BUFFALO N.Y. (WIVB) — The Bills Mafia is rallying around people in North Carolina as many still don’t have access to running water or electricity and are surrounded by destroyed businesses and homes after Hurricane Helene’s devastating blow.
“This whole neighborhood is just in shambles,” said WNY native Bree Gordon, who runs the Asheville Buffalo Bills Backers chapter, a club for fans in the area.
Gordon, who now lives in Asheville, has been doing wellness checks since Helene washed communities away.
Western New Yorker living in North Carolina describes aftermath of Hurricane Helene
“We’re just not out of the woods yet, because water is so dire, not necessarily drinking water, flushing water,” Gordon said. “People are getting really sick.”
The Root Bar, a popular spot for the Bills Mafia in East Asheville, was destroyed by Helene.
WIVB News 4 caught up with Buffalo Native Gene Dolan whose wife, Terri, owned the bar.
“This area is completely destroyed and it’s just now been set back 15 years,” Gene said in a statement to News 4. “Mass casualties, houses and neighborhoods are gone, businesses are gone. There’s still no water and the power in many places is still not here. We haven’t even considered our losses yet. I mean it’s a complete loss, but there are so many people out there who are in need far more than our bar.”