By RAY WYCHE

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

More than 170 volunteers turned out Saturday as part of the Riegelwood rebuilding effort.

A pre-dawn tornado swept through Pretty Branch and Holly Tree roads Nov. 16, carving a swath of destruction from Old Lake Road to N.C. 87. Eight people were killed and two dozen injured.

Volunteers from the N.C. Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief are leading a combined effort of workers from the Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, United Methodist and Presbyterian churches, civic groups and businesses. Major reconstruction began last week, and will continue for the weeks and months to come.

Volunteers took three homes from new foundations to final framing work in six days last week.

“It’s overwhelming,” said Darryl McNair, wiping tears from his eyes as a swarm of workers checked windows and a deck on his new home. “I don’t know what to say. Everybody’s just been so generous.

“I thank God for these people.”

Charles Hester, pastor of Riegelwood Baptist Church, said Saturday more than 170 members of Baptist churches from across North Carolina were working on homes, utility buildings, pump houses and other projects. The church has been headquarters for the relief effort since a few hours after the storm.

“I had surgery just after Christmas,” he said, “or I’d be working right alongside them. At least I can give moral support.”

James Duncan, a member of Riegelwood’s Baptist Men, has been on site almost every day since the storm. Duncan was all smiles Saturday as groups continued arriving ready to work into the early afternoon.

“It’s good to see so many people turning out to help others,” he said.

Among those working on the McNair home was Chuck Campbell of Fayetteville. A retired police officer, Campbell said he just wants to “serve God by helping others.”

He became involved in the construction project through Judson Baptist Church.

“We had a kind of handyman group,” he said. “It grew from there.”

Until recently, most of the volunteers handled small projects for elderly people in their area, building decks and wheelchair ramps. Others have been to Mississippi to help with the recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

Campbell said the reconstruction is similar to that he helped with in Mississippi, except “it was about 800 degrees there.”

“When you think about it, you realize it could be you,” Campbell said. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to go to work one morning, and when you get home, have nothing but the clothes you were wearing. I’d hope someone would be there to help me.”

Duncan said Saturday the Riegelwood recovery has turned into a pilot project for the Baptist Men Disaster Relief and the Baptist Builders. The groups have generally had parallel missions, he said, but after the Riegelwood project got underway, the groups decided to coordinate their efforts.

“There will be an emphasis on new home construction after recovery from storms,” he said. “We’ll use the same building plans as the homes here, so crews will know what they’re doing when they get on scene. They’ll already have some experience building these homes, and they’ll have specific duties.

“This way everybody won’t be having to turn to one person every time they have a question,” Duncan said.

Grifton resident Billy Tarleton is acting as supervisor of the Riegelwood recovery process. A member of the Disaster Response organization, Tarleton is the “go-to guy,” Duncan said.

“Billy’s been a blessing to this whole project. He’s always on the move.”

Tarleton barely slowed down Saturday to eat some of the barbecue lunch organizers served to residents, volunteers and others.

While fewer workers were expected to be on site today (Monday), the project isn’t over yet.

Tarleton answered questions, directed new arrivals, and gave instructions from the back of a large truck Saturday while simultaneously unloading roofing materials.

Those roofing materials – and teams of professional roofers – were donated by Pat Wooten, a Wilmington builder and developer.

In addition to putting roofs on the three new homes, Wooten’s crews worked side by side with volunteers to repair other roofs damaged during the storm.

Bill Haddock, chair of the Riegelwood Disaster Response Committee, said a group will arrive this week to begin work on another house.

The next batch of house builders will include a group of Quakers as well as volunteers from Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist churches. Others have already been hard at work on walkways, utility buildings and other projects.

Meals are being served out of Riegelwood Baptist, but other churches are also contributing to the effort. Riegelwood Presbyterian Church converted some of their church building into a dormitory. Some volunteers have already spent several nights there, and more are expected in the coming days.

Haddock said he hopes the willingness to help others continues until “everyone is back to normal.

“It’s all about serving others,” Haddock said. “By helping others, we’re serving God.”

Haddock said other projects are still being considered by the committee.

“Recovery isn’t over by a long shot,” he said. “We’re going to keep working until every need has been met.”