“It’s more than just our home. We put every nail, every board in that house — did the electrical, the plumbing.” Patty Kell and her husband, Jack, built their three-story home by hand. It was perfect for their whole family, including their several pets. On Sept. 27, that all changed when Hurricane Helene caused devastating flooding in their community and forced them to be rescued by boat. By the time a nearby neighbor reached their home, they were treading water up to their chins. Patty and Jack went to a Red Cross shelter with their dog, Duke. For several weeks, they received constant support, food, and other resources to help them cope and recover. “Every need we have had has been taken care of by the Red Cross and the church. I have no complaints,” Patty said. Weeks after the storm, Patty and Jack returned home to assess the damage. Their house was still standing but required a lot of repairs after floodwaters left layers of mud in their home. Unfortunately, the couple didn’t ...