Sumter aviation community flies to aid Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina

While parts of South Carolina remained unscathed by Hurricane Helene, a group of Sumter aviators and community members are taking to the sky to deliver vital supplies to hard-hit areas in North Carolina.

Originally from Port Angeles, Washington, Richard May ventured to Shaw Air Force Base five years ago, drawn by his service in the Air Force. In that time, he's learned a lot about the people of Sumter, like their willingness to lend a hand when someone needs it most. Which is why as he and the rest of the Southeast watched North Carolina bear the brunt of the storm, he knew that the Sumter community had the capacity to help.

"I think that's the reason why we should be [helping] is [because] we're not affected by it," he said. "I think since we're kind of lucky on our side to not be hit, we should help those in need."

May, alongside fellow pilots, found a unique way to offer support through their aviation network. After searching for areas not yet reached by larger relief efforts, they found a need in Spruce Pine.

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains with a population of 2,194, the community of Spruce Pine is known for hiking and local artists. It's also America's sole source of high-purity quartz used to produce both crucibles and semiconductors to create solar panels, according to NPR.

Helene dumped more than two feet of rain - 24.12 inches to be exact, according to National Weather Service - on the town, destroying roads and stores and cutting power and water.

Through a Facebook group called the Carolina Aviators Network, May and his pilot buddies learned Spruce Pine's airport runway was clear and its people were in need of supplies.

With the help of friends in Sumter and on social media, they were able to mobilize and quickly garner essentials like baby formula, diapers, canned goods and even dog food. One of the more innovative items they will be delivering are LifeStraws, lightweight personal water filters, which are crucial in areas that lack access to clean drinking water. May said this works best as water bottles can weigh down the planes; LifeStraws will allow them to filter the water they already have.

Though the flight to Spruce Pine is only about an hour and a half, the operation is anything but simple. The crew has to rely on ground reports of the impacted area because the storm knocked out power, making it impossible to use their usual weather systems.

"We want to leave at 8 to 9 in the morning [Tuesday] so we can do multiple trips if we need to," May said. "We'll have to hike the supplies down about two miles from the runway."

Despite the logistical challenges, May took it in stride as this is a chance to give back, not only through flying, but also through community.

"This has all happened because we have a good airport community here. A lot of people in Sumter don't know we have an airport, like at all; I didn't until two years ago," May said. "The people out here are just fantastic."

By Tuesday morning, Oct. 1, the aviators arrived to an airport lobby full of community donations and filled four additional shopping carts from monetary donations. May and his fellow aviators will continue to take supplies as long as they are needed and are planning multiple trips.