On September 26, 2024, as Hurricane Helene bore down on Little Switzerland, North Carolina, Andrea “Lion” Mathews and William “Rabbit” Barthel stood in their mountain home, ready for the storm. Lion, hardened by Florida’s fiercest tempests, brushed off the threat. But Rabbit, sensing a darker force in the howling winds, braced for something worse. By September 27, chaos erupted: tornadoes ripped through, landslides swallowed roads, torrents of rain flooded valleys, and winds shook the earth like the gates of hell. That day, everything changed.
When the storm’s roar faded, Lion and Rabbit grabbed chainsaws and carved their way out, clearing trees to check on neighbors in Little Switzerland. After ensuring their few friends were safe, they pushed down Highway 226A, joining a rugged crew of locals battling past Big Lynn Lodge toward Skyline Inn. Rabbit threw himself into the fray, hurling debris, tossing trees aside, and syncing with a mini-excavator grinding through the wreckage. Hours later, they reached Skyline Inn, facing a grim reality: landslides trapped desperate crowds, the Mineral Museum was cut off, and downtown Spruce Pine drowned under 40 feet of water. No power. No cell service. Just silence and ruin.
Lion and Rabbit knew the world had cracked open. Retreating to Big Lynn Lodge, they met owners Hoyt and Kelly and filmed a raw YouTube video for The Benghazi Rabbit channel. That video, the first SOS to pierce the devastation, went viral, shattering the isolation and calling the nation to act. The dominos fell, and hope sparked.
Big Lynn Lodge transformed into a beacon, with Lion commanding a supply point. Generators hummed, fueling hot meals and showers for the weary. Rooms housed those whose homes were gone. As the community rallied, strangers with out-of-state plates rolled in, drawn by the video’s plea. Helicopters thundered above, dropping supplies and airlifting survivors. Hikers, horses, mules, ATVs, and UTVs swarmed the mountains, an army of everyday people answering a divine call. It was raw, apocalyptic, and sacred.
In the thick of it, friends from Virginia joined Lion and Rabbit for search and rescue, setting up camp at a site that would become legendary. Camp Unknown was born, a gritty outpost that drew hundreds, maybe thousands, of volunteers from across America. Helicopters ran SAR missions, dog teams scoured the hills, chainsaw crews slashed paths, and medics mended the wounded. Horseback riders and equipment operators stood shoulder to shoulder, forging a private army of compassion. From Camp Unknown, new camps sprouted, weaving a web of hope across the Blue Ridge.
For eight relentless months, Lion and Rabbit poured their blood and soul into their broken community. Even after shuttering Camp Unknown in January 2025, they kept serving from their own home, still battered, as they put others first. Lion, driven by a holy fire, gave her final months to loving the hurting, serving the weary, and honoring Christ with every step.
In April 2025, bone-tired but unbowed, Lion and Rabbit realized their calling was too vast for two alone. From that moment, The Savage Saints was forged, a faith-driven ministry to carry the torch of service, love, and fierce compassion. But on May 30, 2025, Lion’s earthly fight ended, as she faced her inner demons and passed into the arms of her Savior. The Savage Saints stands as a living honor to her memory, her spirit, and the silent battles waged within. Lion’s fierce roar echoes forever in our work, a battle cry for every soul struggling in the dark. We stand with them, vowing no one will face their demons alone. We are warriors. We are on a mission.
Join us, volunteer your strength, donate your heart, and become a Savage Saint, carrying Lion’s roar to every soul in need, from the Blue Ridge to the broken.
Rise with us.
Serve with us.
For Christ’s glory.
Amen.