then there's so
many areas that are still justground zero in recovering.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Most of the main roads that I've seen have been
repaired, but there's a lot ofside roads and smaller back
roads that are just completelytrashed.
It's so hard for people.
There's people that are havingto use ATVs just to get to their
car, or they're having to walkacross the river to get to their
car that's parked across theroad, on the main road, and it's
(08:46):
just that's still a realityright now for so many yep wow,
and you have volunteers workingwith you as well.
I have a small group, you know I, my church, has been very good
at helping me, um, and justabout everybody in the church is
willing to do anything if I, ifI ask them to to help, they're
glad to do whatever they can,and I've got a few people that
are kind of my officers yeahthey really help me do stuff,
(09:12):
you know, on a daily basis, andI've met people from all over
the country that have helped meout with this.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
It's been crazy me out with this.
It's been crazy.
One of the uh, I think did Iread where, uh, you are
especially able to help peoplewith propane needs.
Yeah, tell us about um so westarted.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Uh, you know, one of the main groups that helped me
was there's a youtube channelcalled deep river farm, um a
gentleman named wayne allred hishis uncle was our pastor when I
was a kid and he started anorganization called Operation
Mountain Relief and that's whereall these donations came from.
(09:52):
And you know when the needs lastwinter started showing up that
people were in campers andneeded help with propane.
You know people starteddonating, going online and
purchasing bottles for us andthey started showing up.
And then we started partneringwith Prince Propane Gas Company
in Landrum and we have anaccount down there where we take
(10:16):
bottles, they fill them up andthen we deliver them to all
these different centers up inwestern North Carolina where
people can go exchange a bottlefor free and they actually did
their own drive where peoplecould they still can call Prince
Propane and donate funds to ouraccount and it goes to help
(10:37):
people with their needs.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
I'm sure you're ongoing.
This is something that'sprobably not going to end for a
long time.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
There's no end in sight right now.
I mean, it's every week.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
People can contribute to your cause and help you to
help others.
I'm sure how do they do that?
Speaker 3 (11:02):
They can go online to .
If they you to help others, I'msure how do they do that.
They can go online too If theywant to help financially.
We've been running the fundsthrough our relief fund at
Bethel Wesleyan Church.
There's websitesBethelWesleyanorg.
I'm on social media.
I'm on Facebook.
Appalachian Navy WNC.
(11:24):
That's how I found you.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
How did you come up with Appalachian Navy?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
So well, I'm a Navy veteran and I was trying to.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Oh, thank you for your service.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I started my YouTube channel, which is not a big
channel, but I was thinking of aname and I really like the name
Cajun Navy.
I saw those guys up here a lotand I thought that'd be neat,
but I'm not.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Cajun, you're Appalachian.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I started thinking what fit for me and that just
came to mind.
That's amazing.
And a friend of mine a youngman in Burnsville named Cody he
designed that logo for me.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
That's awesome.
You're native for HendersonCounty.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, I'm born and raised right down on Tracy Grove
Road.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Oh, yeah, so you're right in the neighborhood here.
Well, bud, we sure appreciatewhat you do and continue to do
for our community.
Again, it's called AppalachianNavy.
Yes, and if anyone needs to getin touch with you about their
needs, I'm sure you're open tohelping others.
Oh, I certainly am.
With my new people every day.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
People reach out to me all the time.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Again, it's continuing to be a marathon of
recovery and restoration for ourcommunity and it's happening
day in and day out Because ofpeople like you and giving back
and showing up.
It takes the community, ittakes everybody coming together.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Yeah, here we are a week away from when it happened.
What was your situation at yourhouse?
We were forging.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
We were just without power for a couple of weeks.
As far as damage, there was nodamage or anything at my
property and nothing like somany others experienced.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Right, we were fortunate, and especially right
in this area.
You couldn't get anywhere.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yeah, you couldn't go less than a mile in any
direction for a few days, or youwere blocked by water or trees
or power lines or something.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Well, our friend Brittany Rowland is the one who
told us about you and theAppalachian Navy, and Brittany
was here a couple of weeks ago.
She's continuing to work forpeople and help people and
there's many, many differentorganizations involved and we've
been trying to kind of shine alight on all of you folks who
(13:44):
are working.
What's your day job?
What happens during the?
Speaker 3 (13:50):
My full-time job.
I'm working maintenance atKimberly Clark here in
Hendersonville.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
All right, been there 25 years.
Wow, you're busy.
Yes, you are.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Well, bud, thank, wow , you're busy.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yes, you are Well, Bud.
Thank you so much for all youdo.
We've got a certificate herefor you that just expresses a
little bit of our gratitude forwhat you do and again get us in
touch with the Appalachian Navyhow people can find you and
(14:19):
contribute.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Okay, so you just go Facebook, go to Appalachian Navy
WNC.
Or YouTube is Appalachian Navyand my email address and
everything is on there and youcan contact me like that.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
All right, bud McCall , appalachian Navy.
Thank you so much, noah.
You've got an open house thisweekend.
We've got about a minute leftto check in with the real estate
business and, of course, get usin touch with where you're
located Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
You can find us online at realestatebygregcom.
You can call us at 828-393-0134.
You can follow us on socialmedia as well.
And again, we do have an openhouse tomorrow, a Saturday open
house, two to four 89 VictoriaPark Drive in Hendersonville.
Incredible home 2,100 plussquare feet, 3, 2 1⁄2, 2,004
home for $430.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well, join us every week as we salute a George Real
Estate Group Hometown Hero andif you have a nomination for our
Hometown Hero series, you cansend that to info at whkpcom.
I get notifications all thetime from folks who are telling
(15:29):
us about heroism in our area andwe thank you so much.
We'll be back next week withanother George Real Estate Group
Hometown Hero.
Thank you very much for joiningus, bud and Noah.
Have a great weekend everyone,and thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Maybe the house feels a little too big these days,
the stairs a little steeper, thepace of life a little too fast.
But what if your next movewasn't about letting go.
It was about making space Forpeace, for freedom, for what
matters most?
At the George Real Estate Group, we understand that real estate
(16:06):
isn't just about the house.
It's about transitions, timingand trust.
We've helped thousands offamilies in Western North
Carolina make smart, thoughtfulmoves Closer to nature, closer
to family, closer to home.
So when you're ready toright-size, simplify or start
fresh, we'll be here.
(16:27):
The George Real Estate Group,local, trusted, proven.
Call us today, 828-393-0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygregcom, because
your next chapter deserves tofeel just right.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat
Rock, north Carolina, nearHendersonville in Henderson
County.
You can find them online atrealestatebygregcom.
The George Real Estate Groupcan be reached at 828-393-0134
or stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, flat Rock,
(17:04):
north Carolina.
North Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 10 0 5 AM on WHKP
107.7 FM and 1450 AM, or streamonline at whkpcom or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
The George real estate groupbrings you the WHKP hometown
(17:28):
hero series every Friday morningat 8 45.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.