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As the aftermath of Hurricane Helene continues to cripple communities across western North Carolina, kayakers like Mason Hargrove have become unexpected heroes, navigating treacherous rivers to deliver supplies and check on isolated residents.

The storm’s destruction has left entire towns nearly unrecognizable, with roads washed out, homes destroyed, and landslides cutting off access to many areas.

“The rivers aren’t even recognizable,” Hargrove told WRAL News. He and others have been using their kayaks to navigate dangerous conditions, dodging submerged debris.

Hargrove and other kayakers have been posting videos from areas around Saluda on social media to help get the word out about the extent of the destruction and the urgency of getting food and aid to the most remote areas that have been cut off from larger towns and communities.

In places like Green River Cove, the damage is so severe that the only way to reach residents is by hiking eight miles through rugged terrain. Entire sections of communities near Saluda, including the Pearson Falls community and Green River Cove, have been virtually wiped off the map. Local officials say the scale of destruction is difficult to grasp, with many homes buried in mud or washed away completely.

Volunteers like Hargrove have become lifelines for isolated communities, bringing in food and water, conducting wellness checks, and offering hope amid the devastation.

The kayakers are part of a volunteer group led by Erica Shanks, a member of the environmental advocacy group Mountain True, which mobilized to fill the gap while waiting on government aid.

Hargrove said he plans to continue his mission in Green River and other hard-hit areas for as long as he is needed.

With so much of the region cut off from outside aid, these local heroes have become critical to the recovery effort, helping their neighbors survive and rebuild in the wake of Helene’s devastating impact.