Capital Region assists in Helene storm recovery

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Clean-up continues after Hurricane Helene left behind a trail of destruction. While many try to pick up the pieces, hundreds of people from the Capital Region are lending a helping hand.

The American Red Cross, Northeastern Chapter, has sent 24 local volunteers to assist with hurricane recovery efforts and is prepared to send more volunteers, as well as emergency response vehicles.

And they’re not alone. Hundreds of utility workers, and volunteers, from upstate New York have deployed to assist, according to New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), National Grid and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

National Grid Spokesperson Patrick Stella said the Capital Region deploys crews because it’s a part of its mutual aid agreement with other utilities. 

“It’s an integral part of responding to the different storms, keep the cost down across-the-board, and to make sure we can get as many customers back as quickly as possible,” said Stella. 

He said it’s important to provide assistance because, inevitably, the favor will be returned.

“In the past year here in the Capital Region where we’ve seen some storms, especially over the winter time and up north, we relied on some mutual aid from other utilities as far away as Canada and out in the Michigan area to help us out,” said Stella.

Matt Dodge has been working as quickly as possible to help people too. He’s from Latham, and graduated from Shaker High School in 2007, but he’s lived in Florida for the last 14 years and owns a moving company.

He saw a Facebook post, someone said their mother needed help. Dodge commented if they can’t get her to let him know.

“And about 10 minutes later she texted me saying that she’s still there, nobody’s come yet. So I hopped in my truck. Got the address. Raced over there. There was a ton of water. It was up to here,” said Dodge, as he held his hand up towards his chest. Dodge said he got her dog out, before returning to get her out. 

“And then my truck just broke down. It wouldn’t move. It wouldn’t go into drive at all, so we were kind of like, ‘Uh-oh.’ And water was rising inside the truck, so it was getting a little hairy,” said Dodge.

Thankfully, Dodge said, two men came and helped them push the vehicle to higher ground. He and his five kids have been helping non-stop since the storm hit.

John Corbett is the regional disaster action team lead for the Red Cross Northeast Chapter.

“We are trying to meet their needs, provide them shelter, provide them food, provide them comfort,” said Corbett. The Red Cross is helping thousands of people, across hundreds of emergency shelters. 

He said they expect the Red Cross to have a presence in the affected areas for months. The northeast chapter prepositioned three Capital Region volunteers, before the storm hit. Corbett said they are sending teams of volunteers out in waves. 

“I myself can’t go this time around, but in the middle of October, I could be deploying,” said Corbett. He said soon they’ll start the reunification process.

“We have a number of people calling into our 1-800 red cross line, asking for our help to get in contact with people who they have not been able to, and that is part of the services Red Cross does,” said Corbett.

Corbett urges people to volunteer with the Red Cross, even if they can’t deploy. He said, with so many volunteers out of state, there’s a void to fill locally.

You can visit RedCross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to make a financial donation or schedule a blood donation appointment. You can also text the word HELENE to 90999 to make a donation.

UHaul is also offering assistance.