Onslow county nc storm rsscue free#

Photo courtesy of Sydney Johnson Sydney Johnson “The experience was extremely humbling and overwhelming.” “Donations included household cleaning supplies, hygiene supplies, packaged foods and some clothes and shoes,” said Marshall.

Onslow county nc storm rsscue free#

Many of the neighborhood’s residents require oxygen and rely on free and reduced lunches and without power and school, the area was hurting.Īfter collecting donations from around town and surrounding areas, the group was able to distribute the goods to area residents and help them begin to get back on their feet. The group worked to provide supplies to a neighborhood who was already lacking in resources before the storm. Marshall, an Extension Area Agent in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender Counties, was forced to leave her home for nearly a week and when she returned she joined forces with friends who had already started to work on relief efforts in the area. Morgan MarshallĪfter having to evacuate herself, Morgan Marshall returned home to Wilmington and saw the devastation left in Florence’s path. Huffman’s work was extensive, especially when it came to relocating livestock (one bull was found four weeks after the storm!), but the payoff was great for the community.

“I felt compelled to step up and work with farmers in my county because I love my job and genuinely care for the farmers I have the honor of working for.” “I was extremely impressed with how agencies pulled together to serve our communities,” explains Huffman. Working closely with Eve Honeycutt, the pair was able to work together and combine their respective donations to reach a larger group of people. Additionally, she established two disaster distribution centers for livestock and horses and gathered hay, grain, fencing supplies, medication and other donations. Immediately following the hurricane, Huffman did crop assessments for corn, soybean, cotton and forage products to determine the percentage of lost or damaged crops in the fields. Onslow County, which was directly impacted by the storm, needed extensive help in its recovery, and Huffman was more than happy to help the cause.

Melissa Huffman, a North Carolina Cooperative Extension field crops and livestock agent in Onslow County, experienced the direct impact from Hurricane Florence.