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WNC Disaster Relief Hub - Powered by Ham Radio

Meet Vicki Carnes

Imagine if, with no formal training, you could step in during a time of crisis and make a difference. That’s exactly what Vicki Carnes (AD3i) has done since the early stages of Hurricane Helene’s devastation in Western North Carolina. From a small room in her humble home, Vicki has volunteered day and night, tirelessly serving as net control on the Mt. Mitchell repeater. Her calm, steady voice has guided ham radio operators through the chaos, organizing relief efforts and coordinating emergency traffic, ensuring critical messages reach the right people.

She’s also dedicating her time to teaching kids the world of ham radio through her STEM non-profit, STEM ARC. Her passion for showing the next generation how to use their voices to connect communities proves that you don’t need formal training to make a difference—you just need heart, a voice, and the courage to take action.

Meet Margie Nance

Margie Nance (KQ4VYS) began her ham radio journey just a few days after Hurricane Helene hit the western North Carolina mountains, where it hit just two hours from her home. After reading a Facebook post about ham operators using the Mt. Mitchell repeater, she started listening to their communications through the Broadcastify app. Listening from morning to night, Margie felt a deep need to get involved. She dedicated herself to studying for the ham radio tech exam and, within a week, passed the test.

With her new license in hand, Margie reached out to Vicki Carnes (AD3I) and offered to build a website that would centralize information about the relief efforts. This initiative led to the creation of ProjectHelene.org, which streamlined the communication of needs, locations, and ways volunteers could assist. It has been a deeply rewarding experience, and Margie is proud to be a part of the ham radio community, eager to continue contributing to relief efforts.

Charlotte, NC 28273 USA

ProjectHelene.org