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Summary: In this urgent episode of 'Mending on the Fly,' host Devin interviews Caleb Sneed, chief creative officer at Rambler Angler & Blade, about the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Caleb provides a firsthand account of the storm's impact on Spartanburg, SC, and surrounding areas, detailing the widespread destruction and ongoing recovery efforts. The conversation highlights the crucial role of local organizations, churches, and fly shops in providing relief and the fly fishing community's collaborative response to this natural disaster.
Show Notes:
- Introduction to Hurricane Helene's devastating impact (00:00)
- One of the deadliest hurricanes in modern U.S. history
- At least 213 fatalities across six states
- Caleb Sneed's personal experience of the storm (01:07)
- Impact on Spartanburg, SC
- Disruptions to emergency services and infrastructure
- Immediate aftermath and community response (04:01)
- Search and rescue efforts
- Challenges in communication and basic necessities
- Rambler Angler & Blade's post-storm situation (06:24)
- Damage to facilities
- Employee impact and recovery efforts
- Role of local organizations in relief efforts (09:47)
- Churches as distribution centers
- Fly shops becoming community hubs
- Warning about potential scams and frauds (17:36)
- FEMA's caution against imposters
- Tips for safe donation and assistance
- Reputable organizations mobilizing for help (19:54)
- GoFundMe campaigns
- Local church initiatives
- Impact on local ecosystems and fishing spots (23:47)
- Changes to river paths and landscapes
- Potential long-term effects on fish habitats
- Rambler's role in recovery and community support (30:43)
- Product donations for fundraising
- Future plans for community involvement
- Immediate needs and long-term support (36:22)
- Critical supplies needed (water, food, clothing)
- Potential long-term displacement of residents
Key Takeaways:
- Hurricane Helene's unprecedented impact on the Southeast
- The vital role of community organizations in disaster response
- How the fly fishing community is rallying to support affected areas
- The importance of verified donation channels and avoiding scams
- Long-term implications for local ecosystems and fishing spots
Support verified relief efforts and stay informed about ongoing recovery needs in the affected areas. Visit our website for links to reputable organizations and updates on how you can help.
#HurricaneHelene #DisasterRelief #FlyfishingCommunity #SpartanburgSC #CommunityResilience #RamblerAnglerBlade #flyfishing #flytying #mendingonthefly #oldlineangling
Creators & Guests
What is Mending on the Fly?
"Mending on the Fly" is a podcast hosted by Devin Carlson that delves into the world of fly fishing, focusing on its therapeutic and environmental aspects. Through engaging discussions, expert insights, and captivating stories from the water's edge, each episode takes listeners on a serene journey down the river to explore the profound impact of fly fishing on personal well-being and conservation. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to perfect your craft, a newcomer navigating the complex world of fly fishing equipment, or someone passionate about safeguarding our precious waterways, this podcast is for you. It's an invitation to connect with nature, dive deep into the art of fly fishing, and contribute to the vital cause of conservation. So, grab your gear and prepare to wade into the enriching world of fly fishing with Devin. See you on the water!
Caleb Sneed on Community Resilience Post-Hurricane Helene
===
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: [00:00:00] Welcome back to Mending on the Fly. Today, I'm honored to be joined by Caleb Sneed, the chief creative dude at Wrangler, uh, Rambler, Angler, and Blade. Caleb is a passionate outdoorsman and I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Maggie Valley Fly Shop Fly Fishing Festival in May.
Rambler is known for its craftsmanship and fly tying vices, earning the company recognition in the fly fishing community for producing robust, reliable, and affordable vices. Still, today we're discussing something far more critical, Hurricane Helene, one of the deadliest hurricanes ever to land on the continental United States.
According to a Washington Post article written by Dan Stillman earlier today, as of the mid afternoon on October the 3rd, 2024, this storm has taken the lives of at least 213 people across six states, devastating communities from the southeast to the southern Appalachians. In Caleb's home county of Spartanburg, South Carolina, the storm has claimed eight lives, With recovery expected to last well into next year.[00:01:00]
Tragically, many people are still unaccounted for and the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue. Today, Caleb will share the personal impact of this disaster on his community and what we as the broader audience can do to help in this time of need. This episode is about coming together to support those affected by one of the most devastating storms in modern U.
S. history. Caleb, I know you're busy in the past week has Much for sitting down with me tonight, uh, to share your story and explain how those of us, uh, not directly impacted can help.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: for being here.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: absolutely. I'm, I'm glad to do this. Um, excited to be here. Um, it's a heavy topic for sure.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. And
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: something we need to need to talk about.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: I mean, you're in the middle of it. Um, so in Spartanburg, what was Because I guess Hurricane Helene, was it about a week ago that it, [00:02:00] that it made landfall in, in South Carolina and North Carolina?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: it, it hit our area. It was real bad about 7 30 AM between 7 30 and 8 30. Um, was when it kind of hit our area. And then of course, North Carolina shortly after us, we, it, I have my in laws are in Augusta, North Augusta, uh, area and they, they were probably hit around 5 AM ish and it kind of moved up towards us. Um, but yeah, right after, right after waking up, right as we were, everybody's getting ready to go to work.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Man. And um, how, like I feel like this storm came on as a surprise almost. Um,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: I, I really wasn't tracking it. I don't know if it gained intensity as it, as it kind of went inland or, or how it all worked, but. The like, devastation we see now in obviously South Carolina, [00:03:00] but North Carolina as well
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: for
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: is just brutal.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: don't, You don't think of like the mountains being affected by a hurricane, you know,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: it, I, and I think that it, it kind of tracked a little more eastward than they expected. Like, it kind of turned east. I think they were thinking it was going to kind of go up through. Like the Atlanta area. I'm not sure why it maintained such intensity for so long, because we'll get the effects of hurricanes that, you know, they'll hit the coast either in Florida or along South Carolina, North Carolina, and we'll get rains and wind and stuff, but. I don't think anybody was, yeah, was prepared. And, and I think, and even, and, and from what I've heard is, um, when it made the shift East, it was kind of after everybody was, had gone to bed, you know, that night.
And so nobody knew, um, and it was [00:04:00] hitting right as everybody was waking up.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: What um, yeah, what, just if you don't mind, what was that day like?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. Um, so we, we had left our like phone zone so we could get like, The emergency alerts and stuff, because, because we kind of figured it was going to be pretty rough. Um, compared to previous storms that we'd had and stuff. we had set up early. I know a few of the guys that I work with, they got up at like 5 30 a.
m. to get to the office so that they were at work. To kind of handle some things there before the storm came in. Um, and it was for us, it was like, be safe, be smart. Don't try to come to work if the storm is bad. And that's kind of the way we left it, you know? Um, about seven 30. Yeah, I don't know. It was, it's a blur, man. We, I was, [00:05:00] were kind of sitting in the center of our house and we could kind of see out a window. I just like the trees bending and, um, the whole time we were basically praying, please, please don't fall in the house, you
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah, right.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: kind of just watching it out the window. But the thing that was so bad about it is we, um, cell phones, just service just quit. You know,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Just cut out.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: I don't know if it was the power to the, to the towers or, and I've, I've heard stories of Western North Carolina through the landslides and stuff. Just towers were gone and, um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Mm.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: get signal.
So, um, couldn't like text anybody, check in.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Um, and so that really slowed things down. We didn't know the extent of the damage in Spartanburg. Or Greenville, much less Western North Carolina. It wasn't till [00:06:00] much later in the day after the storm stopped, I, I made it to work to check out the damage to our building.
And we're, we're doing all that stuff. And it was probably hours before we heard that just 20 minutes up the road from my house. It's Chimney Rock, like, town's basically gone.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Mm. Man. And, and how, how's Rambler? Is it like, structurally, everything's still there? And
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: um,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: is
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: I mean like,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: um, family's good, houses, for the most part, are intact. Um, know, storm damage. Uh, we're, some of our staff still doesn't have power. Um, um, thankfully the majority of us do have power. You can see I have power here at my house. We just got power on at the office today, um, as, as of recording this.
Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: So it's been about a week, right?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah, yeah. Friday morning. [00:07:00] Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah, so not, not even a full week, but yeah,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: I
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: just about.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: today's day seven of kind of no power.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Mm.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Um, our, building structurally, the whole front office is, it got wet. Um, it just, the wind just pushed through basically. It's like a metal building. Um, I don't know. The floor was soaked. We got there the first day we were trying to get generators going.
We were trying to get, you know, sort of communication up and we're squishing through the carpet, you know, it's all wet and,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: so, but the building, building is sound, we just are dealing with. You know, water damage. We had to rip up carpets. Uh, we had to rip the sheet rock out the insulation. Um, we're doing all the, did all the demo ourselves.
Um, we're now that we have power in the building, we've got water remediation, uh, in there now, a company's come in, they've sanitized, sprayed the [00:08:00] chemicals, um, they got the dehumidifiers, the heaters and the dryers
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: the building out and then we'll, you know, Talk to insurance and talk to a contractor, you know,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. Right. And how many people work at Rambler?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: sure. So, um, it's, it's interesting. We, um, our parent company is Wolf Industries and, um, we've been making the vices since 2012. Um, and Rambler has come about as sort of a rebrand refresh of our fly fishing, um, you know, market or section. And, um, so we've got 20 people that work in. Wolf Industries building and that's where that's where we are with Rambler and everything.
So we've got 20 employees
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Okay.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: and then we have a manufacturing facility where we actually make devices and all of our other stuff is in Columbus, Indiana. [00:09:00] So we've
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Okay.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: 2 locations and we've probably got 15, 15 people up there.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: But yeah, so 20 people in Spartanburg, though.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. 20 people in
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Man, well.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: we've been, um, providing meals and breakfast every day when we haven't had power, we can't make things. We can't get phone calls in, take orders, ship things the first day. no, I mean, not running
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Right. Nothing.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: There's there's you can't hardly get down the road.
You know, there's trees and power lines just down everywhere. Um, and so, uh, we started tearing up carpet, you know, and ripping walls
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Just working it.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: working and.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: How has the, um, so I know there are, I mean, you guys got hit hard, but there's, there's There's like just a ton of other places that got hit hard and recovery efforts are going, [00:10:00] you know, I think it's always just insanely chaotic. In the immediate aftermath of, uh, a natural disaster like this.
What has the recovery effort been like in Spartanburg? And I know it's going to take a long time to
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: fix something like this, but
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah. So it was the first couple of days, man. We're crazy. 9 1 1 was down. Emergency services, like you couldn't dial 9 1 1, uh, for the first, first probably 24 hours. it's like even they got hit. Um, so
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: dude, that's, I mean, that's like terrifying too.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: You know, like when you're just completely on, like, that's just being like lost in the woods, but you're,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: 1 1's down. Cell phones don't work. You're just out, you know, check in your, your property and check in your neighbors and that kind of stuff. And yeah, so, um, they've been keeping good. I mean, emergency alerts have been going out every day [00:11:00] of like, um, locations where you can get food. Hey, we're, we're, we're going to have ice at this location. Uh, shelter, we have several shelters open for people that have been displaced, and every day they're, they're sending out emergency alerts on the phones now that the phones are working of like addresses of where to go for these, um, and that's just in Spartanburg and that's, that's not counting the, um, everything that's been trying to get set up in Western North Carolina, you know, where just roads are completely gone and a lot of shelters have been set up at schools and churches and stuff.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah, yeah. I saw that Maggie Valley fly shop, uh, in Western North Carolina just got like a huge shipment of, you know, excuse me, like water and, you know, all sorts of just food and kind of the, the, sustainable items. Um, but man, I mean, seeing just some of the videos from, [00:12:00] from some of the other anglers and stuff from the, from the festival, it's like, um, it's just wild.
I mean, bridges washing out, um, like, I mean, houses just destroyed.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: total
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: It's just insane, man.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Overnight. What, um, what do you think is like, what's the outlook? Right now. Do you think for Spartanburg as far as recovery, I mean,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: is it, and like, how are the just like on like a people to people level, like how are people doing?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: I think overall here in Spartanburg people are doing really well because they're jumping in to help everywhere they can. Um, you know, so many churches are now drop off places for supplies and they're making runs into North Carolina. Um, here in Spartanburg, it's the, it's the infrastructure. It's, [00:13:00] it's the, the power, the cleanup.
Um, you know, but North North Carolina, Western North Carolina, it's, it's search and rescue. It's people still trapped. They can't get to, and we're trying to get supplies. And so even people in our area, we're, uh, collecting supplies and they're doing airdrops by helicopter. Uh, there's, they're using pack mules. I don't know if you've seen that online or not.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: No,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: their pack mules to get supplies. with supplies and stuff. It's,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: that's wild, man.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: to meet, um, a friend today, just down the road and, and then just, it's just helicopters flying
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: flying supplies, um, from our area.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: That's wild. So you guys are almost like a staging point. So you, I mean, went through this tragedy on your own, but it's like, now you're a [00:14:00] hub supporting Western North Carolina. It's like,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: really close to, to, I mean, we're, we're an hour from Asheville. Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Asheville area, the Biltmore area, Black Mountain, you know, even, even like Hendersonville areas. Um, so we, and we have GSP, we've got the airport, there's an airport here. So it is a, it's a hub, like you said,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah, Spartanburg's been getting better every day, more powers coming on. Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: it's easier to get gas now for a while. It was, you couldn't get gas, they're, they're
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: food and groceries in. Now it has gotten
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: That's good, man. Um,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: in Spartanburg, and now we can get some of those things and supply them to North.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: [00:15:00] yeah, right. And because I mean, was Spartanburg ever, ever kind of cut off or were you able to get in and out
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: we could get in
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: if needed?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: could navigate the downed trees. We didn't have like
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: roads,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Okay.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: out because the flooding didn't hit us here.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: as we could get trees cut and lines kind of out of the way, people were able to maneuver.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: but like I said, just 20, 20 minutes up from my house. Wait, man, we go there all the time. It was like one of our favorite places and there's just no roads. It's just boulders and stuff. It's really, it's
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Was that mostly from flooding or, or?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: the river, um, you know, I'm not, I'm not an expert on how everything went down by any means, but
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah, me neither.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: the river that, for example, chimney rock is. Kind of a main strip and there's all the businesses on the river. [00:16:00] So like restaurants and tap houses and everything and they got these decks. So you're sitting over the water. You know, it's just a beautiful place. Um, and of course the river floods and it somehow it. so much water that it turned into the street, just took, took all the businesses down the street, the street, um, and
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: It's like a tsunami almost. You know,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: so the flash floods were so fast, I heard some of them moving over 60 miles an hour, just a wall of water just hitting houses
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: that is, I mean, truly terrifying.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: There's nothing you can
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: I, uh,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: know.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah, what, um, so one of the big things I'm seeing online are, are tons of, um, different, uh, like nonprofits and organizations that are, you know, Coming to do emergency [00:17:00] assistance. Like, um, I've never deployed with them, but I'm a member of, I haven't deployed with them yet.
I'd love to just haven't been able to yet, but team Rubicon, for instance, I think they're going to Kentucky, uh, maybe tennis or, uh, Eastern Tennessee, uh, a few other places. Um, so there are some really big, reputable, uh, like emergency relief organizations out there helping. Um, of course you have. You know, the, the, like, main big ones, but then there's also a ton of, um, smaller ones out there.
And I guess 1 thing I, I just do want to mention for anybody listening is just a quick warning. Um, because unfortunately, it, it's just like a fact of the matter. There are scams and frauds that pop up in the wake of things like this. So, um, I know FEMA just, you know, Posted, um, [00:18:00] a press release, uh, to not get, you know, sucked in by, um, someone posing as a FEMA official in exchange for any personal information or payments.
Uh, FEMA representatives will never ask for payment or personal banking details. So don't give any of that information to someone, um, really probably to any organization. Uh, and, you know, be aware when you Uh, if you receive a letter from FEMA but didn't apply, report it immediately, uh, to the FEMA hotline, um, which I will post in the, um, In the description as well, there's also phony charity solicitations.
Um, so just make sure that when you're donating, if you're donating to to an organization that you just do a little due diligence and research it before, before giving money. Uh, and then [00:19:00] for those folks on the ground, if people are coming by offering any disaster grants or loans, uh, In exchange for a fee, uh, do not accept it.
Legitimate disaster assistance is free and no one can guarantee a grant or loan approval for a fee. So I just want to throw that out there,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: It's,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: um, before kind of getting into,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: it's sad that I even have to do that.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: but the fact that, um, but I mean, it's just like the nature of, of things right now.
And so probably important to just throw out there. I mean, there's so much stuff on social media. Um,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: people sharing
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: and
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: images of stuff,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah, dude.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah. So there's, there's a lot of misinformation going around. For
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. Are there any, are there any organizations that you've seen, um, That are helping or that [00:20:00] need as, you know, funding or donations or, or anything like that from, from the rest of us that aren't directly impacted.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: of the, the quickest to kind of mobilize that I've seen here are kind of like the, uh, the churches as like drop off
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: and the shelters and stuff that are being set up. Um, there's a lot of GoFundMes out there and, and GoFundMes, um, great if you know and trust, like you said, reputable, um, kind of GoFundMe.
GoFundMe is cool because, you know, families can help. Their families, my, um, my sister in law's cousins, their house was flooded out. They, they, they got hit by the flash flood and, um, they had to be water, like water rescued out of their home with their baby. And, um, GoFundMe has been set up for them cause their house, you should see the pictures, you could see the mud line up to the top of the door frames where like how [00:21:00] high the water was in their house. But I mean, so they basically lost everything
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: just destroyed. Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: It's just all gone. GoFundMes have been set up for them. Families taking care of families in Maggie Valley. There's Southern Culture on the fly. If you've heard of those guys, they've got a
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Okay. Yep.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah, um, there's cool
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Um, That is a really direct way to help a person, you know,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: and like I said, man, the churches have been quick, quick to kind of react. We have a lot of people that are just, just people that are taking this and driving it up to drop off points. Like, you know, Maggie Valley is a drop off point. They're collecting stuff and people can come to them to, to distribute. [00:22:00] there's a lot of that
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. If you, and if you, um, Why I can, you know, kind of post any of that in the, in the podcast description to, especially if some of the churches have a way of, of, uh, accepting donations or, um, that that'll be directed towards, you know, recovery efforts, um,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: I can send
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: just, and anything like that,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: the churches that have been set up as shelters. So like people are actually living at the church and it is become a hub that people are, are taking stuff to, um, churches that have a parking lot, big enough for a helicopter to land, you know, stuff like that.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: that's wild. That's wild, man. And I'll just mentioned too, that, uh, there is the, the, the Maggie Valley one that you mentioned is, um, if you look for it on go fund me, it's called help restore Maggie Valley's heart and spirit. And, um, [00:23:00] they've, they're. Uh, I think Shannon who, who runs Maggie Valley fly shop set it up, but, um, they are trying to raise a lot of money to, to help get Maggie Valley and the local community, uh, back up and running,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: It's,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: as well.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: cool to see a lot of the fly shops like jump in, in, in this way, because they're more than a, Fly shop, you know, at this moment, they're, they're like mobilizing support for their community. They're becoming a hub for distribution and taking care of people. And, you know, there's, I've seen a handful of others doing the same thing.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. It's incredible, man. Like it's kind of that, uh, I mean, it's like just that, I mean, I've always said there's just something special about the, the like fly fishing community. Yeah. You know, writ large, it's, [00:24:00] it's like, I don't know. It's just good people. Like there's no, you know, you're just a person out on the water.
That's it. That's all you are. And, um, if somebody needs help, you're going to help them. And, uh, it's just a, I mean, in the wake of like tragedy, it's, It's incredible to see, it's always incredible to see people helping people and, um, you know,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: so it's just, it's just something I'm always awestruck by.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: I think that, you know, a lot of, uh, people who are real into fly fishing, um, I don't know, all the places that were so severely damaged were close to water, the rivers, and this is, these are the places that we love to go, and like, uh, Our fisheries that the landscapes changed is different. Now, the river flows different now, [00:25:00] um, the place that we went. So, I like rambler merchant and hats and shirts and all of our gear.
We had this, like, 1 spot on the river that we would go to take. and set up, you know, for photo shoots and, it's going to look different now. It's not going to be the same spot anymore. Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah, man. That's wild to think about,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: you know?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: They, they, they now take a different path. Um, because of the way the flood cut through. Um, yeah, I don't, I don't know what it's going to look like. I've seen pictures of, of for example, chimney rock, and it's just this massive wide swath that it cut through. And now the waters have receded and you're starting to see what looks like a normal mountain stream or mountain river. [00:26:00] Just in this massive carved out path of just rock. Rock and debris and down in the very bottom of it you've got the creek or the river. And it follows a slightly different path than it did before.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah, it's, I, I'm scheduled to talk with someone, to interview with someone for the podcast that is a, Like a fisheries expert at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration at NOAA. And, um, yeah, one of the things I'm just fascinated to learn from them is how like a natural disaster like this impacts one, just like the local ecosystem of the various little streams out there and rivers.
But then also, you know, the actual fish habitats, because, you know, I mean, if it's wiping out trees that bugs normally live in or, you know. Rocks where, you know, [00:27:00] most of our bugs hatch under and stuff like that. It's just, uh, just a huge ecological change. Um, so yeah. Um,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah, I,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: well, sorry, go ahead.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: I was just, I was just gonna say it's All the places that got hit so bad were these places that we love as fly fishermen, um, and people who are in the sport and we're really connected to these locations. And so it makes sense that fly shops have jumped to help because it's, it's all these spots that we love so much.
You know, it's these
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: and nature very near and dear to us. So, It makes sense that the fly shops are just kind of jumping right at, you know, like, I feel like that's what I've seen. I've seen churches and fly shops, and
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Right.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: the, the two [00:28:00] places
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: It's like the local gathering points.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. Yeah.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Like, yeah, it's like a judgment free, you know, that's wild. I mean, yeah. Yeah, it's just, uh, it's unbelievable. I, I went to, uh, Nanahala National Forest after the, um, after the, the fly show in May and, you know, You know, it's just like stunningly beautiful, uh, watch last of the Mohicans while we were there, of course, although it was filmed in Asheville, but like, you know, just being in the mountains.
Um, and, and the, like, where we camped already didn't have cell service. And I just in those just massive, steep mountains and, and the valleys with the rivers in them. I just wonder, you know, what happened there. It's just, uh, Tragic. Um, so I mean, right now, I think all we can do is [00:29:00] wait and see. And, um, for those of us that weren't in the direct path to try to find organizations that are doing good work, um, and, and donate if you can or get down there to help out somehow, if you can.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Um,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: You could always use people with some chainsaws.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: yeah, right.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: use
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Right. Bring some gas and some chainsaws.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Uh,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: know. It's now it's just search and rescue effort in North Carolina. Yeah. Getting people, I've seen people on the side of the mountain with their mirrors out of their house and helicopters are flying over and they're trying to signal
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Trying to,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: just that they're, because
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: on.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: get out there. Yeah, it's wild. Um,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Unbelievable, man.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: so it's, it's going to take a long, I mean, even, you know, the major interstates in and out of the area [00:30:00] got washed away and it's like that, that will take years and years and years. They get to put that back.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Right.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: be different for a long time.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: I mean,
it's just wild, man. Um,
sorry. Give me one sec.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: no, you're good.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Um,
sorry. I'm just pulling something up. Um, Oh, here we go. Uh, so like looking ahead, what's your hope for Rambler? Um, seeing as it, it hasn't had a terrible impact on you guys, but how do you see Rambler, you know, and your community kind [00:31:00] of working together as, as the town begins to recover?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah. Um, you know, one of the, one of the easiest and quickest ways that we can help is, know, donate some product to, uh, Like raffles. So, for example, um, there's a, a group down in Charleston, South Carolina on the coast, and they, they have this event series called cast and drafts. And, uh, they did 1 last night and they were like, man, I know it's crazy. You're welcome to come. You know, I was scheduled to be there. Um, and they, they changed, they pivoted and changed and started doing it. giving away products as raffle and they were raising money to
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: It's awesome.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: North Carolina. and I was like, I was like, yeah, man, let me, let me load up the truck. So I, you know, drove a few hours down there, set up, did the event, drove back same night, you know, got in at two in the morning and I was back at the office today. [00:32:00] Um, but that's, it's a quick and easy way for to help out. Um, you know, in the immediate, we were kind of working on our building. Um, but I see lots of Kind of fundraising events. And once things kind of open up, we can. Go and do events there
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: just to sort of, just to help raise money for support.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: I mean, in light of this, as, uh, just as you as Caleb, but also, you know, as a member of Rambler, how, how do you think this experience has changed your outlook on how, you know, or the role that Rambler plays in the fly fishing community?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Sure. Um, it's one thing that I've, I've really had a vision for, or a passion [00:33:00] for, for Rambler is involved in the local community. so more so than just being a brand that sits on a shelf, you know, at a store, but it's like people know. You know, people know me, they know my face because
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: me at an event. attend, we go meet people where they are. And I really want to, one of the things I really want to do with Ramble is just be involved in our, our local community, local fly fishing community, get to know the people and all of that stuff. And that's, that's not something we've had the ability to do in the past.
And we have now, and it's been really cool to kind of see that. And this just sort of reinforces We need to be involved with our people, you know,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah,
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: people, help them, support them in any way that we can. And, um, [00:34:00]
be an advocate for when, when our fisheries can open again, you know, like when it's time to get in and support those natural resources, that may be a long time from now. I don't know.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: dude. Just absolutely wild, man. I'm, I'm so grateful that, that you're all right, that your family's good, that the, uh, the Rambler family's good. It's, um, uh, you know, but it's like, I also can't imagine being on the other end of it. Uh, if you've lost a loved one or are still missing a loved one right now, or can't make contact with somebody, um, you know, I hate to say the whole.
Thoughts and prayers thing, but it's like, man, my heart just goes out to folks who are. [00:35:00] Struggling right now, or if you just lost a home or, or, uh, you know, your livelihood, um,
you know, again, it just brings me back to seeing people helping people. That's, that's like the, the single most redeeming thing of a, of a natural disaster like this, from my point of view was man, just humans get out there and help other humans. And it's, um. It's always incredible to see. I wish it didn't take a natural disaster.
Uh, but, um, I, you know, I'm grateful that it's, that it's happening now. And, um, I would love to have you back on again sometime soon to, to really dig into Rambler and, uh, and your story. I, you know, but I just wanted to, I guess my goal right now is, is to just draw as much attention to, [00:36:00] um, the recovery efforts, you down south and, and just to see how people can help and to hear the stories of the folks that, that, uh, from the folks that people, uh, from the folks who have lived through it.
Um, it just, uh, an absolutely tragic event and, uh, you know, glad you're okay. And I really appreciate you joining me tonight.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: it. Yeah. I, I would just say right now the critical need is just the water. I mean, even toilet paper. You
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: not at the stores right now.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Jesus, dude.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: you know, um, food, clothing, you know, a lot of the people that have been rescued, they don't have anything else but the clothes that they had on them when they were rescued. Um, we're dropping off just my family stuff at a church tomorrow that's being driven up on Saturday. Um, [00:37:00] some big trucks can that can navigate taking some loads of stuff on Saturday and clothes and toys. We've got clothes, toys, shoes, you know, just stuff that families are gonna need. We've heard, you know, through the grapevine, we've heard that some people may be in these shelters for up to a year. I don't,
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: What?
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: know what they're going to
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: No kidding.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: are schools right now. You know, yeah, I, I would say, uh, to anybody out there that that's trying to make contact with a friend or somebody they know, and they've not heard, you know, have, have hope. You know, keep, keep hope right now because I said, the cell towers are gone. There is no cell phone service. There's no internet. So, [00:38:00] very well is that a lot of people are okay. just can't tell people that they're okay right now. Um, Or, or they're alive and they're safe, but they're, they're working, they're working 24 seven, you know, to get resources to people and they don't have time to get on the internet, you know? So, um, I would say have hope and support where you can for sure.
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Yeah, dude. I love it. Yeah. I mean, that's, that's what we can do. It's what we can do. Well, listen, I know, um, it's late. It's been a long week. I don't want to take any more of your time, but I really do appreciate you joining me tonight. Um, and I do look forward to having you on again, sometime soon when, when we can dig into Rambler a little bit.
Um, but thanks for sharing part of your story with me tonight about, about Helene and the recovery efforts.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: Absolutely. [00:39:00] I'm glad I was able to do it. It
devin_1_10-03-2024_203103: Awesome, man. Thanks. We'll talk to you later.
squadcaster-37gh_1_10-03-2024_203103: good.