By Marlene McTigue
Capital Region Independent Media
COEYMANS – Last Thursday morning, John Barr, a volunteer from TCI of NY, packed his bag and headed for North Carolina with a mission of supporting relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
For Barr, the opportunity to provide hands-on assistance is a deeply personal mission, as he works to help restore basic services and aid communities still struggling with the devastating impact of the storm.
Reflecting on what he has seen, Barr shared the overwhelming reality faced by residents.
“Until you see what’s happening down here in person, you really don’t know,” Barr said. “People have lost their place of employment, their homes, their cars, and unfortunately, for some, they’ve lost their lives. We’re still here four weeks after the hurricane, and there are people with no electricity or basic services.”
This ongoing suffering has motivated Barr to offer whatever support he can on the ground.
As part of his relief work, Barr represents TCI, a subsidiary of GNS Technologies, which has facilities across the U.S., including locations here is Coeymans, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Pell City, Alabama.
“With recent hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina, everyone’s stretched thin, so we’re putting in whatever manpower and resources we can,” Barr said.
WITNESSING THE DEVASTATION
Barr’s journey to North Carolina began with an initial visit during a family trip to Savannah, Georgia.
He stopped to visit his sister in Charlotte, who owns a cabin near Lake Lured, one of the areas hit hardest by the hurricane. Lake Lured and nearby Chimney Rock suffered severe flooding and wind damage.
“Lake Lured is essentially ground zero, and Chimney Rock was totally decimated,” Barr said.
His sister’s cabin narrowly escaped damage, but six neighboring homes were destroyed. Bridges were swept away, and rivers rose over 30 feet, causing unimaginable destruction.
“When you’re down here, you see these trees that have been standing for hundreds of years ripped out of the ground like they were matchsticks,” Barr said, emphasizing the overwhelming force of the storm.
Local businesses, some of which had served the community for decades, were also wiped out.
“People lost not only their homes but also their places of employment. Everything they knew was ripped up from its foundation,” he said.
SELFLESS ACTS AMIDST DISASTER
One of the most moving experiences Barr witnessed was the response of a local business, the Lake Lured Market.
Despite losing access to their home and facing significant damage, the market’s owners used what they had left to support their neighbors.
“They set up to feed people and provide a place for the community to come together,” Barr said. “They thought, ‘We can’t open, but we have food we can cook,’ and 500 people, including the Army, showed up.”
The Lake Lured Market became a beacon of hope, offering food and internet access to allow people to connect with loved ones.
“It was a place where people could feed their souls and be with others going through the same thing,” Barr shared.
The scene moved him deeply, especially when he met volunteers who had traveled from as far as Connecticut and the Bronx.
“They came down on their own with 25 huge generators just to help anyone they could. It was amazing to see so many people doing whatever they could to make a difference,” Barr said.
Barr also described the emotional impact of the experience.
“When I was here initially, I was so caught up in this emotionally. We see footage on the news but being here and hearing people’s stories…it breaks your heart,” he noted.
PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS
During this trip, Barr is collaborating with the Chimney Rock Volunteer Fire Department, which has been tirelessly supporting the community since the hurricane. TCI is providing a financial donation to the department to aid their relief work and help supply essentials like propane, gasoline, and diesel.
“Writing a check is the easy part; making sure it goes where it can do the most good is what matters,” Barr said.
With plans to document his trip through photos and video, Barr hopes to raise awareness about the ongoing needs in North Carolina.
“I want to interview the owners of the Lake Lure Market and show people what’s really happening down here,” he noted. “These folks have lost everything, and yet they’re already talking about how they can provide Thanksgiving dinners for others. It’s incredibly inspiring.”
LOOKING AHEAD
As he continues his work in North Carolina, Barr reflects on the resilience and generosity he has witnessed.
“People have gone above and beyond to help, whether it’s through financial support, physical labor, or just showing up for others. The needs are so great, and we’re all just trying to do our part.”
