BUMPUS COVE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Two months later, and the recovery from Hurricane Helene’s devastation has only gotten more difficult for those living in Bumpus Cove as the temperature drops and snow falls.
Ashley Tomberg is a volunteer from Nebraska who has been here since the first week of October. She, along with several others, have helped set up a small distribution site to serve the immediate needs of those still going without.
“We’re what we would call a relief hub,” Tomberg said. “So we work with a multitude of different nonprofits, churches and individuals from all different walks of life, organizational structures. And what we do here is we store everything from building materials to household goods, winter clothes, propane, gasoline, kind of anything and everything to meet everybody’s daily needs and long term needs.”
Tomberg said there are many more people in need and she’s not going to forget about them.
“I know of over 100 people that are living in campers currently, and that’s just my immediate service area. I have a list of 68 people and it’s growing by the day of people that are finally reaching out.
We’re not going to forget these people. We’re not going to let it sleep. We’re not going to let it die. We will fight. I mean, I’m in it for the long haul. We’re just not going to forget these people.”
A flood victim News Channel 11 talked to said his brother’s house was washed away by the initial flooding and they’ve been staying in a pop-up camper ever since. Only when the temperature dropped did they decide to ask for help. Local volunteers installed a winterized heat tent and provided gloves and boots so he could get through the cold spell.
Tomberg said helping people in their community find comfort in these hard times is the goal of every volunteer.
“Make sure everybody’s health, life and safety is preserved at all cost, you know, mind, body, spirit. And I’m not talking about like we pray for them, we joke with them. We don’t focus on the impact. We focus on the future. We focus on the positive. We make sure that they don’t go hungry. We make sure they don’t go thirsty. We make sure they’re not cold and that they’re not just left to their own demise. We really do maintain a lot of interaction with everybody.”
With more cold weather on the way, Tomberg and local residents told News Channel 11 the most urgent need now is heaters and shelters.
