MARION, N.C. — At 5:45 a.m., three buses marked “McDowell County Schools” rolled into Sandy Andrews Park, where fallen oak trees were visible under starlight. Five weeks earlier, a storm had drenched the Southeast with 40 trillion gallons of water. Instead of students, the buses carried Baxter International employees to their factory due to parking lot destruction caused by flooding.
Melissa Sisk, a North Cove Elementary receptionist, began her day driving one of these buses. After delivering Baxter workers by 7 a.m., she would proceed to her school duties. Her workday stretched over 14 hours as she returned at 5:30 p.m. to transport employees back. This effort was crucial to the community’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, which had severely impacted McDowell County.
The district’s quick response helped mitigate the hurricane’s effects. Baxter and school officials devised a plan to shuttle employees before and after school, allowing the medical supply plant to resume operations faster than anticipated. The plant, which provides 60% of the U.S.’s intravenous fluids, had halted production, causing a nationwide shortage.
Classrooms turned into emergency food distribution centers, and parking lots became refueling stations for emergency responders. Bus drivers, like Sisk, played a pivotal role in transporting factory employees. The school system also supplied fuel for emergency vehicles, ensuring vital services like water treatment continued.
Despite the plant’s partial recovery, the community faces ongoing challenges. North Cove Elementary, a rural school with a high percentage of low-income families, saw several families lose homes. School staff frequently visit students’ homes, offering support in a community where emotional impacts are still felt.
“We’re just a big family, and we take care of each other,” Sisk said, highlighting the community’s resilience and cooperation during this crisis.
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