Former resident is headed for Louisiana
Another example of someone who felt compelled to help is former Marion resident Gabe Higgins of Winston-Salem, N.C.
He's on his way to assist any way he can in the hurricane-ravaged areas.
The category 4 to 5 hurricane swept through Louisiana, Mississippi, and other southern states, obliterating everything in its path.
As a volunteer with the American Red Cross of Winston-Salem, Higgins said the chapter responds to most disasters.
"The chapter responds to everything from the Pentagon to New Orleans," Higgins said.
When he got the call from the Red Cross to respond, Higgins' boss was willing to let him take time from his job.
"I told my boss about it and he said, 'Go. Pack your bags, boy'," Higgins said Thursday afternoon in a telephone interview.
Higgins works for Custom Logo Outfitters of Winston-Salem in promotional advertising.
At the time of the interview, Higgins was waiting in line to fill up his SUV at a gas station.
"The gas providers here are preparing to go on strike at midnight tonight," Higgins said. The reason for the strike was to drive down the cost of fuel.
Higgins said there were people filling up every kind of container available to prepare for the shutdown.
A 1994 Marion High School graduate, Higgins moved to Winston-Salem in 1999, a year after his parents Bill and Teresa Higgins moved to Burlington, N.C.
The 29-year-old remains close to his parents and listened to his mother's advice.
"My mother said, 'Gabe, you'll be working the rest of your life' and encouraged me to go do this," said Higgins.
The Winston-Salem chapter will be deployed next week, Higgins said, but he didn't want to wait until then.
Higgins felt more of an urgency to respond and do whatever he could to assist his neighbors to the southwest.
"Things are getting worse all the time down there," Higgins said. He figures the sooner he can get there, the sooner he can help.
Higgins isn't sure what he'll encounter while he's there.
"I've helped after Kansas tornadoes — picking up tree limbs and stuff," Higgins said, but he has never helped with hurricane cleanup and knows this is more massive than anyone has experienced.
Higgins will drive into the damaged areas as far as law enforcement will allow him to go. He'll contact the Red Cross to receive instructions.
He plans to be there a minimum of 10 days.
"God willing, I can get down there and help," Higgins said.
