As the death toll approaches 200, Helene is now the second-deadliest storm in 55 years, with hundreds unaccounted for across six states in the Southeast.
While search and rescue crews go through the wreckage focused on finding those missing people, the destruction reveals the number of people willing to jump in and help from all over the country.
Humanity perseveres in times of disaster, as thousands of first responders come together to help the most devastated communities.
One of those first responders is Robert Lipp, a retired Assistant Fire Chief with the Oakland Fire Department, who is working as a public information officer with the FEMA Incident Support Team and California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 4 out of Oakland.
“Now, our effort is really aimed at finding people who may be stranded or trapped,” said Lipp.
He said he landed in North Carolina on Tuesday and was shocked …