On the second anniversary of Hurricane Helene, volunteer members of Linville-Central Rescue Squad returned to Avery County's Elk River Falls area to continue the search for Kim Ashby. Ashby was swept from her home by surging floodwaters of the Elk River during the catastrophic storm two years prior, and her body has not yet been recovered. The renewed search effort on Monday underscores the ongoing commitment to locating Ashby following the September 2024 disaster.
The operation on Monday brought together a range of specialized volunteers from the Linville-Central Rescue Squad. Teams included members trained in general search and rescue techniques, K9 handler teams certified in human remains detection, and individuals specialized in swift water rescue. This deployment showcased the diverse skills and extensive training maintained by the all-volunteer squad for complex missions like the continued search for Ashby.
The Elk River Falls area was among numerous locations in Avery County profoundly reshaped by the catastrophic flooding brought by Hurricane Helene to Western North Carolina in September 2024. The storm caused widespread destruction, leading to severe flooding and numerous mudslides across the region. Linville-Central Rescue Squad played a critical role in the immediate aftermath, responding to a myriad of emergencies that tested the limits of their volunteer capacity.
In the hours and days following the initial impact of the flooding and mudslides, Linville-Central Rescue Squad members conducted extensive relief and rescue operations. Their efforts included performing 16 technical evacuations, 23 swift water rescues, and 54 high water evacuations, addressing immediate dangers posed by the rising waters. Additionally, the squad carried out 3 collapsed structure rescues, highlighting their readiness for diverse disaster scenarios. Beyond direct rescue efforts, members performed more than 1,000 welfare checks, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents across the affected areas. The squad's specialized K9 human remains detection team was deployed on 19 missions, accumulating a total of 574 volunteer-hours in the challenging recovery phase. Furthermore, the volunteers were instrumental in distributing approximately 16 tons of relief supplies to those impacted by the widespread damage.
Linville-Central Rescue Squad is an all-volunteer, donor-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to search and rescue services within Avery County. The squad is recognized for its operational excellence, holding a 100%, four-star rating from Charity Navigator. These crucial services are sustained through community support. The squad has requested that the community continue to keep Kim Ashby's family in their thoughts during this difficult time. Donations supporting vital search and rescue equipment and training for the squad can be made through the link provided in the squad's Instagram bio.
