It’s been almost five months since Hurricane Helene hit, but the horrors of the calamity still loom. More than 230 people lost their lives and countless lost their homes. But the tragedy saw the entire NASCAR community coming to the aid of these people. Remember how 23XI Racing owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan donated a million dollars to help the ones in need? And then there were some like Greg Biffle who wasn’t bothered about his own life…as he flew his helicopter straight into the storm to unreachable areas of North Carolina. But Biffle wasn’t alone in this mission.
If you recall, YouTuber, helicopter pilot, and part-time ARCA driver, Lawrence Garrett Mitchell aka Cleetus McFarland, also took out his personal helicopter. When McFarland got a call for help, he did not think twice. And it’s no easy task to fly a helicopter in the rough terrain of North Carolina under normal conditions. So you can imagine the risk. And recently Dale Earnhardt Jr. had him on his podcast, where McFarland shared what kept him going.
Cleetus McFarland braves the storm!
Cleetus McFarland connected with Biffle at a race and the two probably hit it right off with their shared love for helicopters. Both of them exchanged phone numbers, but neither thought that the next time they would meet would be under such circumstances. Now Cleetus is from Florida and during a storm you don’t get hotels, so he was offered by Biffle to stay at his house. Cleetus even parked his helicopter in Biffle’s yard. And then the next morning, the two headed for the mission, not knowing what they were getting themselves into.
McFarland reflected on his endeavors with pride and spoke on behalf of every helicopter pilot to their willingness to help those in need. On Dale Earnhardt Jr’s podcast ‘Dale Jr. Download’, he said, “I’ve never done anything in my life that I have been thanked so much for. Any of us pilots. I think I speak for all helicopter pilots we just love flying… no thank you needed. We’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
According to McFarland, when people waved at him from down below, he forgot all risks, “When you pass over a spot and there’s people only the ground waving their arms… the risk is gone it doesn’t even cross your brain.” But applause came in exchange for witnessing some of the most horrifying scenes of his life.
Sharing such an incident, he said, “Cattail Creek is a spot out there and those guys just got drug down so bad and I remember all the people at the fire station when we landed. Like we were the first people they had since I think it happened Friday morning and we were there Sunday.” Cattail Creek is by a mountainside and is also an area that the Cane River flows through.
The overflowing of this river because of the Hurricane left the area in a traumatic state. When McFarland went to rescue people, what he saw sank his heart. He continued, “They asked me to go up and look at some of these houses and see if there’s people on the porch or whatever. And I remember flying and there just wasn’t any houses. Those moments were hard man. It was sad.”
While there isn’t a specific number, McFarland helped countless people. And probably what kept him strong through this time was his wife. Folks, he did not do the aid work alone. He had the company of his wife, Madi.
How did McFarland’s wife get involved?
Before Cleetus McFarland flew to North Carolina, he had some dinner plans with his wife. The couple was supposed to take the helicopter for dinner. But then the call came and Madi wasn’t too pleased with her husband going away for such a long time. So she tagged along. In a previous interview, Cleetus had shared about this impromptu plan, “My wife and I got someone to watch the kids, and we loaded up with one bag and flew to North Carolina with no plan, and posted that we were on our way.”
Cleetus McFarland even made a social media post about this plan mid-journey, “I made a post of my helicopter at the fuel station or even on my pad at home or whatever and I said heading to North Carolina to see what’s going on. And when we landed had like 10,000 shares, I’m like, ‘What?’ My phone is exploding with my friend saying I can’t get a hold of my grandparents in Asheville whatever, I’m like, what the heck?” That’s when the couple actually understood the gravity of the situation.
Then they were set. Making several trips with food, water, and other supplies to places that had become inaccessible. In one instance, they also rescued a mother and her four-month-old child from an affected area.
Also, the storm might have calmed down, but its aftershock is still felt. Many people are still displaced and rebuilding will take years. But had it not been for brave rescuers like Cleetus McFarland, Greg Biffle, and all the unsung heroes, the situation could have been much worse. EssentiallySports would like to salute their courage.
What are your thoughts on Cleetus McFarland’s brave efforts? Share with us in the comments below.
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