WAXHAW, N.C. – Another plane takes off, on its way from Waxhaw to the North Carolina mountains, full of supplies for people in need. “It’s been absolutely insane,” says Jim Abbott. Abbott, JAARS Purchasing and Logistics Director. He says the Jungle Aviation and Relay Services in Waxhaw has received tons – literally tons – of donations so far. Gatorade, protein bars, diapers, formula and water, all headed to the areas hit hardest by Helene. Abbott says, “We meet people in the middle of the most remote places all over the world.” They never thought they’d be doing it here. “We see this stuff in the Philippines, in Papua, New Guinea…I definitely didn’t expect a hurricane in the mountains of North Carolina,” says JAARS pilot and instructor Rachel Stoner. She flew the first plane into the Avery County Airport after Helene. She says, “There was nobody there when we showed up.” Stoner speaks of the people who’ve donated their skills and aircraft, including one pilot who used his chopper to fly a woman in labor to a hospital. She says, “It’s just amazing to know that that mom and that baby are safe because we were there.” “What we do overseas in very primitive remote locations are actually proving very useful here,” says JAARS CEO Steve Russell. He showed us the operations area where they coordinate with all the other agencies and track their own aircraft in real time. He says, if you know of someone trapped in the mountains and can somehow get them a message, tell them this: “If you have need, please put something out to mark, you know, help big enough where people can see it if you have an emergency,” says Russell. Russell says JAARS pilots know the North Carolina mountain area extremely well because they train their pilots in this area.