Savage Freedoms Takes Action To Restore Clean Water Supply Post-Hurricane Helene
Savage Freedoms, led by Adam Smith, mobilizes massive relief efforts in Western NC, transforming a Harley-Davidson hub into a lifeline for Hurricane Helene victims.
Savage Freedoms, led by local business owner and leadership expert Adam Smith, a former Green Beret, is dedicated to uplifting the Western North Carolina community in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which tragically claimed over 250 lives.
Once Smith’s family was confirmed safe, efforts turned to checking on neighbors, delivering supplies, and evacuating as many of the hundreds of individuals in one of the largest civilian air rescues in American history, the Savage Freedoms Relief Operations was established. They have transformed Harley-Davidson of Asheville in Swannanoa, NC into their operations center and storage facility for supplies.
With support from generous individuals and remarkable nonprofits, they are sustaining recovery operations across the region through what has been dubbed the “redneck air force.” This initiative is reaching people via air, road, and even backpacking supplies to those completely cut off from transportation. Since the 28th, hundreds of thousands of pounds of supplies have been collected and delivered to those in urgent need. The team has also welcomed additional veterans, pilots, and volunteers, with over 150 some days and more than 740 participating over the first three weeks.
The organization’s immediate focus is on addressing the critical need for clean water. Up to 100,000 residents in Western North Carolina remain without running water since Hurricane Helene. Due to turbidity in the reservoirs, current water treatment methods are ineffective, forcing both urban and rural residents to boil their water to eliminate harmful pathogens and prevent illness. To reopen, schools in Buncombe County must install their own well water systems and provide porta potties and handwashing stations.
With bottled water being a poor long-term solution, Savage Freedoms Relief Operations is advocating for sustainable water solutions as FEMA support is set to expire. In the interim, they are grateful for generous donations, including 1,450 tap filters and 210 bladder filters from Sawyer, as well as 200 UV filters from Water Mission, to establish remote water filtration systems.
The team is collaborating with daycares, mental health facilities, nursing homes, and assisted living centers to develop long-term water solutions. In partnership with the
Love & Life Foundation, Medic Corps, and SpaceX, they are committed to ensuring safe drinking water for the community, especially as winter temperatures approach.
About Savage Freedoms
Savage Freedoms is primarily a group of special operations veterans, from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, who are no longer overseas but instead in Western North Carolina protecting American lives at home. Engaged in humanitarian relief operations, these talented individuals have come together with other private organizations, both businesses and nonprofits, community leaders, churches, and local, state, and federal government groups, including the National Guard, Air Guard, and military units. This collaboration is able to be nimble and respond to needs as they arise on any scale. From one family living in a tent trying not to freeze all the way to entire towns, they are meeting every need to keep people alive with hope for another day.
Savage Ops(for short) wants to bring hope and light into the community. Making connections and enabling people to better help each other has been a huge part of the effectiveness of the operation.
Always greeting those they are helping with ‘a hug and a handshake,’ they have encountered many outside forces, but the mission remains the focus. Helping people.
For more information, please contact:
Heather Holmes, Founder
Publicity For Good
614-565-0996 – text