These missions highlight the impact of our volunteers prior to the formation of Soteria Disaster Response. Through these experiences, the foundation of our organization was built.
KERRVILLE, TEXAS
JULY 2025
HURRICANE HELENE. 2024-2026
In the early days following Hurricane Helene, resources were scarce. Utilities were wiped out, and the landscape surrounding people’s homes had become entirely unfamiliar. Over the time I spent in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, I heard a common thread in the stories of survivors: they had become their own first responders. There were stories of neighbors rescuing neighbors from rooftops, of people trekking across mountains to check on friends with medical conditions, and of families gathering together to share what little food they had until help arrived. Some found ways to get messages out through social media — simply listing names of those who had survived, so the outside world would know they were still there.
They were their own first responders.
When volunteers began arriving, they stepped into communities that had already been fighting to survive and support one another. Our role was not to replace that strength, but to support it — bringing additional resources, helping restore access, and working alongside those who had already carried so much.
Nearly every person I met who had been impacted was also part of the recovery — from sharing dry blankets in the immediate aftermath to showing up day after day to help rebuild homes in their communities.
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People. Humanity. That is true resilience.
APPALACHIAN
FLOODING
fEBRUARY
2025
A learning point gained from the West Virginia Flood of Spring ’25 was that the weather after a disaster isn’t always warm and sunny. As the waters subsided, the temperature dropped and snow started to fall. Not only was this a significant hazard to the residents, it also added to the hazards faced by responding teams and the local First Responders. Although the Ambulances in the area we were operating survived the flood, they were not heavy duty off road capable. The snow and ice on top of torn up roads caused significant damage to one and reduced the responding area of the remaining. With the steep and narrow roads many residents lived on, four-wheel drive and high clearance was crucial to maintaining access. Also, many residents not impacted by the flood waters did not have electricity during the freeze. Learning what alternate fuel source traditionally used in the area may reduce the reliance on organization provided propane heaters and tanks.
HURRICANE
MILTON
OCTOBER
2024
In preparation for Hurricane Milton, I traveled south to position closer to where the storm was expected to make landfall. Like many others, we were watching the forecasts closely — but as often happens, the storm shifted. Communities that were not initially projected to take a direct hit suddenly found themselves in its path, and we were caught further inside the storm than anticipated.
That night was spent in our vehicles, waiting it out as conditions worsened. Wind and rain intensified, and it became clear that this storm was going to impact a wider area than originally expected.
In the days that followed, the damage became visible. Homes were torn apart, debris scattered across neighborhoods, and many residents were left trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Our work focused on immediate needs — conducting welfare checks, distributing aid, and assisting with debris clearing. We spent time sitting with residents as they prepared to leave homes that were no longer safe to stay in, helping where we could in moments that required both action and presence.
Hurricane Milton was a reminder that disaster rarely follows a predictable path — and that preparedness, adaptability, and presence on the ground are what ultimately make the difference.