Town News

Helene Message from the Mayor

Dear Folks:

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Helene brought a difficult time to the Carolinas.  With God’s help and the help of some wonderful area folks and agencies, we have struggled through this difficult time.  We want to express thanks as we continue prayers for those who have suffered losses (including loss of life) as well as those who continue to be affected.

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Here is a list of whom I will refer to as HELENE HEROES during this time of crisis.  These and many unnamed or unknown deserve a special thanks.

• Pickens County with daily Zoom briefings, county sites for free food and water, updates from the County Administration.

• Pickens County Library Outreach van (charging stations and Wi-Fi)

• Six Mile Merchant's/Area/Kings Grove Baptist Supplies Drop off at Stoddard Pavillion on October 7

• The Scoop, who has from their county airport location provided air transport of supply donations to Western NC.

• Six Mile Fire Department & EMS

• Keowee Springs Fire Department

• Jenni & Jared Brink & Red White & Brew (provided free breakfast and lunch multiple days)

• Kevin Campbell (Sherrif Deputy) & Joan Campbell (Donated eggs to Red White & Brew for their breakfast giveaways)

• Kings Grove Baptist Church (provided a meal)

• Mile Creek Baptist Church (provided a meal)

• Shady Grove Baptist Church (supplies)

• Six Mile Baptist Church (provided a meal)

• Mrs. Kayla Holcombe, Ms. Terry and Six Mile Elementary School Teachers and others (Ponderosa Park Picnic)

• Erica Lynn (Provided meat for Ponderosa Park Picnic)

• Christy Shultz and family (provided meal in downtown Six Mile)

• Summer & Addison Chandler (donated meat to Red White & Brew)

• Meg Bishop (volunteer cook and delivered food)

• Ashley Nelson (delivered food door to door)

• Numerous people that used their own chainsaws and equipment to cut trees out of roads and people’s driveways (neighbors helping neighbors).

As additional helpful aides and organized assistance:

• Senator Graham’s Office on their website devoted space to focus on help resources.

• Duke Energy always has a free phone notification service.  I encourage everyone to sign up.

• Pickens County has a Storm Response Information section on their website outlining Generator Safety, Community Relief Effort Support, Reporting Storm Damage, Food and MRE’s for Drive thru pickup, and Storm Management & Disaster Relief Information.

• Danny Rhodes (864-247-6389) with the Southern Baptist Association can be contacted for volunteers willing to assist.

• This FEMA toolkit provides resources the community about recovery from Hurricane Helene.  CLICK HERE

• Register your damages at www.crisiscleanup.org/ and/or call Crisis Cleanup 844-965-1386. They can send volunteer organizations to help you based on your needs.

I am sure there are many more folks I can thank and many more good deeds I can list.  My apologies for any good deeds I have failed to list or errors I have made in these lists.

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God has indeed spared many of us and helped us through this disaster and Federal, State, and Local Governments are doing their best under these adverse circumstances.  To me this is a time to thank God, first responders, government agencies and utilities for their response and efforts in this time of crisis. We are blessed with the good works and dedication of those who live here and those who are coming from other areas to assist in our time of crisis. Most of all, let's thank God that we are survivors of this terrible disaster and not among the missing or whose life was lost in this terrible storm.  Our prayers continue for those in nearby Western NC.

Sincerely,

James A. Atkinson

Six Mile Mayor