Long Islanders send donations, rescuers to those devastated by Helene, and those in Milton's path

Long Islanders are doing their part to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and offering support ahead of Hurricane Milton's anticipated devastation to Florida.

The Halesite Fire Department is collecting food and supplies that will be delivered to Franklin, North Carolina, near Asheville, while Gov. Kathy Hochul sent members of the New York National Guard, including some from Long Island, to Florida to assist the Florida National Guard.

About 24 pararescue airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing based at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach were expected to be on the ground north of the hurricane before its landfall Wednesday evening near Tampa Bay, Hochul's office said.

On Wednesday afternoon, just 24 hours after the start of the two-day Halesite donation drive, 6 tons of items — canned food, linens, water, medical supplies, baby supplies, toiletries and pet food --- had been collected.

Under sunny skies and comfortable temperatures, a steady stream of people arrived at the department’s New York Avenue firehouse bearing bags and armloads of items to donate to those impacted by Hurricane Helene, which ripped through the south more than a week ago, with Asheville, North Carolina, being among the towns hardest hit. 

"Everyone wants to help but we don’t know what to do," said Carlyn Gordon, of Huntington, who brought men’s briefs, water, plastic utensils, cups and cat food. "That the department stepped up and said, ‘we will collect it and organize it and deliver it’ is lovely."

Huntington resident Beverly Gagliano made a bulk Amazon order of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and deodorant to give to those she said have been impacted. She became emotional while discussing Hurricane Helene’s impact.

"You wish you could do more," she said, her voice cracking. "As a country we have to take care of each other. If you can’t take someone in, you have to do whatever you can."

Dom Spada, chief of the Halesite Fire Department and organizer of the drive, said as soon as he saw the situation in North Carolina, he knew his department needed to do something. He suggested the idea to other fire departments and chiefs from Huntington, Greenlawn and Northport responded by sharing it and collecting donations at their locations.

"The volunteer fire departments on Long Island are a jewel," he said. "They get up in the middle of the night to help their neighbors out and this is an extension of that: help those who need help."

Former Centerport Chief Brian Mark, who now lives in North Carolina,  reached out to Spada to help coordinate Long Island’s delivery to the impacted area.

"There’s a lot going on and this was a way to help by connecting Dom with people on the ground in the areas that have been hit hard," Mark said.

On Thursday, the first of two flights to Macon County Airport in Franklin will be taking off from Long Island MacArthur Airport to deliver 2,000 pounds of donations to the hurricane ravaged area.

"Since trucks can’t get to them, we’re going to do it by air first," said Chas Forte, 22, a volunteer with Halesite for five years who will be piloting the flights.

The second flight is expected to head out Saturday. Forte’s Islip-based employer is donating the use of the company’s plane, he said.

Spada said they are still coordinating to get trucks to start driving the remaining goods to the impacted area starting Sunday.

The Lindenhurst Fire Department, in partnership with Lindenhurst village, will also dispatch a team to Asheville Thursday morning with supplies for communities impacted by Helene, a village news release said.