GREENSBORO, N.C. — A longtime American Red Cross volunteer from Greensboro is being honored with a Salute to Heroes award after spending two months helping communities recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
From Remote Support to Ground Work
When the storm’s remnants first hit western North Carolina on September 27, 2024, Susan Steed’s phone rang nonstop as she worked to direct volunteers, find safe shelter for them, and manage logistics from afar.
“It was no easy task, given the extent of the destruction to infrastructure and homes,” Steed recalled.
Witnessing the Worst Storm in NC History
Hurricane Helene remains the worst weather disaster in state history, with 108 lives lost and nearly $60 billion in damage, according to state officials.
By mid-October, Steed traveled to North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, where she saw firsthand what she had been coordinating from a distance…