NASCAR legend Carl Edwards helping recovery efforts in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene

The day after he was driving the pace car at Kansas Speedway, Carl Edwards is back in North Carolina assisting with recovery efforts. With Operation Airdrop, the future NASCAR Hall of Famer is helping deliver supplies to those in need after Hurricane Helene.

Operation Airdrop is pulling together as many planes, pilots, and other aviation. It is a volunteer group that makes no money. Any funds donated go straight into recovery efforts.

Carl Edwards made an appearance on Queen City News this morning. What Appalachia has been through in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky is nothing short of tragic. Hopefully, Edwards and Operation Airdrop can help those who need it most.

“Hey, good morning ,” Edwards said on the news broadcast. “So, North Carolina’s done so much for me, the NASCAR community has done so much for me. NASCAR is represented well here. Greg Biffle, Cleetus McFarland, Brad Womble. For me, it’s about bringing these folks, Gideon Rescue Company.

“I’ve been inspired by these folks and I’ve got to introduce you them. This is Gideon Rescue Company, these are the dogs. We know that a lot of people are struggling, a lot of people are in need of these dogs to help them find their loved ones. So, it’s just an honor to be able to serve with them.”

🛩️Volunteer pilots are delivering much needed supplies to WNC via planes and helicopters. Operation Airdrop recruited future @NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards and search-and-rescue dogs.
Want to help? ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/ptfXLpcBKs @Queen_City_News #OperationAirdrop… pic.twitter.com/bHjk1r3Fpq

— Jason Harper Queen City News (@JasonHarperTV) September 30, 2024

Carl Edwards assisting in hurricane recovery efforts

Carl Edwards has been a pilot since he was in high school. It isn’t strange for a driver to have a pilot’s license. As Edwards pointed out, Greg Biffle is assisting, Brad Womble worked with Rusty Wallace, and both Joe Gibbs and Rick Hendrick have team helicopters assisting in recovery efforts.

It is clear that Edwards has the right outlook on this. He is a superstar, the celebrity in this situation. However, he made sure that the rescue volunteers were highlighted. He also made sure those canines were given the credit they deserved.

Hurricane Helene has washed away almost entire towns. Asheville, North Carolina was isolated completely until a single roadway could be cleared. Meanwhile, small towns and communities are doing what they can to hold on until rescue and recovery can make it to them.

Appalachia is an area that has experienced historical flooding multiple times in the last two years.

While the worst has come and gone, recovery is going to take time. Volunteers like Carl Edwards are needed and these communities will need support for weeks and months, if not years to come.