September 12, 2025 • 17 mins
When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina last September, few could have predicted that a destroyed vintage shop would become ground zero for one of the most remarkable grassroots disaster relief efforts in the region. Lynn and Mark Staton's story unfolds like a masterclass in community resilience – after losing their business housed in an old Sinclair gas station, they transformed their parking lot into what would become the headquarters for the Bat Cave Disaster Relief Group.
What began with a simple shower trailer has evolved into a full-scale operation that continues nearly a year later. Every Wednesday, Lynn cooks massive meals (recently, four 15-pound trays of baked spaghetti) that feed approximately 100 workers and community members through their affectionately named "Bat Cave Door Dash" delivery service. Meanwhile, they coordinate volunteers from across the country who come to help with everything from home demolition to reconstruction projects.
The contrast between Hendersonville's recovery and the ongoing devastation in Bat Cave is stark, despite both being part of Henderson County. "It looked like a bomb went off," Lynn recalls of those first days after accessing their property. "Like a bad Armageddon movie with debris everywhere." While celebrating small victories like the recent reopening of the local post office, the Stations continue operating primarily from tents, having prioritized helping others rebuild before focusing on their own recovery. Their immediate goals include completing two major housing projects by the one-year anniversary of the hurricane.
For those wanting to support this extraordinary effort, the Bat Cave Disaster Relief Group needs volunteers and donations as recovery will continue for years. Find them online at batcavedisasterrelief.com or on social media platforms as "Bat Cave Relief." Their story reminds us that sometimes the most powerful community heroes emerge from the very disaster that threatened to destroy everything they had built.
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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.
(00:24):
And streaming online at whkpcomEach Friday 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.
Hometown Hero Show.
It's 845 on Friday morning andyou know what time that is.
(00:50):
It's time for our George RealEstate Group Hometown Hero
Series Every Friday morning.
It's our best and most favoritetime of the week to get
together.
Good morning, noah George.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Good morning and happy Friday.
It's a privilege and honorevery Friday morning to sponsor
the Hometown Heroes series.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
We look forward to this, don't we?
Speaker 2 (01:10):
It's the best part of the week, for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Fridays are special in a lot of different ways, but
it's special for Noah and Ibecause we get to get together
and talk to some people in ourcommunity who really make a
difference and gosh.
Over the years, we've met somegreat members of our community,
have we not?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
We have, and it's amazing.
And that's what makes ourcommunity for what it is.
I mean the quality of life, ofcourse, the four distinct
seasons, the outdoors, thecommunity we live in, but it's
the people that make ourcommunity what it is.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
It really is.
And you in the real estateworld, uh, you kind of got a
front row seat to to see whatkind of a difference that makes
in our community, don't you?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
well, we certainly saw, with helene, neighbors
helping neighbors.
But you know, to your point, Imean we're meeting with people
every single day that areconsidering I mean we work with
our, our locals, of coursepeople that are downsizing or
upsizing or right sizing orretiring or retiring.
I mean, whatever you know, lifehappens, therefore real estate
happens.
But we get the opportunity totalk with people that they have
their first experience here.
(02:14):
Maybe they're visiting families, maybe they're at the Apple
Festival or the Garden Ghibli,or maybe they're just coming
through, but it's a contagiousplace.
I, they, they experience it,they experience it, they meet
the locals and they're like wewant to be part of this
community uh, you tell me, uh,if I'm wrong.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
But uh, there's kind of, I think, a transition going
on in the real estate world.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
We're seeing interest rates begin to fall a little
bit interest rate softening iscertainly a benefit to our
buyers having a little bit moreaffordable options and their
payments can go down.
It is softening in the sensethat the market's softening the
days on market's closer to 60days on market, so buyers have
more options.
Inventory levels elevated alittle bit, but the truth is
(02:59):
Henderson County is averagingabout 125 single-family homes a
month selling.
Averaging about 125single-family homes a month
selling Over the last 24 months,you would think and again
there's a lot of news that thesky is falling.
That's not true.
Here locally, I mean, there'sjust been this steady demand.
Inventory levels have increaseda little bit.
So again that gives buyers alittle bit more options.
Sellers have to be a little bitmore patient, but it's always
(03:25):
important to price your homecorrectly.
Our average single-family homeprice over the last 12 months is
around $540,000, but that'sbeen holding.
And again it's the supply anddemand.
But be careful what the newssays.
I mean the sky is not falling.
The real estate market issteady, it's healthy.
Here and again we're helpingpeople every single day with
their buying and selling realestate needs.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
You guys are your office offices located in Flat
Rock, although you do businessall around the Carolinas.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
We do all well all over Western North Carolina and
the upstate South Carolina, sowe're grateful to serve the
community.
Find us online atrealestatebygregcom.
Also call us directly at828-393-0134.
And we podcast all of our radioshows.
But it's a privilege and honorto sponsor the Hometown Hero
we're glad you do.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Thank you very much, noah, for bringing us the
hometown hero series each week.
Welcome, if you will, lynn, andmark staten from uh bat cave
disaster relief group.
Good morning, lynn.
Good morning, how are you?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
I'm doing fine.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Thank you for having us thank, thank you for coming,
and, mark, it's good to have youboth with us.
You guys have been literallyboots on the ground since
Hurricane Helene struck and didso much damage in the gorge
right.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
You guys and you're continuing to help out down
there.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
It's a marathon, isn't it?
We've been blessed.
We have another group ofvolunteers coming in, the 20th
through the 27th.
Michigan has been huge.
This group coming back in willbe their third returning trip to
come in and help us out andthey'll be about 15 strong.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
That's amazing.
Tell us about the evolution ofBat Cave Disaster Relief Group.
I mean, you guys personallyexperienced a tremendous loss
and then tell us your storyabout how this evolved.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Well, when the hurricane hit on a Friday, we
did get a text from one of ourfriends across the road across
the river and she prepared me.
She sent me a picture of mybuilding and of course the post
office side is a back.
A post office was standing butmy antique vintage shop.
(05:35):
I worked out a double baygarage.
It was an old Sinclair's gasstation.
At one time that was completelygone and she had mentioned that
they saw some people going inand out.
We jumped in the car I believethat was on a Sunday and once he
got our driveway back together,we proceeded to go down there.
(05:59):
But every road we took we gotstopped because the road was
just missing.
Yeah, so finally on Thursdaythat following Thursday, we were
able to get down to the bridgeto park and then we actually had
to walk on scaffolding acrossone of these.
It was a big hole between theroad and the bridge and we just
(06:26):
had to walk down.
It wasn't very far from thebridge and then we just started
dealing with what we saw.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
We were trying to figure it out, just like
everybody else was.
We were fortunate a group camein from Franklin.
We were just trying to salvageour stuff.
They were like, hey, you havethe biggest parking lot in the
area for a shower trailer.
We were like, wow, that's abiggest parking lot in the area
for a shower trailer.
We were like, wow, that's agood idea, we'll do it.
So they helped us finishcleaning up our mess and then
(06:56):
they brought us the showertrailer down and then people
were coming around and they hadproblems getting supplies.
So we started hauling suppliesin and started our little
donation hub and then, oncepeople found out that we were
there, then we started gettingvolunteers that came in and for
the first couple of months theyslept in their car, they slept
(07:18):
in tents.
They were there every day forus running, saw crews or just
whatever the need was.
They did their best to fill it.
And we had never met thesepeople before.
It was just like-minded peoplewith good hearts.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
That's amazing.
That whole thing has beenamazing to me to see the
outpouring of love and kindnessthat came about and you, you
guys, continuing to operate adistribution, and I think on
Wednesdays, am I right that youdeliver?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yep free lunch Wednesdays.
Actually, a church north of usoffered to start.
They came in and started it.
Did it for a few weeks.
The workers got used to it.
Of course so then we actuallytook it over when they had to
bow out, we um myself, thevolunteers, uh, locals, they
(08:20):
jumped in um suzette sherry amylee we have our local bat cave
door dash that's what we callthem.
Yep, and they go up 74, they goup um 64 nine every Wednesday
yep, where, uh?
Speaker 1 (08:38):
where's the food coming from?
Where are?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
you, oh, and Brooke, yeah.
Who cooks the?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
food, or is it a home-cooked food?
Or or, lynn, do you do thecooking?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
a lot of the times I do, um, yeah, yeah.
So yeah, this this week was, uh, baked spaghetti and I thought,
oh no, don't do this again,because it wasn't that easy it
was four big trays and theyweighed 15 pounds.
Yeah, we probably well,actually we're probably fed
(09:09):
close to with some of thecommunity even comes down.
The ladies will meet and havelunch there.
So it's whoever wants to eat.
So it was probably close to 100this week.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Wow.
And so you guys have been in.
You grew up in the community,you've had small business, you
had a small business in thecommunity and now this is what
you're doing right now.
I mean this is incredible.
I mean it's hard to fathom.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
To where you were and to what you're doing and then
coming up on a year in just acouple weeks, but the needs are
still so great.
I mean, how can listeners bepart of what you're doing?
How can they give?
What can do you still needvolunteers?
Do you still need donations?
I mean, how can we help withthat?
Speaker 4 (09:54):
We use our social media platform to share
information and just let peopleknow what's going on.
We have a GoFundMe and a demoon our Facebook page, instagram,
tiktok.
We still need volunteers, westill need donations.
We have a lot of work going on.
We still demoed a house lastweek, but we have two big
(10:15):
projects that we're lookingforward to this upcoming week.
We're hoping to have the homesfinished by the anniversary date
, project that we're workingwith a young couple to help get
them up and out of the ground.
And we use our volunteers asour labor source.
Sometimes they come in.
They might be a framing crew.
(10:35):
That week they might be layingfloor, they might be hanging
drywall, they might be cuttingwood.
It's just kind of whatever theneed is.
But yes, and and to everybodythat's donated and helped us out
along the way, we can't tellyou how much we thank you
there's uh so many people whocontributed.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
I believe you tell me that uh, you've got a big stock
of firewood.
Uh, did I see that on yourfacebook page?
Speaker 4 (11:03):
um we started that last what we work with the
episcopal church down theresociety of transfiguration and
they've done a firewood ministryfor years, okay, so what we've
done is we've been able tosupplement them and last year we
were had enough wood so, yeah,we were able to load them up
going into this year, so thatjust any little thing that makes
(11:25):
it easier on the people downthere.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
We also have a website.
Batcavedisasterreliefcom sharesa lot of information on that.
There's a volunteer sectionthat you can sign up, just email
.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Follow you on social media.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
You can see if they go to.
Facebook probably has morepictures than any of the socials
.
That's where we started from.
Shana is awesome.
She's over in Tennessee.
She was one of our originalvolunteers.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
Can't tell you how long she slept in her car Every
day.
Can you believe that she?
Speaker 3 (12:05):
blesses us once a week.
We get one week a month atAshauna.
She still comes over and shehandles all the social media,
the website for us.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
I've dealt with her some she's referred me names of
people.
She is amazing.
She is, and there's so manyamazing people that have jumped
in the post office.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Let's talk about that a second.
Did it reopen yesterday?
Did you tell me?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It did reopen yesterday, as far as I know.
Right now I believe it's onlygoing to be like pick up, pick
up mail.
I don't think the sales parthas opened up.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
But they'll get that going as soon as possible.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
I think I read where you can go into the lobby of the
post office and get your mail24-7 there now.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Yeah, just be cautious of our friendly
neighborhood bears.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
They're hungry now.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Well, yeah, since the hurricane they've been out.
I was just checking my securitycameras and I had one walking
around our outdoor kitchen about8 pm last night.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
So they're coming out there.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Their homes were destroyed too, yes, so just be
careful.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
And where our hub is.
We're working out of what wasthe location of HipHim, but we
still work out of tents,basically because we haven't
rebuilt our facility yet.
We're working on everybodyelse's, so it's amazing to me
sometimes the amount of peoplethat have came in and the amount
of work that we've been able toget done and it's all been out
of a tent.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Out of a tent and out of their cars.
That is just mind-boggling tome and it continues and, quite
honestly, it's going to continuefor quite some time, yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
I mean it's hard to fathom that we're here in
Hendersonville and then BackHaven-Gurtin it's Henderson
County.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
It is.
You just go down the road, it'sground zero.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
When we first got there it looked like a bomb went
off.
We just looked around like wecouldn't believe it.
We couldn't believe what wewere seeing.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
It was almost like a bad Armageddon movie or a Mad
Max movie, with just debriseverywhere and people were
chaotic and trying to just'shard to figure it out.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, well we're committed to uh trying to help
and and once again, give us yourcontact information, the
website and social media, etcokay, our website is batcave
disaster reliefcom.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
We're also on Facebook, instagram, tiktok X,
and it's either Batcave DisasterRelief or Batcave Relief.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
She couldn't do all those words.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
All those words, I think on Instagram were Batcave
Relief.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Thank you.
We'll certainly have it all onall of our socials as well and
be sharing.
And we'll be podcasting this aswell.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
We have a small token of our appreciation, a little
certificate.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
Oh, thank you.
That's all we can do.
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for coming
out today and join us.
Next week Bud McCall fromAppalachian Navy will be here.
Thank you for helping us.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
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
(15:46):
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 to rightsize, simplify or start fresh,
(16:07):
we'll be here.
The George Real Estate Grouplocal, trusted, proven.
Call us today 828-393-0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygregcom, because
your next chapter deserves tofeel just right.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
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,
(16:44):
north Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 10.05 am on WHKP
107.7 FM and 14.50 am, or streamonline at whkpcom or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
The George Real Estate Groupbrings you the WHKP Hometown
(17:08):
Hero Series every Friday morningat 845.
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.
(00:24):
And streaming online at whkpcomEach Friday 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.
Hometown Hero Show.
It's 845 on Friday morning andyou know what time that is.
(00:50):
It's time for our George RealEstate Group Hometown Hero
Series Every Friday morning.
It's our best and most favoritetime of the week to get
together.
Good morning, noah George.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Good morning and happy Friday.
It's a privilege and honorevery Friday morning to sponsor
the Hometown Heroes series.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
We look forward to this, don't we?
Speaker 2 (01:10):
It's the best part of the week, for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Fridays are special in a lot of different ways, but
it's special for Noah and Ibecause we get to get together
and talk to some people in ourcommunity who really make a
difference and gosh.
Over the years, we've met somegreat members of our community,
have we not?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
We have, and it's amazing.
And that's what makes ourcommunity for what it is.
I mean the quality of life, ofcourse, the four distinct
seasons, the outdoors, thecommunity we live in, but it's
the people that make ourcommunity what it is.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
It really is.
And you in the real estateworld, uh, you kind of got a
front row seat to to see whatkind of a difference that makes
in our community, don't you?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
well, we certainly saw, with helene, neighbors
helping neighbors.
But you know, to your point, Imean we're meeting with people
every single day that areconsidering I mean we work with
our, our locals, of coursepeople that are downsizing or
upsizing or right sizing orretiring or retiring.
I mean, whatever you know, lifehappens, therefore real estate
happens.
But we get the opportunity totalk with people that they have
their first experience here.
(02:14):
Maybe they're visiting families, maybe they're at the Apple
Festival or the Garden Ghibli,or maybe they're just coming
through, but it's a contagiousplace.
I, they, they experience it,they experience it, they meet
the locals and they're like wewant to be part of this
community uh, you tell me, uh,if I'm wrong.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
But uh, there's kind of, I think, a transition going
on in the real estate world.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
We're seeing interest rates begin to fall a little
bit interest rate softening iscertainly a benefit to our
buyers having a little bit moreaffordable options and their
payments can go down.
It is softening in the sensethat the market's softening the
days on market's closer to 60days on market, so buyers have
more options.
Inventory levels elevated alittle bit, but the truth is
(02:59):
Henderson County is averagingabout 125 single-family homes a
month selling.
Averaging about 125single-family homes a month
selling Over the last 24 months,you would think and again
there's a lot of news that thesky is falling.
That's not true.
Here locally, I mean, there'sjust been this steady demand.
Inventory levels have increaseda little bit.
So again that gives buyers alittle bit more options.
Sellers have to be a little bitmore patient, but it's always
(03:25):
important to price your homecorrectly.
Our average single-family homeprice over the last 12 months is
around $540,000, but that'sbeen holding.
And again it's the supply anddemand.
But be careful what the newssays.
I mean the sky is not falling.
The real estate market issteady, it's healthy.
Here and again we're helpingpeople every single day with
their buying and selling realestate needs.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
You guys are your office offices located in Flat
Rock, although you do businessall around the Carolinas.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
We do all well all over Western North Carolina and
the upstate South Carolina, sowe're grateful to serve the
community.
Find us online atrealestatebygregcom.
Also call us directly at828-393-0134.
And we podcast all of our radioshows.
But it's a privilege and honorto sponsor the Hometown Hero
we're glad you do.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Thank you very much, noah, for bringing us the
hometown hero series each week.
Welcome, if you will, lynn, andmark staten from uh bat cave
disaster relief group.
Good morning, lynn.
Good morning, how are you?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
I'm doing fine.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Thank you for having us thank, thank you for coming,
and, mark, it's good to have youboth with us.
You guys have been literallyboots on the ground since
Hurricane Helene struck and didso much damage in the gorge
right.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
You guys and you're continuing to help out down
there.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
It's a marathon, isn't it?
We've been blessed.
We have another group ofvolunteers coming in, the 20th
through the 27th.
Michigan has been huge.
This group coming back in willbe their third returning trip to
come in and help us out andthey'll be about 15 strong.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
That's amazing.
Tell us about the evolution ofBat Cave Disaster Relief Group.
I mean, you guys personallyexperienced a tremendous loss
and then tell us your storyabout how this evolved.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Well, when the hurricane hit on a Friday, we
did get a text from one of ourfriends across the road across
the river and she prepared me.
She sent me a picture of mybuilding and of course the post
office side is a back.
A post office was standing butmy antique vintage shop.
(05:35):
I worked out a double baygarage.
It was an old Sinclair's gasstation.
At one time that was completelygone and she had mentioned that
they saw some people going inand out.
We jumped in the car I believethat was on a Sunday and once he
got our driveway back together,we proceeded to go down there.
(05:59):
But every road we took we gotstopped because the road was
just missing.
Yeah, so finally on Thursdaythat following Thursday, we were
able to get down to the bridgeto park and then we actually had
to walk on scaffolding acrossone of these.
It was a big hole between theroad and the bridge and we just
(06:26):
had to walk down.
It wasn't very far from thebridge and then we just started
dealing with what we saw.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
We were trying to figure it out, just like
everybody else was.
We were fortunate a group camein from Franklin.
We were just trying to salvageour stuff.
They were like, hey, you havethe biggest parking lot in the
area for a shower trailer.
We were like, wow, that's abiggest parking lot in the area
for a shower trailer.
We were like, wow, that's agood idea, we'll do it.
So they helped us finishcleaning up our mess and then
(06:56):
they brought us the showertrailer down and then people
were coming around and they hadproblems getting supplies.
So we started hauling suppliesin and started our little
donation hub and then, oncepeople found out that we were
there, then we started gettingvolunteers that came in and for
the first couple of months theyslept in their car, they slept
(07:18):
in tents.
They were there every day forus running, saw crews or just
whatever the need was.
They did their best to fill it.
And we had never met thesepeople before.
It was just like-minded peoplewith good hearts.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
That's amazing.
That whole thing has beenamazing to me to see the
outpouring of love and kindnessthat came about and you, you
guys, continuing to operate adistribution, and I think on
Wednesdays, am I right that youdeliver?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yep free lunch Wednesdays.
Actually, a church north of usoffered to start.
They came in and started it.
Did it for a few weeks.
The workers got used to it.
Of course so then we actuallytook it over when they had to
bow out, we um myself, thevolunteers, uh, locals, they
(08:20):
jumped in um suzette sherry amylee we have our local bat cave
door dash that's what we callthem.
Yep, and they go up 74, they goup um 64 nine every Wednesday
yep, where, uh?
Speaker 1 (08:38):
where's the food coming from?
Where are?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
you, oh, and Brooke, yeah.
Who cooks the?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
food, or is it a home-cooked food?
Or or, lynn, do you do thecooking?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
a lot of the times I do, um, yeah, yeah.
So yeah, this this week was, uh, baked spaghetti and I thought,
oh no, don't do this again,because it wasn't that easy it
was four big trays and theyweighed 15 pounds.
Yeah, we probably well,actually we're probably fed
(09:09):
close to with some of thecommunity even comes down.
The ladies will meet and havelunch there.
So it's whoever wants to eat.
So it was probably close to 100this week.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Wow.
And so you guys have been in.
You grew up in the community,you've had small business, you
had a small business in thecommunity and now this is what
you're doing right now.
I mean this is incredible.
I mean it's hard to fathom.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
To where you were and to what you're doing and then
coming up on a year in just acouple weeks, but the needs are
still so great.
I mean, how can listeners bepart of what you're doing?
How can they give?
What can do you still needvolunteers?
Do you still need donations?
I mean, how can we help withthat?
Speaker 4 (09:54):
We use our social media platform to share
information and just let peopleknow what's going on.
We have a GoFundMe and a demoon our Facebook page, instagram,
tiktok.
We still need volunteers, westill need donations.
We have a lot of work going on.
We still demoed a house lastweek, but we have two big
(10:15):
projects that we're lookingforward to this upcoming week.
We're hoping to have the homesfinished by the anniversary date
, project that we're workingwith a young couple to help get
them up and out of the ground.
And we use our volunteers asour labor source.
Sometimes they come in.
They might be a framing crew.
(10:35):
That week they might be layingfloor, they might be hanging
drywall, they might be cuttingwood.
It's just kind of whatever theneed is.
But yes, and and to everybodythat's donated and helped us out
along the way, we can't tellyou how much we thank you
there's uh so many people whocontributed.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
I believe you tell me that uh, you've got a big stock
of firewood.
Uh, did I see that on yourfacebook page?
Speaker 4 (11:03):
um we started that last what we work with the
episcopal church down theresociety of transfiguration and
they've done a firewood ministryfor years, okay, so what we've
done is we've been able tosupplement them and last year we
were had enough wood so, yeah,we were able to load them up
going into this year, so thatjust any little thing that makes
(11:25):
it easier on the people downthere.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
We also have a website.
Batcavedisasterreliefcom sharesa lot of information on that.
There's a volunteer sectionthat you can sign up, just email
.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Follow you on social media.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
You can see if they go to.
Facebook probably has morepictures than any of the socials
.
That's where we started from.
Shana is awesome.
She's over in Tennessee.
She was one of our originalvolunteers.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
Can't tell you how long she slept in her car Every
day.
Can you believe that she?
Speaker 3 (12:05):
blesses us once a week.
We get one week a month atAshauna.
She still comes over and shehandles all the social media,
the website for us.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
I've dealt with her some she's referred me names of
people.
She is amazing.
She is, and there's so manyamazing people that have jumped
in the post office.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Let's talk about that a second.
Did it reopen yesterday?
Did you tell me?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It did reopen yesterday, as far as I know.
Right now I believe it's onlygoing to be like pick up, pick
up mail.
I don't think the sales parthas opened up.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
But they'll get that going as soon as possible.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
I think I read where you can go into the lobby of the
post office and get your mail24-7 there now.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Yeah, just be cautious of our friendly
neighborhood bears.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
They're hungry now.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Well, yeah, since the hurricane they've been out.
I was just checking my securitycameras and I had one walking
around our outdoor kitchen about8 pm last night.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
So they're coming out there.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Their homes were destroyed too, yes, so just be
careful.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
And where our hub is.
We're working out of what wasthe location of HipHim, but we
still work out of tents,basically because we haven't
rebuilt our facility yet.
We're working on everybodyelse's, so it's amazing to me
sometimes the amount of peoplethat have came in and the amount
of work that we've been able toget done and it's all been out
of a tent.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Out of a tent and out of their cars.
That is just mind-boggling tome and it continues and, quite
honestly, it's going to continuefor quite some time, yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
I mean it's hard to fathom that we're here in
Hendersonville and then BackHaven-Gurtin it's Henderson
County.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
It is.
You just go down the road, it'sground zero.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
When we first got there it looked like a bomb went
off.
We just looked around like wecouldn't believe it.
We couldn't believe what wewere seeing.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
It was almost like a bad Armageddon movie or a Mad
Max movie, with just debriseverywhere and people were
chaotic and trying to just'shard to figure it out.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, well we're committed to uh trying to help
and and once again, give us yourcontact information, the
website and social media, etcokay, our website is batcave
disaster reliefcom.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
We're also on Facebook, instagram, tiktok X,
and it's either Batcave DisasterRelief or Batcave Relief.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
She couldn't do all those words.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
All those words, I think on Instagram were Batcave
Relief.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Thank you.
We'll certainly have it all onall of our socials as well and
be sharing.
And we'll be podcasting this aswell.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
We have a small token of our appreciation, a little
certificate.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
Oh, thank you.
That's all we can do.
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for coming
out today and join us.
Next week Bud McCall fromAppalachian Navy will be here.
Thank you for helping us.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
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
(15:46):
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 to rightsize, simplify or start fresh,
(16:07):
we'll be here.
The George Real Estate Grouplocal, trusted, proven.
Call us today 828-393-0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygregcom, because
your next chapter deserves tofeel just right.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
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,
(16:44):
north Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 10.05 am on WHKP
107.7 FM and 14.50 am, or streamonline at whkpcom or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
The George Real Estate Groupbrings you the WHKP Hometown
(17:08):
Hero Series every Friday morningat 845.
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