SALISBURY, NC — The North Carolina National Guard is taking supplies to some of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Helene. They’re taking to the skies getting an aerial view of much of the damage and destruction Helene caused. Many people are still without power and running water. “Mainly we’ve been doing recon, trying to find people that are in need and then also delivering food and water, which has been a big thing,” Sgt. Monty Ingle said.  Sgt.  First class Nelson Loretta is a critical care flight paramedic. His team has seen firsthand the severity of the damage as their mission takes them into the heart of disaster areas to provide care and even rescue some of the victims.  “We have been forced to get creative to safely land on those areas and perform these rescues. Luckily, I’ve been paired with a very good crew, very experienced, and we have been able to safely achieve those rescues,” Loretta said.  The North Carolina Air National Guard is set to send over 100,000 pounds of supplies to western North Carolina as part of relief and recovery efforts.  While Loretta said  those efforts could take weeks – its rewarding to help other North  Carolinians in need. “Trying to give them a little bit of hope and tell them that it’s going to be okay and that we’re there to help them out in this situation, this hardship that they’re going through.”