November 7, 2025 • 17 mins
A ten-year milestone on WHKP sets the stage for a conversation that hits straight at the heart of service, community, and what it means to keep showing up when the cameras leave. We sit down with Hometown Hero Wes Hardin, a retired farmer and operator who woke up one September morning with a clear conviction: pack the trucks, load the gear, and go wherever help is needed. From East Tennessee to Western North Carolina, then into South Carolina, Kentucky, and West Virginia, Wes and his partners—most notably Jake from Helene Rising—have spent more than a year clearing roads, rebuilding bridges, gutting waterlogged floors, and reconnecting families to essential care.
Wes shares the kind of story you don’t forget: arriving in War, West Virginia after floods severed access to an elderly man on hospice. With a washed-out bridge and a river that jumped its banks, the crew pushed through predawn, cutting a new path so family, church, and hospice could reach him in time. Starlink brought distant children and grandkids into the room. He passed peacefully the next morning—seen, heard, and held by his people. That’s the promise of real recovery work: not just lumber and machines, but dignity and closure when it matters most.
We dig into the practical realities too. Fall brings a steadier housing market in Henderson County, with slightly more inventory and ongoing demand from relocations. But the bigger headline is the long road ahead across Appalachia: temporary campers break down, and permanent housing is the real endgame. Organizations like Helene Rising, Appalachian United Initiative, Samaritan’s Purse, United Way, God’s Warehouse, and the United Cajun Navy form the backbone that keeps crews supplied and projects moving. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to pitch in, this is it—volunteer time, donate materials, or spread the word that recovery is not done.
Subscribe for more stories that shine light on the people doing the hard work, share this episode with a friend who could help, and leave a review so others can find these voices. Your attention, your network, and your hands can change what’s possible for families still waiting to come home.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_04 (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 WHKP.com.
(00:24):
Each Friday morning at 845, theGeorge Real Estate Group
presents the Hometown Hero Awardto someone in our community who
goes above and beyond to makeour hometown a better place to
live.
Here's this week's Hometown HeroShow.
It's 8 45 time now for uh ourGeorge Real Estate Group,
(00:46):
Hometown Hero Salute.
And we do this every Fridaymorning brought to you by the
George Real Estate Group, and uhTaylor Harry is here with us and
uh going to talk a little realestate news this morning,
Taylor.
SPEAKER_01 (01:00):
Yes, we are, not too much because we would much
rather talk to Wes than anybodylistening to me.
But we have seen the fall seasonbring a steady rhythm into the
market.
The activity has leveled off abit from the summer rush, but
homes are still moving.
Inventory is up slightly fromthis time last year, giving
buyers a few more options, butsellers are still seeing strong
values thanks to the continueddemand from folks relocating to
(01:21):
Western North Carolina.
SPEAKER_04 (01:23):
Well, get us in touch with the George Real
Estate Group.
You guys are located in FlatRock, right?
SPEAKER_01 (01:28):
That's correct.
If you know where Rainbow Row isat, or even if you don't, um, if
you can search up the Flat RockBakery and you do so at your own
risk because you'll wind upeating absolutely everything in
there.
We are also next to Hubba HubbaBarbecue, which is again
dangerous but lovely place toeat, and across from Carl
Sandberg and the Flat RockPlayhouse, right there.
So we are located in Flat Rock.
It's a beautiful place to workat, beautiful place to come and
(01:50):
visit if you haven't been herebefore.
And you can contact us directlyby phone at 828-393-0134, or
visit us online at realastate bygreg.com for listings,
resources, and any localupdates.
SPEAKER_04 (02:01):
All right.
Thank you, Taylor.
Uh Wes Harden, welcome to themicrophone.
How are you?
Doing well, thank you.
Good to have you with us.
Thank you so much for coming tosit down with us.
I know you're a busy guy.
SPEAKER_03 (02:15):
Uh, yeah, we tend to stay pretty busy.
You had uh my main partner incrime, Jacob Reuter, in here a
couple of weeks ago, and I wastalking to him on the phone
coming in.
We'll be back out tomorrow onthe job.
With Helene rising.
With Helene Rising.
SPEAKER_01 (02:29):
Yeah, good people.
You were all good people, butum, that's awesome you guys know
each other.
SPEAKER_04 (02:33):
So uh what are you gonna be what job are you and
him tackling tomorrow?
SPEAKER_03 (02:37):
Oh, we're down at Old Fort.
We ripped had to uh we had atrailer down there, a lady and
her son lives in that uh was uhpart of the hurricane damage.
Water rushed up under thetrailer, and later they noticed
they had mold and the floorstarted rotting out.
So here we are a year and amonth in, and we're just now
finding out about places likethat.
We got in there a couple of daysago, ripped the floor out, we're
(02:59):
ready to start rebuilding fornow.
SPEAKER_04 (03:01):
And that's exactly what you've been doing for over
a year now.
SPEAKER_03 (03:07):
Ever since September 28th.
I got up on the morning ofSeptember 28th, and God touched
me and said, You know what?
You're retired.
I've given you equipment, givenyou trucks.
Uh you're from two of the oldestfamilies in East Tennessee and
western North Carolina.
These are your people, these aremy people, they need help.
You need to be out there.
And my wife looked at me and shesaid, You kind of got a
perplexed look on your face thismorning.
(03:28):
Is there something going on?
And I said, Well, yeah.
I I get the feeling that we needto move.
And she said, Well, what do youneed mean move?
And I said, We need to load upequipment.
And she said, Where are wegoing?
I said, I don't know.
I don't have a clue.
But what needs to be done is notgoing to do itself, and it's not
going to get done with ussitting here.
And we loaded up and we westarted then.
It took us about five days toget off of the little place that
(03:51):
we live in, Stony Creek, up overin Elizabeth and Tennessee.
And uh ever since that day, it'sjust been a and it's gotten to
the point that I kind of scarepeople like Jake and some of my
other people that work with mebecause it it's just been we
load up and don't always knowwhere we're going, but we find
where we need to be.
And uh it's been such a blessingsince we've been doing this.
(04:15):
No matter where we've shown up,we have worked uh East
Tennessee, Western NorthCarolina, South Carolina.
Uh when the floods happened upin Kentucky and West Virginia,
we responded to that.
We have uh hauled supplies forpeople in Texas.
It's been just uh an incredibleyear and almost two months.
And uh no matter where we showedup, the amazing piece has been
(04:37):
if we needed additionalmachinery, it would show up.
If we needed additionaloperators, chainsaw, skid steer,
whatever, they would show up.
If we needed additional funding,it would show up.
Everything that we've neededsince day one has just been
provided.
SPEAKER_04 (04:54):
Wes, that's a great story, man.
SPEAKER_01 (04:56):
I'm sure that it's hard to be like I mean every I
feel like every hometown herowe've had on here, they're like
they almost don't want to berecognized, or it makes you feel
a little odd.
And but I will say that and Ihad my great grandfather who's
from here too, he's a farmer, asWes is also.
If he's not got enough to do,he's a farmer.
Him and his wife are incredible.
But um, he had told me one timehe was like, you know what,
giving to people almost feelselfish because it makes you
(05:19):
feel so much better thananything else could.
And I think that you can seethat in every single person
that's coming here, andespecially you too.
And he was Wes was just braggingon his wife big time.
SPEAKER_03 (05:29):
Yeah, I I have to say, the good Lord and that
woman, sometimes she can be apest.
When we first got started withthis, this was nasty work.
We started off, we were doingSAR missions looking for bodies,
we were doing chainsaw work, wewere knee-deep in muck.
(05:52):
No matter where I went, nomatter how nasty it got, that
little five-foot redhead wasright there in it with me.
I have watched her break herback just I mean, she would
never leave my side.
She'd get in the truckabsolutely exhausted and sleep
all the way home, but she wouldnever leave my side.
And uh when when spring startedcoming in this year, uh we s it
(06:15):
started kidding season on thefarm.
So she one of us needed to be onthe farm to get through that,
and she peeled off, but she'sstill, I mean, today she's
loading up a trailer at God'swarehouse in Elizabeth and for
Jake and I to do the work offort.
SPEAKER_01 (06:30):
Well, we'll have to have you back on you here for
one time, the both of you forlike marriage counseling or
something because it'sincredible.
Y'all are just absolutelyknocked it out of the park.
That's that's sitting you guyshave an incredible story.
You it not only are you workinghard during the day, but you're
working hard.
And again, man, it almost feelsselfish, probably, because you
get so much joy from helpingpeople, but it doesn't take away
the the back breaking labor thatyou're doing out there doing it,
(06:51):
you know.
SPEAKER_03 (06:51):
So it's just it's no, and and and I'm gonna tell
you, um, we hooked up with acouple of organizations.
Early on, my wife and I werepretty much we went what I
called rogue warrior style.
We we loaded up and we went.
And I mean, we uh our friendswould go with us when they
weren't working, and that waspretty much the crew.
And then by about November oflast year, we had kind of
(07:12):
started partnering up with acouple of organizations like
Appalachian United Initiative,which is over in Unicoy,
Tennessee, and Johnson City, andand with Helene Rising with
Jake.
We happened to meet him throughHurricane Helene Veterans
Recovery Group.
They put us on a job together.
We've been working together eversince.
Uh and we're pretty muchinseparable now.
Yeah, I'm not sure.
(07:33):
Jake Jake's an incredible.
I mean, I I wouldn't take adollar for Jake.
SPEAKER_01 (07:37):
We met him, we love him too.
We can see why he likes it.
SPEAKER_03 (07:40):
We agree.
Yeah, he he and I have been insome thick stuff.
I mean, uh we were up in WestVirginia and I uh Jake's already
stolen a lot of my stories, ourbest stories.
SPEAKER_01 (07:50):
But one one of the best We can write a book
together in split fros.
SPEAKER_03 (07:54):
I I'm gonna tell you, you you want to talk about
how touching this can be.
Jake touched on it, but I wantto give you a little more on the
story.
We we were we responded, we hadjust come out of Kentucky, we'd
been up there for almost twoweeks working with the United
Cajun Navy after the Kentuckyfloods, and we had just gotten
home that night and offloadedequipment, and Darien Davis from
(08:15):
Cajun Navy called me up and hesaid, Wes, uh, can you get your
team back together?
And I said, Dude, you realize wejust got home.
We haven't even servicedequipment or anything.
And he he said, I know, but wereally need you.
We have a huge disaster in WestVirginia, and they're not
getting uh the media supportthat other places have got, and
they're not getting the responsein there.
(08:36):
So we loaded up and we went to alittle place called War, West
Virginia, and we got in there.
And the first place we worked,there was like 20 houses up a
mountainside, and every one ofthe driveways had been washed
out.
So we got in there and we'dgotten that fixed, and we got
back to the place we werestaying, and the preacher we
were working with up therecalled us up and he said, We
really need you tomorrowmorning.
(08:57):
Can we go out tonight and lookat this?
So at eleven o'clock at nightwe're out looking, and this
bridge was washed out.
And the story was that there wasan elderly gentleman on the
hospice that lived up this roadthat had been there.
And uh for five days his hospiceteam hadn't been able to get to
him.
No family members had been ableto get to him.
Uh ambulance crews couldn't getto him if he was needed, and it
(09:18):
was he and his wife up there bythemselves.
And uh we said, Oh yes, promiseyou, we'll be here at daybreak
in the morning to start this.
And we got in there and westarted going up what we thought
was the river.
We were fording the river.
Jake was on his excavator and Iwas in the skid steer.
And we got, I don't know, a halfmile or a mile up.
And I looked at Jake and I said,Do you realize something?
(09:38):
He said, What?
I said, The river is aboutactually the river bed is like
300 yards to our right.
It had jumped and taken thedriveway.
SPEAKER_01 (09:48):
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_03 (09:48):
We were actually going up what was supposed to be
the driveway, and we thought itwas the river.
So we got up to a point about amile and a half in, and we
realized we could cut it over,and we managed to get it cut
back over, and we back draggedthe road so that it was at least
passable.
That evening uh there was a lotof traffic in there.
We came in the next morning,there were th like hundreds of
(10:12):
tread marks going up this dirtroad.
They've been waiting for it toopen.
So all of his local family,police, his church, hospice
teams, everybody had been inthere to see him.
They had managed to get him aStarlink, and he was able to
talk remotely to his childrenand grandchildren who weren't
there.
And we went in the next morningand I fired equipment up for it
(10:34):
to warm up, and this lady cameout with a smile on her face.
She put her hand on my shoulderand she said, My husband just
passed.
She said, God bless y'all.
He was able to see everybody heneeded to see.
He was lucid.
He got to meet it to see hisgrandkids.
They got to see granddad beforehe passed away.
(10:55):
But the stuff like that willkeep if if you get started doing
this stuff, when you s this willkeep you going.
It's like an energy drink onthat.
On steroids on steroids.
And it's over here in WesternNorth Carolina, the people we
worked with, we work down inDeep Gap.
SPEAKER_01 (11:16):
We have I have spent some time working around these
parts in Black Mountain and DeepGap too.
We were talking about thatearlier.
SPEAKER_03 (11:21):
Black Mountain, Mini Ha ha.
Yeah, back caves.
SPEAKER_01 (11:25):
People that live out there because they don't want
anyone to know where they are,and it's real easy to their cell
phone service doesn't workanyway.
So, you know, it's you'redigging, looking around for
people that you're look, youknow, you're looking for anybody
in the city.
SPEAKER_03 (11:35):
Oh, some of the places we've worked, it's
interesting pulling in withTennessee license plates because
they look at you and it's like,who are you?
And we had a really interesting,we were working over uh You can
take my car next time.
SPEAKER_01 (11:48):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (11:48):
We we were working over closer to uh I guess it was
over towards Poplar.
We were going up in themountains.
We were on four-wheelers.
It was before it was reallypassable to get up in some of
the areas, and as we're going upin there, we look up the
mountain and we see two what?
New York City Police Departmentfour by four F-356 packs loaded
(12:11):
with NYPD cops coming down themountain.
In Mitchell County, NorthCarolina.
Yes.
And uh so we we stopped andtalked to them.
But this the other biggestblessing that we've had through
this is we have worked side byside with people from all over
America.
I never expected the outpouringof support from America for
(12:32):
Appalachia.
Okay.
Appalachians have always beenknown for supporting disasters
elsewhere.
SPEAKER_01 (12:37):
But you know what's funny?
When we talk about this, is umthis is not even a real estate
plug, people from everywhereelse moves here.
Although people have probablybeen here before.
They love this area just as muchas we do, you know.
SPEAKER_04 (12:46):
So Yeah.
People come here and fall inlove with this place, and and uh
and it's people like you and uhand uh all so many others that
uh make this place look soattractive.
You jumped in, you didn't evenknow where you're going.
SPEAKER_01 (13:02):
What do you guys need now?
SPEAKER_03 (13:04):
Uh this.
Just word out that it we're notdone.
That's the publicity that we'renot done.
If you watch most of the newsmedia, you think well,
everything's done.
Well, we have people in campers,we have temporary housing.
A lot of the major rebuildingthat's still gonna have to be
done across Appalachia ispermanent housing.
These campers are a three tofive year solution and they fall
(13:26):
apart.
They're not made to be out inthe weather every day.
So just the word that we stillneed help.
We need assistance.
Volunteer, uh donations throughHelene Rising, donations through
Appalachian United Initiative,uh donate to Samaritan's Purse,
they've been a huge help.
Uh God's Warehouse, a lot ofpeople haven't heard of them,
(13:46):
and they have supplied materialsfor almost every rebuilding
effort that we've done.
We've built houses, we've builtbridges.
Uh it's it's incredible thesupport that we've had.
I mean, it it's easy to look ata few people like me and Jake
and say, well, y'all have beenout there doing it.
We couldn't do it without thesupport network that we've had.
Samaritan's Purse, United Way.
SPEAKER_04 (14:07):
I mean, it's been Yeah, we've had the United Cajun
Navy on here and uh and so manydifferent organizations.
And through Jake at HeleneRising is where uh he gave us
your name to contact and come bewith us.
Well well, Wes, I I can't saythank you enough, and I'd love
to talk for about three daysabout this and hear your
(14:28):
stories.
And you talk about the need forpublicity and and we're
committed here at WHKP to staythe course because uh it's not
over by a long shot.
And so uh we got a uhcertificate there that we just
want to say thank you and uh wedo yeah, we do.
SPEAKER_01 (14:47):
We want to say thank you, everybody.
SPEAKER_04 (14:49):
Yeah, there's a couple of free meals in there
when you're in town.
Don't you know we got lunch foryou.
But thank you again for comingto visit with us.
Driving from Elizabethan,Tennessee this morning to be
with us.
Thank you.
Well, thank y'all.
SPEAKER_01 (15:05):
Thank you for everything.
You're amazing.
SPEAKER_04 (15:07):
All right.
Uh Taylor, we got about a minuteleft to uh recap Henderson
County real estate happenings.
Do that for us.
SPEAKER_01 (15:15):
I will.
Well, really, I'd I'd love tosay if you'd like to nominate
someone for next week's HometownHero or for any week, we'd love
to hear from you.
You can visit us atrealestatebygreg.com to submit
your nomination and learn moreabout what's happening in the
community.
Or you can give um us a call atthe office at 828-393-0134, or
you can call Randy, Randy withyour phone number.
SPEAKER_04 (15:34):
Uh, you can call us here at WHKP.
Uh our email address is info atWHKP.com.
Uh send us an email.
There's the best way to get intouch with us, and we'll be back
with you next Friday morningwith another George Real Estate
Group, Hometown Hero.
The George Real Estate Group islocated in Flat Rock, North
(15:56):
Carolina, near Hendersonville inHenderson County.
You can find them online atrealestatebygreg.com.
The George Real Estate Group canbe reached at 828-3930134 or
stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, Flat Rock,
North Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 1005 AM on WHKP
(16:19):
107.7 FM and 1450 AM, or streamonline at WHKP.com, or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
The George Real Estate Groupbrings you the WHKP Hometown
Hero Series every Friday morningat 845.
SPEAKER_00 (16:40):
You've built a lifetime of strength, wisdom,
and independence.
And here's the best part (16:45):
you still have it.
Every decision, every step,every next chapter is yours to
choose.
Selling your home isn't aboutletting go, it's about opening
the door to more freedom, moretime for what you love, more
energy for the people andpassions that matter most.
(17:06):
At the George Real Estate Group,we believe independence isn't
behind you.
It's right here, right now.
Our team goes beyond buying andselling.
We're here to help you protectyour wealth, preserve your
legacy, and make sure Uncle Samdoesn't become your biggest
benefactor.
We'll guide you every step ofthe way towards your next
(17:28):
chapter, your next opportunity,and your freedom on your terms.
Call us at 828 393 0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
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 WHKP.com.
(00:24):
Each Friday morning at 845, theGeorge Real Estate Group
presents the Hometown Hero Awardto someone in our community who
goes above and beyond to makeour hometown a better place to
live.
Here's this week's Hometown HeroShow.
It's 8 45 time now for uh ourGeorge Real Estate Group,
(00:46):
Hometown Hero Salute.
And we do this every Fridaymorning brought to you by the
George Real Estate Group, and uhTaylor Harry is here with us and
uh going to talk a little realestate news this morning,
Taylor.
SPEAKER_01 (01:00):
Yes, we are, not too much because we would much
rather talk to Wes than anybodylistening to me.
But we have seen the fall seasonbring a steady rhythm into the
market.
The activity has leveled off abit from the summer rush, but
homes are still moving.
Inventory is up slightly fromthis time last year, giving
buyers a few more options, butsellers are still seeing strong
values thanks to the continueddemand from folks relocating to
(01:21):
Western North Carolina.
SPEAKER_04 (01:23):
Well, get us in touch with the George Real
Estate Group.
You guys are located in FlatRock, right?
SPEAKER_01 (01:28):
That's correct.
If you know where Rainbow Row isat, or even if you don't, um, if
you can search up the Flat RockBakery and you do so at your own
risk because you'll wind upeating absolutely everything in
there.
We are also next to Hubba HubbaBarbecue, which is again
dangerous but lovely place toeat, and across from Carl
Sandberg and the Flat RockPlayhouse, right there.
So we are located in Flat Rock.
It's a beautiful place to workat, beautiful place to come and
(01:50):
visit if you haven't been herebefore.
And you can contact us directlyby phone at 828-393-0134, or
visit us online at realastate bygreg.com for listings,
resources, and any localupdates.
SPEAKER_04 (02:01):
All right.
Thank you, Taylor.
Uh Wes Harden, welcome to themicrophone.
How are you?
Doing well, thank you.
Good to have you with us.
Thank you so much for coming tosit down with us.
I know you're a busy guy.
SPEAKER_03 (02:15):
Uh, yeah, we tend to stay pretty busy.
You had uh my main partner incrime, Jacob Reuter, in here a
couple of weeks ago, and I wastalking to him on the phone
coming in.
We'll be back out tomorrow onthe job.
With Helene rising.
With Helene Rising.
SPEAKER_01 (02:29):
Yeah, good people.
You were all good people, butum, that's awesome you guys know
each other.
SPEAKER_04 (02:33):
So uh what are you gonna be what job are you and
him tackling tomorrow?
SPEAKER_03 (02:37):
Oh, we're down at Old Fort.
We ripped had to uh we had atrailer down there, a lady and
her son lives in that uh was uhpart of the hurricane damage.
Water rushed up under thetrailer, and later they noticed
they had mold and the floorstarted rotting out.
So here we are a year and amonth in, and we're just now
finding out about places likethat.
We got in there a couple of daysago, ripped the floor out, we're
(02:59):
ready to start rebuilding fornow.
SPEAKER_04 (03:01):
And that's exactly what you've been doing for over
a year now.
SPEAKER_03 (03:07):
Ever since September 28th.
I got up on the morning ofSeptember 28th, and God touched
me and said, You know what?
You're retired.
I've given you equipment, givenyou trucks.
Uh you're from two of the oldestfamilies in East Tennessee and
western North Carolina.
These are your people, these aremy people, they need help.
You need to be out there.
And my wife looked at me and shesaid, You kind of got a
perplexed look on your face thismorning.
(03:28):
Is there something going on?
And I said, Well, yeah.
I I get the feeling that we needto move.
And she said, Well, what do youneed mean move?
And I said, We need to load upequipment.
And she said, Where are wegoing?
I said, I don't know.
I don't have a clue.
But what needs to be done is notgoing to do itself, and it's not
going to get done with ussitting here.
And we loaded up and we westarted then.
It took us about five days toget off of the little place that
(03:51):
we live in, Stony Creek, up overin Elizabeth and Tennessee.
And uh ever since that day, it'sjust been a and it's gotten to
the point that I kind of scarepeople like Jake and some of my
other people that work with mebecause it it's just been we
load up and don't always knowwhere we're going, but we find
where we need to be.
And uh it's been such a blessingsince we've been doing this.
(04:15):
No matter where we've shown up,we have worked uh East
Tennessee, Western NorthCarolina, South Carolina.
Uh when the floods happened upin Kentucky and West Virginia,
we responded to that.
We have uh hauled supplies forpeople in Texas.
It's been just uh an incredibleyear and almost two months.
And uh no matter where we showedup, the amazing piece has been
(04:37):
if we needed additionalmachinery, it would show up.
If we needed additionaloperators, chainsaw, skid steer,
whatever, they would show up.
If we needed additional funding,it would show up.
Everything that we've neededsince day one has just been
provided.
SPEAKER_04 (04:54):
Wes, that's a great story, man.
SPEAKER_01 (04:56):
I'm sure that it's hard to be like I mean every I
feel like every hometown herowe've had on here, they're like
they almost don't want to berecognized, or it makes you feel
a little odd.
And but I will say that and Ihad my great grandfather who's
from here too, he's a farmer, asWes is also.
If he's not got enough to do,he's a farmer.
Him and his wife are incredible.
But um, he had told me one timehe was like, you know what,
giving to people almost feelselfish because it makes you
(05:19):
feel so much better thananything else could.
And I think that you can seethat in every single person
that's coming here, andespecially you too.
And he was Wes was just braggingon his wife big time.
SPEAKER_03 (05:29):
Yeah, I I have to say, the good Lord and that
woman, sometimes she can be apest.
When we first got started withthis, this was nasty work.
We started off, we were doingSAR missions looking for bodies,
we were doing chainsaw work, wewere knee-deep in muck.
(05:52):
No matter where I went, nomatter how nasty it got, that
little five-foot redhead wasright there in it with me.
I have watched her break herback just I mean, she would
never leave my side.
She'd get in the truckabsolutely exhausted and sleep
all the way home, but she wouldnever leave my side.
And uh when when spring startedcoming in this year, uh we s it
(06:15):
started kidding season on thefarm.
So she one of us needed to be onthe farm to get through that,
and she peeled off, but she'sstill, I mean, today she's
loading up a trailer at God'swarehouse in Elizabeth and for
Jake and I to do the work offort.
SPEAKER_01 (06:30):
Well, we'll have to have you back on you here for
one time, the both of you forlike marriage counseling or
something because it'sincredible.
Y'all are just absolutelyknocked it out of the park.
That's that's sitting you guyshave an incredible story.
You it not only are you workinghard during the day, but you're
working hard.
And again, man, it almost feelsselfish, probably, because you
get so much joy from helpingpeople, but it doesn't take away
the the back breaking labor thatyou're doing out there doing it,
(06:51):
you know.
SPEAKER_03 (06:51):
So it's just it's no, and and and I'm gonna tell
you, um, we hooked up with acouple of organizations.
Early on, my wife and I werepretty much we went what I
called rogue warrior style.
We we loaded up and we went.
And I mean, we uh our friendswould go with us when they
weren't working, and that waspretty much the crew.
And then by about November oflast year, we had kind of
(07:12):
started partnering up with acouple of organizations like
Appalachian United Initiative,which is over in Unicoy,
Tennessee, and Johnson City, andand with Helene Rising with
Jake.
We happened to meet him throughHurricane Helene Veterans
Recovery Group.
They put us on a job together.
We've been working together eversince.
Uh and we're pretty muchinseparable now.
Yeah, I'm not sure.
(07:33):
Jake Jake's an incredible.
I mean, I I wouldn't take adollar for Jake.
SPEAKER_01 (07:37):
We met him, we love him too.
We can see why he likes it.
SPEAKER_03 (07:40):
We agree.
Yeah, he he and I have been insome thick stuff.
I mean, uh we were up in WestVirginia and I uh Jake's already
stolen a lot of my stories, ourbest stories.
SPEAKER_01 (07:50):
But one one of the best We can write a book
together in split fros.
SPEAKER_03 (07:54):
I I'm gonna tell you, you you want to talk about
how touching this can be.
Jake touched on it, but I wantto give you a little more on the
story.
We we were we responded, we hadjust come out of Kentucky, we'd
been up there for almost twoweeks working with the United
Cajun Navy after the Kentuckyfloods, and we had just gotten
home that night and offloadedequipment, and Darien Davis from
(08:15):
Cajun Navy called me up and hesaid, Wes, uh, can you get your
team back together?
And I said, Dude, you realize wejust got home.
We haven't even servicedequipment or anything.
And he he said, I know, but wereally need you.
We have a huge disaster in WestVirginia, and they're not
getting uh the media supportthat other places have got, and
they're not getting the responsein there.
(08:36):
So we loaded up and we went to alittle place called War, West
Virginia, and we got in there.
And the first place we worked,there was like 20 houses up a
mountainside, and every one ofthe driveways had been washed
out.
So we got in there and we'dgotten that fixed, and we got
back to the place we werestaying, and the preacher we
were working with up therecalled us up and he said, We
really need you tomorrowmorning.
(08:57):
Can we go out tonight and lookat this?
So at eleven o'clock at nightwe're out looking, and this
bridge was washed out.
And the story was that there wasan elderly gentleman on the
hospice that lived up this roadthat had been there.
And uh for five days his hospiceteam hadn't been able to get to
him.
No family members had been ableto get to him.
Uh ambulance crews couldn't getto him if he was needed, and it
(09:18):
was he and his wife up there bythemselves.
And uh we said, Oh yes, promiseyou, we'll be here at daybreak
in the morning to start this.
And we got in there and westarted going up what we thought
was the river.
We were fording the river.
Jake was on his excavator and Iwas in the skid steer.
And we got, I don't know, a halfmile or a mile up.
And I looked at Jake and I said,Do you realize something?
(09:38):
He said, What?
I said, The river is aboutactually the river bed is like
300 yards to our right.
It had jumped and taken thedriveway.
SPEAKER_01 (09:48):
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_03 (09:48):
We were actually going up what was supposed to be
the driveway, and we thought itwas the river.
So we got up to a point about amile and a half in, and we
realized we could cut it over,and we managed to get it cut
back over, and we back draggedthe road so that it was at least
passable.
That evening uh there was a lotof traffic in there.
We came in the next morning,there were th like hundreds of
(10:12):
tread marks going up this dirtroad.
They've been waiting for it toopen.
So all of his local family,police, his church, hospice
teams, everybody had been inthere to see him.
They had managed to get him aStarlink, and he was able to
talk remotely to his childrenand grandchildren who weren't
there.
And we went in the next morningand I fired equipment up for it
(10:34):
to warm up, and this lady cameout with a smile on her face.
She put her hand on my shoulderand she said, My husband just
passed.
She said, God bless y'all.
He was able to see everybody heneeded to see.
He was lucid.
He got to meet it to see hisgrandkids.
They got to see granddad beforehe passed away.
(10:55):
But the stuff like that willkeep if if you get started doing
this stuff, when you s this willkeep you going.
It's like an energy drink onthat.
On steroids on steroids.
And it's over here in WesternNorth Carolina, the people we
worked with, we work down inDeep Gap.
SPEAKER_01 (11:16):
We have I have spent some time working around these
parts in Black Mountain and DeepGap too.
We were talking about thatearlier.
SPEAKER_03 (11:21):
Black Mountain, Mini Ha ha.
Yeah, back caves.
SPEAKER_01 (11:25):
People that live out there because they don't want
anyone to know where they are,and it's real easy to their cell
phone service doesn't workanyway.
So, you know, it's you'redigging, looking around for
people that you're look, youknow, you're looking for anybody
in the city.
SPEAKER_03 (11:35):
Oh, some of the places we've worked, it's
interesting pulling in withTennessee license plates because
they look at you and it's like,who are you?
And we had a really interesting,we were working over uh You can
take my car next time.
SPEAKER_01 (11:48):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (11:48):
We we were working over closer to uh I guess it was
over towards Poplar.
We were going up in themountains.
We were on four-wheelers.
It was before it was reallypassable to get up in some of
the areas, and as we're going upin there, we look up the
mountain and we see two what?
New York City Police Departmentfour by four F-356 packs loaded
(12:11):
with NYPD cops coming down themountain.
In Mitchell County, NorthCarolina.
Yes.
And uh so we we stopped andtalked to them.
But this the other biggestblessing that we've had through
this is we have worked side byside with people from all over
America.
I never expected the outpouringof support from America for
(12:32):
Appalachia.
Okay.
Appalachians have always beenknown for supporting disasters
elsewhere.
SPEAKER_01 (12:37):
But you know what's funny?
When we talk about this, is umthis is not even a real estate
plug, people from everywhereelse moves here.
Although people have probablybeen here before.
They love this area just as muchas we do, you know.
SPEAKER_04 (12:46):
So Yeah.
People come here and fall inlove with this place, and and uh
and it's people like you and uhand uh all so many others that
uh make this place look soattractive.
You jumped in, you didn't evenknow where you're going.
SPEAKER_01 (13:02):
What do you guys need now?
SPEAKER_03 (13:04):
Uh this.
Just word out that it we're notdone.
That's the publicity that we'renot done.
If you watch most of the newsmedia, you think well,
everything's done.
Well, we have people in campers,we have temporary housing.
A lot of the major rebuildingthat's still gonna have to be
done across Appalachia ispermanent housing.
These campers are a three tofive year solution and they fall
(13:26):
apart.
They're not made to be out inthe weather every day.
So just the word that we stillneed help.
We need assistance.
Volunteer, uh donations throughHelene Rising, donations through
Appalachian United Initiative,uh donate to Samaritan's Purse,
they've been a huge help.
Uh God's Warehouse, a lot ofpeople haven't heard of them,
(13:46):
and they have supplied materialsfor almost every rebuilding
effort that we've done.
We've built houses, we've builtbridges.
Uh it's it's incredible thesupport that we've had.
I mean, it it's easy to look ata few people like me and Jake
and say, well, y'all have beenout there doing it.
We couldn't do it without thesupport network that we've had.
Samaritan's Purse, United Way.
SPEAKER_04 (14:07):
I mean, it's been Yeah, we've had the United Cajun
Navy on here and uh and so manydifferent organizations.
And through Jake at HeleneRising is where uh he gave us
your name to contact and come bewith us.
Well well, Wes, I I can't saythank you enough, and I'd love
to talk for about three daysabout this and hear your
(14:28):
stories.
And you talk about the need forpublicity and and we're
committed here at WHKP to staythe course because uh it's not
over by a long shot.
And so uh we got a uhcertificate there that we just
want to say thank you and uh wedo yeah, we do.
SPEAKER_01 (14:47):
We want to say thank you, everybody.
SPEAKER_04 (14:49):
Yeah, there's a couple of free meals in there
when you're in town.
Don't you know we got lunch foryou.
But thank you again for comingto visit with us.
Driving from Elizabethan,Tennessee this morning to be
with us.
Thank you.
Well, thank y'all.
SPEAKER_01 (15:05):
Thank you for everything.
You're amazing.
SPEAKER_04 (15:07):
All right.
Uh Taylor, we got about a minuteleft to uh recap Henderson
County real estate happenings.
Do that for us.
SPEAKER_01 (15:15):
I will.
Well, really, I'd I'd love tosay if you'd like to nominate
someone for next week's HometownHero or for any week, we'd love
to hear from you.
You can visit us atrealestatebygreg.com to submit
your nomination and learn moreabout what's happening in the
community.
Or you can give um us a call atthe office at 828-393-0134, or
you can call Randy, Randy withyour phone number.
SPEAKER_04 (15:34):
Uh, you can call us here at WHKP.
Uh our email address is info atWHKP.com.
Uh send us an email.
There's the best way to get intouch with us, and we'll be back
with you next Friday morningwith another George Real Estate
Group, Hometown Hero.
The George Real Estate Group islocated in Flat Rock, North
(15:56):
Carolina, near Hendersonville inHenderson County.
You can find them online atrealestatebygreg.com.
The George Real Estate Group canbe reached at 828-3930134 or
stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, Flat Rock,
North Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 1005 AM on WHKP
(16:19):
107.7 FM and 1450 AM, or streamonline at WHKP.com, or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
The George Real Estate Groupbrings you the WHKP Hometown
Hero Series every Friday morningat 845.
SPEAKER_00 (16:40):
You've built a lifetime of strength, wisdom,
and independence.
And here's the best part (16:45):
you still have it.
Every decision, every step,every next chapter is yours to
choose.
Selling your home isn't aboutletting go, it's about opening
the door to more freedom, moretime for what you love, more
energy for the people andpassions that matter most.
(17:06):
At the George Real Estate Group,we believe independence isn't
behind you.
It's right here, right now.
Our team goes beyond buying andselling.
We're here to help you protectyour wealth, preserve your
legacy, and make sure Uncle Samdoesn't become your biggest
benefactor.
We'll guide you every step ofthe way towards your next
(17:28):
chapter, your next opportunity,and your freedom on your terms.
Call us at 828 393 0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
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