PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Portsmouth-based disaster relief organization Mercy Chefs is on the ground providing aid to Nepal after a terrifying flash flood on Wednesday left more than 800 people dead and more than 3,000 missing.

Mercy Chefs is used to helping people in their most desperate times, but they say the scale of the flooding in Nepal is far out of the ordinary.

"Our team is very experienced, and they've seen a lot, and we're hearing words like 'indescribable,' 'unfathomable,'" said founder of Mercy Chefs Gary LeBlanc, in an interview with 10 on Your Side's Angela Bohon.

While LeBlanc is not in Nepal, he is working closely with team members on the ground. He reported that on Saturday alone, the crew distributed more than 9,000 pounds of food.

However, truck transport can only do so much with washed-out roads and steep terrain. LeBlanc explained that the team will need to rely on a helicopter to reach more areas—a measure the organization uses sparingly.

"We've used helicopters on a couple of hurricanes to get product in other places. We've used it for general transport. But it's an expensive step, and it's a commitment for us," LeBlanc said. "But in this case, it's absolutely necessary. We're not going to be able to help these people unless we have made that commitment already. And so we will."

Mercy Chefs was able to deploy rapidly because it already maintains an ongoing feeding program in Nepal. Additional workers are arriving in the area over the weekend, and they're collaborating with local partners and churches to identify areas with the greatest need.

The disaster unfolds during the region's monsoon season, heightening concerns as officials warn that additional rainfall could trigger further flooding.

LeBlanc told 10 on Your Side's Angela Bohon that the level of need lately across the globe has been unprecedented.

To make a donation to Mercy Chefs to aid their disaster response, click here.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.