GREENSBORO, N.C. — Throughout the storm, people have gone days without hearing from loved ones.
Mary Ferrell who lives In Winston-Salem could breathe a sigh of relief after learning her daughter was safe in Banner Elk.
"You're concerned until you hear their voice and hear Mom I’m okay and I was like aw thank you, lord," Ferrell shared. "So that was wonderful."
Two days went by before Ferrell heard from her daughter who lives in Banner Elk.
She sent her photos of unpassable roadways near her home.
Ferrell said her daughter made it to town hall where folks can use wifi for 10 minutes at a time.
"The first wifi conversation was spotty," Ferrell said. "We could barely hear what they were saying. But knowing she was okay was incredible."
It eased Ferrell’s mind to know her daughter and four granddaughters were safe.
In the time since the storm, they've been both resilient and creative.
"She has a camp stove her brother got her that uses propane stove so every meal since Thursday has been with it," Ferrell said. "They have a Tesla that has a battery they’ve been charging their fridge and freezer so that’s how they’re keeping their food good."
Everyone isn’t as lucky as Ferrell to get these kinds of updates from family.
Back in Greensboro at Guilford Metro 911, they've answered calls from worried loved ones in more than 11 counties in the western part of the state hoping to get news on their family's whereabouts.
"Hearing the sadness and panic," said Christine Moore the deputy director of operations for Guilford Metro. "A lot of people have been crying people are scared this is something unprecedented and they don’t know what to do. Our team has been a source of calm amid the chaos."
Guilford Metro has answered 180 calls since Friday.
They anticipate getting even more calls as agencies get back online.
"We’ve had everything from welfare checks. People who haven’t heard from their family and they wanted someone to check and see that they were okay," Moore said. "We fielded a call for a cardiac arrest this morning."
They faced challenges getting a hold of the responding agencies out west but using a newer state-wide telephone system called Ezzi Net has been a great help.
"We’re really putting it to the test for the first time," Moore said. "Seeing that we are able to field those calls and 911 calls are not going unanswered in the western part of the state is amazing."
Guilford Metro said they’ll be assisting for months to come.
Leaders said ten 911 systems out west are still unreachable
As for Mary, she said her daughter is planning to stay in Banner Elk and community to Boone for necessities.
