Meet the mountain mules delivering critical aid to Hurricane Helene victims

A team of mountain mules has been delivering critical humanitarian aid to North Carolina citizens who have been left stranded by Hurricane Helene's catastrophic destruction. While hundreds of roads remain unusable due to storm damage, mud slides, and flood debris, the Mountain Mule Packer Ranch has deployed their "beloved" pack mules to deliver supplies to areas inaccessible by vehicle.

The four-legged heroes have been delivering food, water, diapers, and critical medical supplies such as insulin to desperate families in the state's mountainous regions, which are hard to reach, as reported by the Associated Press.

"They call them beasts of burden, we call them our beloved mules. They are capable and willing to work in many conditions most won't. They are not stubborn.....they are wise, and require respect," the company wrote on Facebook. "They have had many roles in their careers, from hauling camping gear and fresh hunt, pulling wagons and farm equipment; to serving in training the best of the very best of our military special forces, carrying weapons, medical supplies, and even wounded soldiers."



Mike Toberer, owner of Mountain Mule Packers, told the AP that his highly-trained pack mules are qualified to assist in crucial efforts, as traditional aid groups have been experiencing difficulty in reaching impacted communities. He said that each mule can carry roughly 200 pounds of supplies, explaining that his team takes their "chainsaws" to the tough terrains and "we'll push those mules through."



According to its website, Mountain Mule Packers "specializes in high altitude crew-served weapons, and extreme terrain pack animal supply trains" designed to "meet multiple needs."

Hurricane Helene was the deadliest hurricane to hit the United States in years, impacting millions of residents in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Citizens have been unable to communicate due to no power and internet connections. Thousands of people have died, and officials expect the death toll to climb. Many are still missing.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk announced Tuesday that his company, Starlink LLC, would provide Starlink internet for free to all citizens in all locations affected by the hurricane.