HOUSTON, Texas – Members of a Splendora area-based non-profit, born out of the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, are stepping up in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
OnPoint Rescue is gathering critical supplies to send to those in dire need, but they’re facing two big challenges: a shortage of trucks and drivers.
With entire communities in several southeastern states left devastated by Hurricane Helene, OnPoint Rescue is attempting to help.
Members and volunteers are collecting food, water, and other essentials for those in the hardest-hit areas.
“Medical supplies, non-perishable food, hygiene wipes, baby wipes, diapers, formula. Benadryl is a huge thing because all of the yellowjacket nests got washed out. So, there’s a ton of yellowjackets over there and our first responders and the people are getting stung all the time,” owners of OnPoint Rescue, Terri and Joe Hackl said.
Terri and Joe created OnPoint Rescue during Hurricane Harvey as a way to help rescue flood victims who were trapped inside their homes.
“This is just like the hurricanes that hit us, and people know what to do. But these are the mountains and people don’t know what to do. They don’t have hurricanes in the mountains,” Terri said.
Since then, they’ve provided help in the wake of numerous natural disasters. But this time, getting supplies to the hardest hit areas is proving difficult.
“Right now, we have 500 pallets of hygiene wipes sitting in Miami and Oklahoma that we don’t have drivers to pick up. We have a warehouse in Milton, Florida that we don’t have drivers to pick up. We desperately need trucks and drivers,” Joe said.
So far, they’ve deployed eight trucks, including two that were sent to Florida before the hurricane hit.
The Hackl’s are urging anyone with a truck or trucking experience to volunteer and help get the supplies to the states that are still reeling from Helene’s impact.
“You can call Joe at (936) 647-8981, and you can message either one of us on Facebook -- Joe Hackl or Terri Hackl. However, you can get a hold of us, please get a hold of us. We have pleas out there for people that we need to get these trucks. You know, we need to get them to these people,” Terri said.
You can also reach them through OnPoint Rescue’s Facebook page.
