Photo By 2nd Lt. Mary McKnight | Phillip Barrier, Avery County manager, left, U.S. Army Capt. Joshua Pate, 130th...... read more read more
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NEWLAND, N.C. – Mid-morning on the day (Hurricane) Helene reached North Carolina, I stood outside my home as the rain came down. Although it may not have been the best thing to do, I wanted to see what was coming, and if need be, I wanted to be able to relocate my family, said Capt. Joshua Pate, 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (130th MEB), assistant operations officer.
The people of Western North Carolina expected heavy wind and rain from Helene, but nothing like what Helene left behind.
"Nothing out of the ordinary happened to my home," said Pate. "But outside that morning, I saw a tree fall in my neighbor's driveway. When the storm passed, I grabbed my chainsaw and cut the tree to clear it."
Pate expressed that his basement was prone to flooding, but he only checked his basement once he helped his neighbor.
"I went to the basement to assess the damage," said Pate. "I attempted to pump the water out with a sump pump, but we did not have power. I tried to use my generator at this time, but that also didn't work."
In true neighborly fashion, one of Pate's neighbors gave him a generator to keep his food cold, but it also allowed him to pump the water from his basement.
"We were without power for four days," said Pate. "For four days, my neighbors and I cut trees and cleared debris from the roadways for necessary passage. For four days, Maj Sigmon checked on me and my family to ensure we were safe and asked if we needed anything."
Pate, a captain in the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), lives in this community and proudly serves the people of this great state and nation.
"Josh and I have served together for seven to eight years," said Maj. Kevin Sigmon, 130th MEB, operations officer. "I knew he lived in the impacted areas, so I reached out to him to see if he and his family were safe and if they needed anything."
The Guard refers to their soldiers as citizen-soldiers; hence, citizens are first.
"Josh has a big heart for people and the community, so it was not surprising that by the time we were able to speak, Josh was already out in his neighborhood helping clear fallen trees from the street and from his neighbors' driveways,” said Sigmon. “Within a few days, his community had their power restored and his family was able to fully support themselves as Josh reported to duty to help serve the residents in communities just a few miles down the road."
Immediately following the storm, people in Avery County, like much of Western Carolina, found themselves without power, food, and water. For this reason, Pate left his home just four days after the storm, to serve the community where he lives and works.
When Pate joined the military 15 years ago, he never imagined that he would be helping the people of his community in such an indescribable way.
Once my power was back on and I was certain my family would be okay, I didn't think twice about being activated to assist in the Helene relief efforts. It made sense for me to assist in Avery County because, as a UPS (United Parcel Service) driver, this is my route, and I could assist in navigating the area, said Pate.
In true form, when Pate was placed on NCNG state active-duty orders as the Avery County liaison officer, his family followed suit, his wife, and five children, to include his daughter and son-in-law has been volunteering at a nearby emergency operation center; taking blankets, heaters and fuel to the residents of Avery County.
"Helene has restored my faith in humanity," said Pate. "How our communities have come together in such circumstances has humbled me. I know how important it is to save lives immediately after a storm, but this showed me how it's just as important to show up after the storm.”
Pate is living during a time that only a few know and have experienced in their own lives. He understands the sense of urgency felt by the community because he is a member of the community.
“This morning, there was frost on the windows up here; these people need cold weather gear and shelter," said Pate. "It's the long-term effects Helene has left behind; this is where it counts for those volunteers and donations to keep coming in long after the storm; that's what's heartwarming and truly enduring to witness."
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2024 16:30 |
| Story ID: | 483076 |
| Location: | NEWLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 12 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Capt. Pate Responds to Helene: Husband, Father, Soldier, by 2nd Lt. Mary McKnight, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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