‘The Hatteras Boys’ help Western N.C. community recover from Hurricane Helene
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For almost 50 years, Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men (CHUMM) has provided emergency assistance for Hatters Islanders. Its members consist of carpenters, tradesmen, and many other skilled volunteers who lend themselves to projects that help island neighbors.
“We have a lot of skills and an amazing volunteer spirit amongst our members,” said Joe Diemer, CHUMM’s new director, who assumed the role last fall from now-president Dennis Carroll. “We are known for projects that help people on Hatteras who are in need, whether it’s raising a home above flood level, to installing a lift or ramp for someone with mobility issues, to muck outs and roof repairs on storm-damaged homes.”
This spirit also leads many CHUMM members to help those off island, and potentially hundreds of miles away.
True to this calling, several members recently spent two weeks on a mission in a Western N.C. community that was devastated by Hurricane Helene.
“The Hatteras team consisted of Eddie Pickett, Vince Person, Gil Brown, and Wally Dorris. They arrived January 6th during a snowstorm, and worked through continued cold, stormy, icy conditions,” said Diemer.
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“They had contacted NC Baptists on Mission for Hurricane Helene, which then invited them to work on a twelve-home rebuilding project in Weaverville, N.C. They were joined by two other similarly-driven and skilled volunteers, Sean from Elkin and Pete from New Hampshire, [and] they formed a very strong team with all the skills, tools, and determination to get things done, despite the conditions.”
The team quickly built a respected reputation as “The Hatteras Boys” as they steadfastly and meticulously rebuilt the first two Weaverville, N.C. homes.
Keith Briggs, the NC Baptists on Mission coordinator for the Weaverville project, told Diemer in a phone call that the team was great, bringing the needed skills and the tools for the job. “He said they knew what they were doing, that they were compassionate to the storm victims and very professional, and that they worked together so well that it seemed orchestrated by something other than themselves.”
The team’s first assignment was a home in the last stages of rebuilding. They soon discovered that the family of the home had been staying in a cramped camper that had developed a mildew problem.
“It was cold and the trailer was closed up, and the condensation from the heat had nowhere to go,” said CHUMM member and volunteer Eddie Pickett. “So, the trailer was getting moldy on the inside.”
Provided with materials from Baptists on Mission, they immediately began hooking up electrical wires, connecting water and sewer systems, and installing flooring and cabinetry so they could get the family moved in as soon as possible.
Diemer said both faith and practical skill came together in the venture. A highlight was getting the heat going just as a storm was approaching, and the Hatteras team quickly became adept at installing split HVAC systems.
“These are relatively compact units that can be installed fairly quickly, and provide heat and air conditioning very quickly,” said Diemer. “The guys [had] installed two of them when another storm hit, making the ride back to the church where they slept and ate dinner too dangerous. So, they stayed in the [newly rebuilt] home.”
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Dinner was made in a camper they had brought along, and they slept in cots in the new home, with hospitality provided by the grateful homeowner.
“When the homeowner invited us to stay at their home during a snowstorm, that warmed our hearts,” said CHUMM member and volunteer Vincent Person.
Even with the consistently cold and snowy weather, the determined Hatteras team was able to squeeze two weeks of work into one, allowing the family to move back into their home and out of their cramped trailer days later.
“The devastation was pretty hard to fathom. They had never seen anything like [Helene] before, and our hearts were with these folks,” said Person. “We were there to work, and work hard, and to help in whatever small way we could.”
There was no rest after the first home was complete, because the next day, they were on to rebuild home number two. The Hatteras team worked through the next week, until the second house was close to completion, before making the long trek back to the Outer Banks.
According to the latest update, the family of the second home had officially moved in. “Two down, ten to go,” said coordinator Briggs, adding that “the Hatteras Boys are more than welcome back.”
The Hatteras Boys are indeed planning to head west again in the not-so-distant future. But in the meantime, the island community is invited to meet them and the members of CHUMM, and to find out about other volunteer opportunities, at the next CHUMM monthly breakfast meeting on Saturday, February 15, 8:30-10 a.m. at the Buxton United Methodist Church.
“This is a long-term [venture],” said Pickett. “It’s going to take years, and a lot of people there don’t ever ask for help because they feel other people need it more than they do. It’s a lot like here – we’ve been in that situation before, so there’s a lot we can relate to.”
“God’s one commandment is love. Love is always the key,” said Person. “Being with the Methodist Men has been awesome. I’ve been on the OBX since 2017, on Hatteras since 2018, and have been with [CHUMM] since Hurricane Dorian. All of those brothers and sisters are amazing. They have become a family, and it’s a blessing to be a part of this.”
Visit https://www.hatterasmethodistmen.org to learn more about CHUMM (and to donate) or email Joe Diemer or Dennis Carroll at chmethodistmen@gmail.com.
The organization provides tools and support directly from its own members for food, fuel, and other expenses, and most of its donor funds are designated specifically for Hatteras Island.
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