A direct message from Lenoir County Sheriff Jackie Rogers, who is in Madison County with four members of the LCSO:

I wanted to give an update of our Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office assistance to Madison County. 

We have worked two 14-hour days and it looks like we are in for a few more long days. Everyone is doing well. We are working in an area where creeks flooded and looking for loved ones that have not been heard from since the storm.

Sheriff Harwood requested us to stay until Sunday. Three of us will be returning home Sunday and the other two have volunteered to stay until next Friday, Oct. 11. We will also be sending two more deputies Sunday to work Madison County until next Friday.   

I have worked several hurricanes and floods and have never witnessed the amount of damage and loss of life. Please continue to pray for our western brothers and sisters. 

I want to add that the Calvary Worship Center Church of God, located in Marshall, has provided us, along with other emergency personnel, three meals a day, a shower and a place to sleep. This is a great church that serves their community. If you would like to reach out to the church, you can contact Pastor Rusty Smart at 828-776-9687.

Thank you for all the kind words and well-wishes on our Facebook pages. We are proud to represent Lenoir County and Eastern North Carolina here in Madison County.

Sheriff Jackie Rogers

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The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office has deployed deputies to Madison County in response to Hurricane Helene, which caused significant damage in Western North Carolina. Sheriff Jackie Rogers, along with his team, is heading west to assist in relief efforts and deliver essential supplies to the affected communities.

The relief effort is part of a coordinated response by the North Carolina Sheriff's Association. "The North Carolina Sheriff's Association's got a plan of action for emergency situations where we all come together and see what the need of the other sheriff's is," said Rogers. "We had almost the entire office volunteer to go."

The Lenoir County deputies will assist local law enforcement in Madison County by working shifts from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. In addition to providing manpower, they are also transporting supplies, including water, toiletries, and non-perishable food items. “I sent out an immediate request asking if anyone was interested in donating supplies, and people showed up last night and this morning,” Rogers stated.

Captain Michael Williams, who helped coordinate logistics for the trip, emphasized the importance of giving back. “Those men and women have come down here several times during our floods over the past few years, and it’s time to give back,” Williams said.

Rogers also noted that the Madison County Sheriff's Office experienced a tragic loss during the storm, as one of its deputies died in the line of duty. “We hope to support the sheriff there and the staff as well,” Rogers added.

The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office is one of several law enforcement agencies in North Carolina participating in the relief efforts, a testament to the state’s mutual aid system during times of crisis. Before the trailer pulled away taking the Sheriff’s department to Madison County, Rogers stood with his team in prayer for their upcoming journey.