River runners became paramount for river rescue in many parts of Appalachia when Hurricane Helene inflated the rivers to record levels. People were stranded in buildings, bridges blew out, and houses were swept downriver. This live episode at the America Outdoors Conference hosts 3 river runners who immediately engaged in the rescue of people stranded by the floods, and, the rescue of the rivers from their own floods. They tell the stories of their work beginning at daybreak on day 1 of Hurricane Helene. 

GUESTS

Korey Hampton
Mitch Hampton
French Broad Adventures

Steven Foy
Nantahala Outdoor Center

RELEVANT LINKS AND CONTENT

USA Today articles about Korey and Mitch running rescues
USA Today
Heroes & heartbreak: 36 hours of hell during Helene's historic floods

USA Today
From rescue to recovery:The grim task in flood ravaged WNC

New York Times, print and podcast story about Mr Tipton
NY Times
For hours he clung to a tree. But none came.
The Daily Podcast (NY Times)

60 Minutes: Families in WNC rebuild in wake of Helene: "This is home"

Read:  Hurricane Helene

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Denver Area Nissan Dealers
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River Management Society
2025 Symposium
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Part 1, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, The Science

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