Helicopter Aid Crucial in Race to Save Lives After Tennessee Floods

Issue #227

01 Oct

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

⛅️ Columbia Weather - Partly cloudy with a high of 80

🚁 Helicopter Aid Crucial in Race to Save Lives After Tennessee Floods

🤔 How Can You Help the Victims of Helene??  

📰 Two New Historical Markers Unveiled at Preservation Park 

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

📣 We Want To Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Tuesday, October 1st

Wednesday, October 2nd

Thursday, October 3rd

Friday, October 4th

Saturday, October 5th

Helicopter Aid Crucial in Race to Save Lives After Tennessee Floods

Search and rescue efforts continue in flood-stricken Tennessee, with first responders going door-to-door in dangerous conditions to locate the missing. Blackhawk helicopters play a crucial role, delivering supplies and assisting in locating survivors. The latest Blackhawk departed from the Army Air National Guard in Nashville, loaded with essential goods. It's a race against time, as the situation remains critical in the eastern part of the state.

Over the weekend, air rescues saved 50 people from a hospital in Unicoi County, and the National Guard's Blackhawks have completed eleven reconnaissance missions, rescuing more than 100 people and delivering 30,000 pounds of food and water. Ground teams, including Tennessee Wildlife Resource officers, are also on the scene, performing rescues and helping those in need.

Private helicopter pilot Garrett Mitchell has been posting updates about his trips to locations that are hard to reach for the bigger military helicopters. The video below shows how he responded to a Facebook post asking for help. A family’s 4 month old child was almost out of formula and he was able to fly them to an area where they could get the assistance they needed. 

“For anyone saying the government is slacking, they're not anymore. They're here, but their helicopters are big, so these tight LZ's are where the private guys are shining. Sounds like everyone made it home safe today on the private helicopter side, I'm really proud of all these guys. I feel weird posting this stuff on social media, but the response has been incredible, especially the $250,000+ in donations to the hopemillfund Go Fund Me. You guys are really gonna help these people out. Thank you.”

Garrett’s posts highlight just how big of a task it is to reach so many stranded people… but it’s also inspiring to see how big a difference one person can make.

Learn more about Operation Airdrop (the organization that was deploying Garrett and his helicopter) and how you can donate / volunteer here.

How Can You Help the Victims of Helene??  

The American Red Cross is accepting donations for people affected by Hurricane Helene here.

The Salvation Army is responding by providing emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and critical supplies to survivors and rescue workers in five states. They are accepting donations here.

Samaritan’s Purse is requesting donations and volunteers to support their efforts on the ground here.

Great White Express Car Wash posted that they will be collecting monetary donations for the DISASTER RELIEF FUND at Brentwood Baptist Church - every penny donated will go to relief efforts and as a business, we will match what is donated.  

Southgate Church of Christ in Columbia has a cooking team that heads to disaster areas to offer hot food to victims and first responders. If you want to help but don’t know how… this is one great way with great folks. Read below and give. A hot meal makes all the difference. (shared in a post by Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt)

“The Disaster Team is going to Newport, TN. Leaving Tuesday and planning to return Friday or Saturday. You can go to this page to give. Just earmark it for Disaster relief when it prompts you. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!”

The Horse Tack Consignment Sale happening on Oct. 4-5 will be taking donations for those who have been affected by the floods and for their animals. Donations will be taken by Schuster Show Horses who are organizing a relief effort to haul as much as they can to those in need. Items most needed are things like pet food, horse feed. First aid supplies, water, non-perishable food, shavings, plastic tote boxes and toiletries. “We will take whatever you’d like to donate.” Find more information / contact info here.

Location: Baker Building in Maury County Park
Time: Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM

Mayor Chaz Molder posted… “There will soon be plans to gather supplies with drop off locations throughout the region and those locations will be announced when they become available. 

In the meantime, be on the lookout for ways to assist, and be mindful of this extreme tragedy and the many lives that have been lost. We saw the assistance that poured in to our community in the days after the May tornadoes and now we have a chance to pay it forward.” 

👉 We will continue to monitor for other donation opportunities and share them here. If you know of any other local relief efforts that people should know about, please send them to us here!

Two New Historical Markers Unveiled at Preservation Park

From The City of Columbia, TN - Government’s Facebook post:

The City of Columbia, in collaboration with Maury County Government, has unveiled two new historical markers at Preservation Park, enhancing the existing site dedicated to the 11th President of the United States, James K. Polk, and First Lady Sarah Childress Polk.

The markers are strategically located directly across from the President James K. Polk Home & Museum, making Preservation Park a focal point for historical education and community gathering.

Read more on the City of Columbia’s website here.

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, October 1st

Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Wednesday, October 2nd

Troy Castellano, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Thursday, October 3rd

Justen Harden, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
Stevierock, Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Spring Hill, 6-9 PM

Friday, October 4th

Kamber, Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
Cochise County, Grinder's Switch, 7-9 PM
Point of Grace & Friends, The Mulehouse, 7-9 PM
The Deltaz, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
5x5, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, October 5th

Crossbridges, Amber Falls Winery, 3-7 PM
TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Ret Stocstill, Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
Highroad, Hardison Mill Homestead Hall, 7 PM
Cole Ritter Band, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
CJ & The Whiskey Sundown Band, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, October 6th

Foster Party of 8, Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, 10:30-12 PM
TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
Martin Lane, Amber Falls Winery, 1-5 PM
Exit 24, The Rebel, 4 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

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