National Guard crews from 18 states are in North Carolina working recovery missions, delivering water, food and supplies to people who need it.
But one of the crews headed out on a mission to check in with a family they believe could be in dire need of help.
Channel 9′s Hannah Goetz arrived at the North Carolina National Guard base in Salisbury and saw pallets of food and water waiting to be delivered.
A field of Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters were ready to fly to western North Carolina, and crews prepped for another day of missions.
“I feel like we’re doing what we signed up for, which is helping people in need,” said Sgt. 1st Class Nelson Loretto.
Loretto is a critical care flight paramedic and crew chief on this mission.
“We had older ladies and things like that, they couldn’t even get into the aircraft [so we would] have to actually carry them,” Loretto said. “We just got to hold their hands and tell them, it’s going to be okay. Look at them in the eye, ‘Ma’am, we got you. It’s going to be fine, you’re going to be safe.’ They hold your hand really tight and tell you, you know, thank you. And those things are very rewarding to me.”
In the cockpit, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Scharbius will maneuver through the mountains to check on a family they believe is signaling for help.
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