Charlie Keebaugh, Jonathan Howard, and Jeremy Locke teamed up again to shine a light on the disaster left in the wake of Hurricane Helene with their appearance on the Dr. Phil Primetime show. Dr. Phil McGraw had himself volunteered to go to Western North Carolina and assist Samaritan’s Purse, Franklin Graham’s nonprofit organization in N.C., and saw the amazing work of organizations like Aerial Recovery on the critical rescue and recovery mission in the hills.
After Hurricane Helene ripped through the Southeastern U.S. leaving literally 1,000s of residents in Western North Carolina isolated and dealing with widespread destruction. Communities were cutoff and local leaders were not able to coordinate with state or federal governments which were nowhere to be seen regardless. Keebaugh was among the first volunteers from Florida who rushed in to assist with the non-profit Aerial Recovery. The human spirit is a beacon of hope during disasters and stories of resilience and humanity began to surface, among them, the extraordinary work of Keebaugh, Locke, Howard and the Aerial Recovery team. Their appearance on The Dr. Phil Show brought national attention to the devastating need remaining in the region and the heroic efforts of their team of veterans and first responders healing through helping. McGraw praised the group and their efforts and coordinated a reunion with the grandmother of the 11-day-old baby whom the team rescued and got to safety.
The Innovation of Aerial Recovery
Locke is one of the Founders of Aerial Recovery and Keebaugh and Howard are integral members of the team. Charlie is the Chief Development Officer for the 501(c)(3), which is an international disaster response organization that trains and deploys veterans and first responders to become “Humanitarian Special Operators” who can then effectively respond to natural and man-made disasters and combat sex trafficking. As explained on the show, through the Heal the Heroes initiative, veterans and first responders are initially aided in their own healing journey and recovery from past trauma, and then they are taught how to channel that into being a blessing to help others in crisis. Aerial Recovery tackles some of the most difficult rescue and response missions globally. Their mission: To Save Lives & Stop Evil.
Calm in the Storm
Keebaugh and Howard shared harrowing accounts with The Dr. Phil Show about how their team conducted search and rescue missions to locate and save individuals trapped in the rugged and altered landscape left by the hurricane. Aerial Recovery partnered with a private helicopter owner to reach the most isolated areas and conduct rescue missions, deliver critical supplies, and establish communications for numerous communities via donated Starlink communications systems.
Keebaugh and Howard coordinated and participated in multiple on-the-ground rescue efforts. From searching through collapsed structures to delivering life-saving medical supplies to cutoff communities, their actions directly saved multiple lives. Their determination and special operator mentality allowed them to cut through the chaos during the initial response efforts and coordinate with local communities, utilize advanced technology, and operate under extreme conditions.
In addition to rescuing those in immediate danger, including an 11-day-old baby, Keebaugh and his team ensured that survivors had access to vital resources like food, clean water, generators, and medical supplies. Keebaugh coordinated calls for assistance and prioritized teams on the ground and in the air. From delivering oxygen to helping people remove trees to building bridges, their work was varied and critical in the immediate aftermath.
Keebaugh’s ability to lead and inspire their team, many of whom are military veterans, exemplifies the spirit of service and determination that defines Aerial Recovery. Their efforts not only saved lives but also provided hope to those facing unimaginable hardship.