Sam Iatarola, Lance Buskey & Cooper Leist: Hurricane Heroes

When the storm hit, Lance, Sam, and Cooper immediately sprang into action, working with French Broad River Academy to turn the school’s Maria Noakes Outdoor Center into a makeshift supply hub. What started as a small, grassroots relief effort at the school where Sam is an instructor quickly grew into Helene Rebuild Collaborative (HRC), a full-scale disaster response and recovery organization providing emergency food, medical supplies, rescue assistance, and rebuilding support.

In the first 72 hours, HRC coordinated water deliveries to West Asheville, and by the end of three months, they had completed over 800 missions. As outdoor enthusiasts and instructors, their innovative approach—using hiking, biking, helicopters, and even donkeys—enabled them to lead rescue efforts and bring supplies to isolated areas others couldn’t reach.

What began as an urgent response has evolved into long-term recovery efforts, with HRC now focusing on rebuilding homes using RVs and tiny houses as temporary solutions.

Sam, Cooper, and Lance, your leadership and dedication to this community are a true testament to resilience and service. We are proud to honor you as Hurricane Heroes.