Former local man who lives in Wilmington, N.C., heading back home with supplies
As Hurricane Florence closed in on North Carolina last week, Wilmington, N.C., resident Paul J. Stavovy and his two children evacuated, returning to his hometown of Washington.
On Thursday, six days after Florence made landfall, Stavovy drove back to the North Carolina town to assess damage to his home and to help neighbors rebuild.
But he did not head to Wilmington, which was hit hard by Florence, empty-handed. Stavovy organized a donation drive called Fill the Camper for Wilmington, held in the parking lot of the Giant Eagle in Washington, where he collected supplies to take back to Wilmington.
Stavovy posted a Facebook request for supplies that he plans to distribute to victims of the storm, which has caused widespread flooding and mass power outages, and resulted in at least 37 deaths.
Friends and strangers delivered. They donated water, bleach, charcoal, diapers, bread and other supplies, which Stavovy loaded into his camper, along with chainsaws, a generator, gas and propane that he purchased.
Chelsea Kearns of Washington brought plastic containers filled with supplies including blankets and clothing.
“My husband has several business contacts down there and we vacation in Emerald Isle. We can’t go down to help, so we want to do something to help out,” said Kearns.
Stavovy said he’s grateful for the people who stopped by his camper to drop off supplies.
“My friends and people in the area really came through with donations. I don’t know what to expect when I get down there,” said Stavovy. “There’s no power in my neighborhood yet. It’s going to be a while. They don’t have a lot of bread, fresh foods or water. Grocery stores are open, but they don’t have a lot. People are out of gas for generators.”
Stavovy had considered riding out the storm in his 1940s home, but decided to bring his two children, Lily, 6, and son Max, 3, to stay with his parents for two weeks while he works to make repairs to his home and to help neighbors fix theirs.
“I boarded everything up and we drove to northern Georgia and thought we’d stay for two or three days and get back as fast as possible, but Wilmington got shut off from the world, basically, with that flooding,” said Stavovy, who owns a building company. “There are enough open roads now to get through. I’m ready to get back and fix stuff.”
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Stavovy said his family lost their cat, Watson, near Augusta, Ga., when she ran out of the camper as soon as he opened the door at a rest stop.
The gray calico cat is microchipped, so Stavovy is hoping she is found.
Stavovy said his house suffered damage from fallen trees, but he hasn’t been able to assess it yet.
“A neighbor of mine actually patched a hole in the roof that was caused by a tree that fell on it,” said Stavovy. “I don’t know what the house looks like. I’m ready to get to work and start the cleanup.”