tropical storm helene relief for central and southern appalachia

Over a period of three days, Southern and Central Appalachia experienced unprecedented rainfall from a combination of a historic rain event and Hurricane Helene. Catastrophic flooding, landslides and extreme wind gusts ravaged the region. Entire towns were isolated by flooding and landslides, which destroyed roads and bridges and severed power and phone service. Reports indicate that some areas received up to 30 inches of rain.

Access to these areas is gradually being restored, as roads are being repaired and power and cell service is being reconnected, but the impacts were widespread and many communities still remain cut off. It will take months — or perhaps years — for these communities to recover from the damage.

Below are some ways that you can help during this difficult time. We welcome updated or new information on resources, donation dropoffs, volunteer opportunities and more. Please email your suggestions to: floodresources@appvoices.org

RESOURCES

Regional/National

Missing Persons

  • National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: to report a missing child during a disaster 1-800-843-5678
  • North Carolina: NC EMS is requesting folks worried about loved ones call 211 (1-888-892-1162); press 1
  • Buncombe County register of deeds missing person report line - 828-820-2761
  • Eastern TN: Call 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463) to report a missing person in the areas affected by flooding.
  • Unicoi County TN: Report missing people to 423-560-0261 
  • Greene County TN: Report missing people to  1-800-TBI-FIND
  • Tennessee Bureau of Investigation: to report a missing person in the areas affected by flooding in Eastern Tennessee 1-800-824-3463

Area-specific resources

 

WAYS TO GIVE

REGIONAL / NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

STATE & LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Kentucky

North Carolina (general)

Asheville, North Carolina

The High Country of North Carolina

Tennessee

South Carolina

Virginia

SHELTERS

Kentucky

  • Breathitt County: Breathitt County Courthouse
  • Floyd County: Jenny Wiley State Resort Park Floyd County Community Center
  • Knott County: Knott County Sportsplex
  • Leslie County: W.B. Muncy Elementary
  • Letcher County: 
    • Letcher County High School 
    • Pine Mountain Grill
    • The General Store
    • Letcher County VFW
    • Waggin Tails Pet Resort is sheltering displaced pets
  • Perry County: First Presbyterian Church - Red Cross shelter East Perry Elementary
  • Pike County: 
    • Valley Elementary School 
    • East Kentucky Dream Center
    • New Beginnings Fellowship Church
  • Wolfe County: Wolfe County Middle School

North Carolina

  • ASHEVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREA
    • A-B Technical College - 340 Victoria Ave., Asheville, N.C.
    • Gold’s Gym - 801 Fairview, Asheville, NC 28806.
    • Transylvania Parks and Rec - 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC
    • Polk County High School - 1681 NC 108 Highway East, Columbus, N.C.
    • Edneyville Elementary School - 2875 Pace Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
    • Henderson County Athletics and Activities Center - 708 South Grove St., Hendersonville, N.C.
    • Madison Early College - 5734 US 25-70 Hwy., Marshall, NC
    • First Baptist Church Swannanoa - 503 Park St., Swannanoa, N.C. (hot food, distributing supplies, medical clinic, refrigerated insulin available)

  • HIGH COUNTRY area
    • Holmes Convocation Center - 111 Rivers St., Boone, N.C.
    • Ashe County High School - 184 Campus Dr., West Jefferson, NC 28694
    • Avery County Rock Gym - 185 Shady St., Newland, NC 28657
    • West Wilkes Middle School - 1677 N. NC-16, Wilkesboro, NC

  • BURNSVILLE / SPRUCE PINE area
    • Blue Ridge Elementary - 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
    • Cane River Middle School - 1128 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
    • Mountain Heritage High School - 333 Mountain Heritage High School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
    • Harris Middle School-Spruce Pine - 121 Harris Street, Spruce Pine, NC 28777
    • Mitchell County High School - 426 Ledger School Rd., Bakersville, NC 28705

  • 1-40 CORRIDOR
    • Oak Hill Methodist Church - 2239 NC 181, Morganton, NC
    • Glenwood Baptist Church - 155 Glenwood Baptist Church Rd., Marion, N.C.
    • YMCA of Western North Carolina - 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 2875
    • First Baptist Church of Old Fort - 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, N.C. 

  • SOUTHWESTERN NC.
    • Haywood County Armory - 258 Armory Drive, Clyde, N.C.

  • OTHER
    • Rutherfordton/Spindale High School - 641 US 221 US Hwy N., Rutherfordton, N.C.
    • JF Hurley Family YMCA - 828 Jake Alexander Blvd, Salisbury, NC 28023

South Carolina

  • Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Emergency medical needs shelter) - 650 N. Academy St Greenville, SC
  • Judson Mill (hospitality shelter until 0ct.3) - 701 Easley Bridge Road, Greenville, SC 29611

 

  

Tennessee

  • Carter County
    • Hunter First Baptist Church - 693 Hwy 91, Elizabtethton, TN
  • Greene County
    • Asbury United Methodist Church - 201 S Main St, Greeneville, TN
  • Johnson County
    • First Christian Church of Mountain City (shelter provided through Red Cross, hot meals provided by the church) - 401 W Main St, Mountain City, TN
  • Washington County
    • Lamar Elementary - 3261 Hwy 81 S, Jonesborough, TN
    • South Central Elementary - 2955 Hwy 107, Chuckey, TN
  • Unicoi County
    • Unicoi High School - 700 Mohawk St, Erwin, TN
    • Camp ACC (Appalachian Christian Camp) - 512 Cross Circle, Unicoi, TN, (423) 743-3910
  •  

Virginia

  • All Virginia shelters reported as closed

DONATION DROPOFF CENTERS

Access to some areas in the region is being restored, but road travel should still be limited to emergency personnel, relief agencies and local residents. Many donation centers in flood-impacted areas are no longer accepting general items. Contact local relief centers to see what items are still needed, or consider making a monetary donation to one of the relief organizations or local groups listed above.

Kentucky

  • Gospel Light Baptist Church -- 100 Independence Dr., Hazard, Ky.
  • Gospel Light Baptist Youth Center -- 250 Chavies School Rd., Hazard, Ky.
  • Jaxon Flower Shop -- 241 KY-15, Jackson, Ky.
  • Rosseau Volunteer Fire Department -- 9421 KY-30, Jackson, Ky.
  • Jenkins City Hall -- 9409 Highway 805, Jenkins, Ky.
  • Whitesburg City Hall -- 38 E Main St., Whitesburg, Ky.

North Carolina

Organizations are in need of culturally appropriate food items to send to WNC. Including, rice (25lb bags), noodles (Mama, Shin Ramen), leafy greens (bok choy, beans, mustard greens, etc.) sauces (fish sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, etc.)

  • Asheboro
    • Democracy Green Drop-Off Site #2:  -- The SwatchWorks, Inc, 453 Oakhurst Rd. (Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
  • Research Triangle Area
    • Back Alley Bikes -- 100 Boyd St., Carrboro, NC 27510 (Open Tues. thru Sat. 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.)
    • Democracy Green Drop-Off Site & Distribution Center #1 -- NC Diaper Bank 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd. Suite 1, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
    • Rumah -- 415 Hillborough St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603 Drop off during events, see calendar for more information
  • Charlotte
    • SEAC Village -- 500 Bradford Dr. (10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon-Fri)
    • Carolina Migrant Center -- 3400 Shamrock Dr. (8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon-Fri)
    • Central Law Group -- 6769 Albemarle Rd. STE B (9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mon-Fri)
    • Patagonia Charlotte -- 101 W. Worthington Ave. (11 a.m. - 7p.m. Mon-Fri, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sun)
    • Common Market Oakwold -- 4420-A Monroe Rd (8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Mon-Sun)
    • Curio, Craft & Conjure -- 3204 N Davidson St. (Tues-Sat 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sun 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.)
  • Concord
    • Concord Walmart Parking Lot -- 5825 Thunder Rd NW (starting Sunday, Sept. 29, for Operation Airlift)
    • Cox Mill High School -- 1355 Cox Mill Rd.
  • Durham
    • Art Post -- 718 Iredell St. (Accepting donations starting Monday Sept. 30 Monday-Saturday 12-6)
    • The Scrap Exchange -- 2050 Chapel Hill Rd. (10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
  • Hot Springs
    • Hot Springs Elementary -- 63 N Serpentine Ave.
  • Kernersville
    • Village Family Chiropractic -- 717 Graves St.
  • Mayodan
    • Basecamp -- 101 E. Main
  • Mount Ulla
    • Mountain Mule Packer Ranch -- call 910-885-1402
  • Wilmington
    • MegaCorp Logistics -- 1011 Ashes Dr.

Tennessee

  • Elizabethton
    • Elizabethton Parks and Rec Center - 300 West Mill St.
    • Elizabethton High School (taking donations online and distributing free, packaged meals to students) -- 907 Jason Witten Way
  • Johnson City
    • Boones Creek Church- Student Ministry -- 2684 Boones Creek Rd.
  • Jonesborough
    • Jonesborough Washington Co. Public Library -- 200 Sabin Dr.

South Carolina

  • Union -- 220 N. Duncan Bypass, Union, SC, 29379

Virginia

  • Abingdon
    • Southwest Virginia Association of Realtors -- 128 Reedy Creek Rd.
  • Big Stone Gap
    • Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards -- 113 E 4th St S
  • Blacksburg Area
    • Groundworks Garden and Hydroponic Supply Co. -- 1590 Roanoke St, Christiansburg, VA (11-7 Monday-Saturday and 10-2 Sunday)
    • 1711 North Main St. Blacksburg  **Lower Level** (Parking at bottom of driveway (not Dance Studio in upper level). Drop off anytime in the glass lower-level vestibule; large items accepted @ warehouse entrance.) 
  • Damascus
    • Plaza across from Food City -- 744 N. Beaver Dam Ave. NO LONGER ACCEPTING DONATIONS
  • Floyd
    • Floyd’s Lichen or Knot Plant Company -- 105 East Main Street
  • Galax
    • God's storehouse and Soup Kitchen -- 227 S Main St.
  • Marion
    • Smyth County donation center -- 102 East Main Street, Marion, VA 24354
  • Natural Bridge Station
    • MidMountain -- 338 Arnolds Valley Road (through Oct 11)
  • Richmond
    • Helen’s Restaurant (backyard) -- 2527 W. Main Street
  • Roanoke
    • Common Clay Pottery -- 1111 Shenandoah Avenue NW
    • Cardinal Bicycle (Grandin) -- 1312 Winborne St. SW
    • Cardinal Bicycle (Orange Ave) -- 2901 Orange Ave NE
  • Salem
    • Parkway Brewing Company -- 739 Kessler Mill Rd (NEW items only; accepting donations through Oct. 11)
  • Vinton
    • Twin Creeks Brewing, 111 S. Pollard St. (accepting non-perishable food and water)

Flood relief supplies to donate

Current Priorities

  • Generators (solar or gas-powered)
  • Propane and kerosene heaters
    • hose attachments, battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors, fuel
  • Camp stoves and fuel

Essentials

*** Check with the donation centers before purchasing these any of these supplies - many are overstocked (such as water) and may add to a storage issue.

  • Water 
  • Non-perishable food
  • Instant/powdered milk
  • Instant coffee
  • Hot chocolate
  • Can openers
  • Baby formula
  • Diapers (including pullups)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Compostable body wipes
  • Toilet paper
  • Batteries (C and D especially)
  • Flashlights
  • Lamp oil
  • Lanterns
  • Candles
  • Charged power bricks and power cords
  • Ice packs
  • Butane for camp stoves
  • 20 lb propane tanks for grills/smokers
  • Camp cooktops
  • Handheld radios
  • Insulin needles
  • Blood sugar monitors

Personal items

  • Laundry soap
  • Pre-made first aid kits, including chewable Benadryl
  • Children’s medicine
  • Menstrual care items
  • Adult diapers
  • Dry shampoo
  • Toiletries
  • New bedding
  • New bath towels
  • Brand new undergarments
  • New blankets (still in packaging)

Cleanup items

  • Heavy duty trash bags
  • Work Gloves
  • Shovels
  • Rakes
  • 5 gallon buckets
  • Pump sprayers
  • Crowbars/pry bars
  • Hammers
  • Wheelbarrows
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Pump sprayers
  • Paper towels
  • Kitchen dishwashing gloves or nitrile gloves
  • Utility knives
  • Box fans
  • Bleach
  • Disinfectant
  • N95/KN95 face masks
  • Tarps
  • Scrub brushes
  • Duct tape
  • Chainsaw oil and two-stroke gas mix
  • PPE: nitrile gloves, goggles or safety glasses
  • Tyvek suits or coveralls (all sizes)
  • Rubber boots (all sizes)

 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers will be needed for months across the region. Many crews are organizing locally. Here are operations that are signing up volunteers for future work when it is safe to travel. We will add more as they become available.

North Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

  • Damascus -- If you would like to assist residents in cleaning up their property and homes, please sign up at the Volunteer & Donations Coordination Center, 744 N Beaver Dam Ave, Damascus, VA. They are open 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri.
  • Giles County -- **New volunteers are no longer being accepted
  • Pulaski County -- Call 540-994-2574 with your contact information and how you are willing to assist.
  • Radford -- Volunteers may be needed after damage assessments are completed. People interested in helping can contact Melissa Skelton at melissa.skelton@radfordva.gov. She will be in touch with needs as projects become available.

WELL WATER RESOURCES

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia residents who rely on well water should take immediate steps to ensure the safety of their water supply. Flooding can lead to private wells being contaminated by bacteria, chemicals and other pollutants. Drinking contaminated water poses serious health risks; therefore, it is critical to ensure your well water is safe.

To ensure well water safety, it is important to have your well tested as soon as possible, especially if it was submerged during the flooding or if your water smells, looks, or tastes unusual. Testing will determine if your well has been compromised by pollutants and will guide you in any necessary disinfection or treatment steps. 

General information:

Below are some resources available in your area to assist with well-water testing.

North Carolina

Tennessee 

Virginia

By acting now and ensuring your water is safe, you can help protect your household and community from the potential hazards of post-storm contamination.