At the airport in Tupelo, Miss., Gary Heavin is refueling after flying from his home in Texas. He is doing his preflight inspection before taking off for Hickory, North Carolina, on a mission of mercy for stranded flood victims. 
“I'm looking at the rotors, the screws to make sure they're where they belong, the support structures are where they need to be,” he said.
Heavin’s chopper will be among a fleet of more than 20 helicopters that will deliver much-needed supplies to stranded communities in the far eastern mountains of North Carolina.
“People that live in the mountains in that part of the country are trapped," he says. "They have no electricity, which means the refrigeration is out. So, they are literally trapped. They need food, water, medical supplies, baby formula.”
Helene’s death toll has reached 140 across six states, CNN reports. It’s likely to climb. Many more remain unaccounted for, perhaps unable to leave their location or unable to contact family where storm damage has knocked out electricity and phone towers.
Roads remain impassable. In some areas, supplies are being delivered by mules.
Heavin says this journey is what his faith requires of him.
“It's a ministry, the biblical principles," he tells AFN. "One of my favorites is if resources can flow through you to meet the needs of others, you'll be given more resources.”
Difficult chopper work
Heavin faces great challenges to get his resources flowing. There are no heliports where he'll be flying.
“We're gonna be flying in the mountains, trying to get close into spots and flying a helicopter at high elevation is tricky," he advises. "But none of that is really concerning to me because I'm about the business of my Father.”
For Heavin, the Father’s business doesn’t have set working hours.
“How long are you going to be there? As long as I need to be," he vows.
