Star of hit reality TV series, “Southern Charm,” Craig Conover, has been praised for coming to the aid of Hurricane Florence victims.
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A South Carolina native, Conover has been loading up his pickup truck with supplies and heading down to some of the hardest-hit areas across the East Coast.
“About a half hour outside of Wilmington, [North Carolina], loaded up to the brim — yes, that is a case of beer that I got for the first responders and all the volunteers,” he said on his Instagram story. “But everything else is for all of the victims, we’ll be putting together care packages for people to pick up at [a local church].”
“As soon as I get to the church, I’ll give everyone the address, where you can come pick up some supplies,” he continued, according to People. “Hope to see anyone that needs it and if you need us to deliver it, hopefully we can get to you.”
In another Instagram post, Conover spoke of the utter devastation caused by the enormous storm.
“Nothing can prepare someone for the destruction I witnessed yesterday,” he said. “And the property damage was the least of the darkness. Please help them. Help us help them.”
“Please, if you’re around Charlotte and can participate, my friend Hailey is having a drop-off at a local Walmart and is driving a truck in tomorrow,” he continued. “The address and list of what they need are in the next two pictures.”
Conover then listed the basic items required, such as baby wipes, granola bars and disinfectant.
Speaking in an Instagram video post Sunday, Conover explained how he was holed up at a local school, helping residents fill sandbags in preparation for devastating floodwaters:
“We expect water to rise about 36 inches over the next 24 hours,” an exhausted-looking Conover explained. “The entire community has come together. They’ve been filling sandbags for three days.
Despite focusing on water rescues, Craig said that he and his crew will “go where help’s needed.”
“We heard they needed another 50,000 sandbags. So we came down this morning and we’ve bee here ever since,” he added.
Conover is a member of the “Triton Relief Group,” a volunteer response group similar to the “Cajun Navy.” They perform water rescues and assist stricken residents by delivering essential food, water and supplies.
“Since our company was in its infancy we have been dedicated to providing Rescue Services to those in need, during times of natural disasters,” the group notes on its website. “Working closely with other organizations, local and state governments, as well as innumerable individuals, Triton Relief Group has developed into a full rescue, relief and charitable organization.”
On Friday, Conover, an avid boatsman, spent much of the day ensuring that people had managed to escape their flooded homes.
“All the families are safe in this area,” he said after scouring residential areas. “We delivered some food, helped the puppy dogs out and some kittens.”
“We just met up with the Sheriff’s Department. They’re about to run us up to Burgaw County where stuff’s really bad, no one’s been able to reach them,” Conover continued. “I don’t know how much I’ll be able to check in, but I’ll let you know.”
Some 42 people have perished as a result of the devastating hurricane, which has caused vast swathes of water to pour through the Carolinas. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has stated that the damage caused by the storm will run into the billions of dollars.
“The flooding is like nothing we have ever seen,” Cooper noted. “People in hard-hit communities do want to go back, but many are still having to wait.”
According to CBS News, authorities in Georgetown County, South Carolina, have placed some 8,000 people on evacuation alert starting Monday. A record-breaking amount of up to 10 feet of floodwater is expected to pour into the area this week.
(H/T: People)