Disaster relief agencies from around the country rushed in to assist with the crisis. State agencies coordinated the efforts of Adventist Disaster Relief, Red Cross, Salvation Army, the National Guard and others. Adventist Disaster Relief, headed by Verdie Culpepper from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Ben Holdsworth, pastor from the Florida Conference of SDAs, Ken Ford, pastor of the Hickory SDA Church in Hickory NC, and Mike Ortel, Adult Ministries Director of the Carolina Conference of SDAs, was put in charge of a main material distribution site. This site, located in an unused Lowe's warehouse, was brought up and running within days. It is brought to this distribution site in everything from 18-wheelers to car trunks.
Volunteers pick up an item and take it to one of the packing tables.
Volunteers at each of the tables box and label the items. The boxes are palletized, wrapped and counted. Each pallet is then placed with other pallets made up of similar items. Local area supply distribution sites, operated by churches and volunteer organizations, from around the area come to this site to pick up the needed supplies. An office area in the back is staffed by even more volunteers.