CHEROKEE, N.C. — The home of the Eastern Bank of Cherokee Indians, in far western North Carolina, was spared the worst of Helene. But the community has stepped up to help other communities devastated in the Sept. 27 floods. 

A warehouse in Cherokee, in the southwestern corner of North Carolina, has served as a distribution center to get much needed supplies to other parts of the mountains. Tribal members say they empty the 10,000-square-foot warehouse up to six times a day, taking in supplies and sending them to where they’re needed.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Eastern Bank of Cherokee Indians is running a distribution center for Helene supplies

  •  The warehouse is in Cherokee, North Carolina, in the southwestern tip of the state

  •  Cherokee and most of the tribal land in the area was spared the worst of Helene's floods

  •  Tribal members say they fill the warehouse up to six times a day with supplies to send to other communities in the mountains

“The Cherokee are all about helping. And I’ve been tasked with that since I was 17 years old. And that’s the way I want to keep on until I decide I want to retire. It’s all about helping our people and helping our community,” said Anthony Sequoyah, secretary of operations for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Those supplies go to places like nearby Haywood and Swain counties, which were hard hit by Helene’s floods. They’ve sent supplies as far away as Banner Elk.

“We’ve took 10 loads to the Banner Elk community. Which they’re having, when we take it in, they’re having to put it in a helicopter and take it to the area…and put it there because there’s no road access or anything of that nature,” Sequoyah said. 

Those supplies include food, medicines and cleaning products.

Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have worked tirelessly to get supplies to others trying to rebuild their lives. 

Sequoyah said he had worked 38 days straight when he spoke with Spectrum News 1. He also works with the Eastern Band of Cherokee tribal government and is the coroner for three counties in western North Carolina. 

He’s not doing it alone. He has other volunteers in the community helping get these supplies out. 

Zachary Hicks, who works in support services for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, said he has worked up to 24 hours straight to keep the distribution center going.

“It’s hard to get up some mornings, but you know that it’s for a good reason. And you come and you put your hours in, and you do what you can and you know it’s going to a good cause,” Hicks said.

Sequoyah said he has helped respond to numerous natural disasters, including wildfires and other big floods. But the scale of destruction from Helene is worse than he’s ever seen.

“How bad is this?” he asked rhetorically. “This situation is probably the biggest disaster that I’ve ever been involved with.”

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