Rural 1^st Aids Hurricane Helene Victims in Tennessee

When Hurricane Helene devastated Cocke County Tennessee, the Rural 1^st team in the Volunteer State sprang into action to support impacted rural communities. Led by Senior Rural 1^st Loan Officer, Nikki Land Wisecarver, the effort began through a connection with a local realtor coordinating aid for affected families.

Team members from surrounding offices and Rural 1^st’s Louisville offices quickly arrived to provide any and all support for the area. They spent a full day clearing heavy debris and salvaging the items they could by hand.

The Rural 1^st team also offered crucial compassion during their volunteer efforts. They helped Samantha and her 10-year-old son, Corbin, to prepare the bones of their house for contractors.

This coordinated effort highlighted the team’s diverse strengths. Members naturally gravitated to tasks aligning with their skills, from operating chainsaws to providing emotional support. Nikki, along with Keisha Stevenson and Tamanda Gibson from the Rural 1^st Operations team, focused on practical help for Samantha inside her damaged home.

The storm’s profound impact altered many areas permanently. Destroyed bridges and disrupted services made daily life a monumental challenge. Despite widespread destruction, the community’s resilience was able to shine through. VP of Rural 1^st Sales, Matt Neal, shared, “there’s not a single person that was not impacted… but the people were still there, ready to rebuild, still ready to help each other.”

For Rural 1^st, this hands-on involvement affirmed their purpose to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture. As RVP Rural 1^st Sales in Tennessee, Brett Butler, shared, “we truly have a desire to help people and do the right thing.”

In addition to these disaster relief efforts, Rural 1^st donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross to support relief in East Tennessee. Rural 1^st’s support for rural communities like Cocke County is always critical; even more so when disaster strikes. Often, these areas receive fewer disaster resources than larger urban centers. Matt said, “the places that get the most help, maybe aren’t the ones that were hit the hardest.” By stepping up, Rural 1^st provides a critical lifeline, ensuring these rural communities aren’t forgotten.