Hurricane Helene Relief for Southern and Central Appalachia

As a new year begins, recovery from Hurricane Helene continues. Many families are contending with harsh winter conditions in inadequate housing, and roads and bridges are still being rebuilt. Existing damage from Helene, like mudslides and changed drainage patterns, is worsening the impacts of new storms that threaten to undermine fragile, hard-won progress. On top of the economic hardships of lost homes, businesses and infrastructure, even businesses that weren’t directly harmed by the storm have suffered from the largely lost fall tourism season that many depend on. 

Our communities and supporters across the country have rallied together to support one another in truly incredible, ongoing ways. And finally, Congress passed increased disaster aid funding just before the holidays. But Appalachian communities affected by Helene still need help.

Over a period of three days in late September, 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. At least 241 people died. Reports indicate that some areas received up to 30 inches of rain.

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

Area-specific resources

 

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. We will add more as they become available.

North Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

  • Trails to Recovery (Damascus) - Please DO NOT show up in Damascus or the surrounding area expecting a walk-up volunteer project without being in contact with a project lead or property owner beforehand. Follow along on the Trails to Recovery Facebook page. More information here. 
  • Pulaski County -- Call 540-994-2574 with your contact information and how you are willing to assist.

WAYS TO GIVE

REGIONAL / NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

STATE & LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

North Carolina (general)

Asheville, North Carolina

The High Country of North Carolina

More WNC Communities

Kentucky

Tennessee

South Carolina

Virginia

SHELTERS

North Carolina

  • All Red Cross shelters are closed; we are checking for the latest on any other shelters available. Some counties are offering warming shelters during extreme cold.

 

  • HIGH COUNTRY AREA
    • Best Western Banner Elk - 1615 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604 

FOOD AND RESOURCE CENTERS

Contact local food and resource centers for updated hours and items available.

North Carolina

  • Asheville and surrounding area
    • Crossroads Food Pantry - FBC, 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801, 828-252-4781 (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
      • Note: We are working to gather and utilize essential resources including food pantry items, fresh produce, clothes, and essentials. All of these resources will be free and open to our congregation and the community. Available items will be accessible this week from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. from the Charlotte Street entrance on Thursdays. All are welcome to come and get what they need. As we prepare to welcome our neighbors, we also welcome new volunteers of all ages to serve at the Free Market both in assisting guests, unpacking food items, sorting clothing, and picking up food items on Saturday from Trader Joes. Upcoming dates: Jan. 16, 23, 30
    • ABCCM - Crisis Ministry, 1543 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, 828-398-6805
      • Note: Our Downtown lunch site has transitioned to Our Daily Bread at Sonrise, 1543 Patton Ave. To-Go meals are served from 11:30 am – 1 pm Monday – Friday. Food pantry open 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday. 
    • The Salvation Army - Asheville, 750 Haywood road, Asheville, NC 28806, 828-253-4723 (Tuesday-Thursday from 9am to 2:30pm.)
      • Note: We currently have Water, sanitary napkins, hygiene bags, diapers, dog/cat food, non-perishable food items, (no frozen products at this time.) toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning products. (will be distributed with the food pantry/social services encounter as clients have the need.) We also have clothing & shoes (which will be located outside to front door)  coats (adult and children's), fleece blankets, sheets, pillow cases, sleeping bags, and miscellaneous cleaning products (which are located inside and will be distributed with the food pantry/social services encounter as clients have the need.)
    • Jewish Family Services Food Pantry, 53 South French Broad Avenue, Suite 100, Asheville, NC 28801, 828-253-2900 (Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
      • Note: Western Carolina Rescue Ministries is the shelter located on the west end of the downtown area before merging onto I240E or I26W. Food Box services are available at this location.
    • Loving Food Resources, 123 Kenilworth Road, Asheville, NC 28813, 828-255-9282 (Saturday from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Tuesday -Friday by appointment)
    • Family To Family - Beverly Hills Baptist, 777 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805, 828-298-1093 (Thursday, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, 2nd, 4th Week of the Month)
    • Note: We provide food boxes and other important non-perishable items to an average of 40 East Asheville families each month.
  • High Country
    • Foscoe Home Team, 233 Park Road, Banner Elk at the Foscoe Grandfather Community Center, Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
      • Note: No-Cost Store with food, clothing, bedding and other supplies. Firewood, propane, animal feed and other essentials are available some days; follow or reach out on Facebook for details. 
    • Lansing Recovery, 9710 NC-194, Lansing, NC 28643 at the Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts, Open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. for supply distribution
  • Western region
    • The Lord's Closet - Ochre Hill Baptist Church, 14 Norman Drive, Sylva, NC 28779, 828-507-2842 (3rd Wed of the Month, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM; Upcoming: 12/18, 2/19, and 3/19)
      • Note: Clients may come into the back of the church at the Fellowship Hall, pack a food box, receive a hot meal, and shop for clothing in our Clothes Closet (All free of charge). We only require a name and number of family members. We are also offering an Emergency Food Box option. You can contact the church anytime through our Facebook page if in need of a food box.
    • The Community Table, 23 Central Street, Sylva, NC 28779, 828-586-6782
      • Note: Meals are served on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 4:00pm-5:30pm. Everyone is welcome and there is never a fee. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, so come enjoy a nutritious home-cooked meal. Our food pantry provides groceries for home use (Jackson County, NC residents only, every 2 weeks) on the same days between 11:00am-5:30pm
    • Cornbread & Roses, 1294 Savannah Drive, Sylva, NC 28789, 828-283-0235
      • Note: Food pantry hours are: Sunday, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM; Wednesday, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Thursday, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
    • Cullowhee Valley Baptist Church, 36 Tilley Creek Road, Cullowhee, NC 28723, 828-399-9244
      • Note: Open 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM on the 1st, 3rd Mon of the Month, Upcoming: 2/3, and 2/17. We are closed on Holidays.
    • Maggie Valley UMC, 4192 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC 28751, 828-926-8036 (Monday and Wednesday 10am to noon Food Pantry open)

Tennessee

  • Eastern region
    • Second Harvest Food Bank Food Pantry Map
      • Note: Explore the map below to locate a pantry near you. To see a full list of pantries by county, please click on the links below. If you are unable to find help near you, or find yourself in need of immediate assistance, contact us via phone at (865) 521-0000 or email at info@secondharvestetn.org.

DONATION DROPOFF CENTERS

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.

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.)

  • Research Triangle Area
    • Back Alley Bikes -- 100 Boyd St., Carrboro, NC 27510 (Open Tues. thru Sat. 11 a.m.- 6 p.m., closed Thanksgiving week)
    • Democracy Green Drop-Off Site & Distribution Center #1 – Anchorlight 1415 S. Bloodworth St., Raleigh, NC Drop off Wed-Fri 2-6:30 p.m., Sat. 12-5 p.m. Contact LA Whittington at 910-813-3757 with any questions
    • Democracy Green Drop-Off Site & Distribution Center #3 -- NC Diaper Bank 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd. Suite 1, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Distribution to airdrop sites
    • The Scrap Exchange -- 2050 Chapel Hill Rd., Durham (10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
  • Asheville
    • 1298 Patton Avenue, West Asheville *prioritizing cold-weather items   
    • Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, 1845 Brevard Rd, Arden, NC 28704 (call 828-259-5300 for more information)
    • Harrah's Cherokee Center — 87 Haywood Street (9 a.m.-5 p.m., seven days a week) *prioritizing cold-weather items 
  • Arden
    • 6 Commerce Way, Arden *not taking cold-weather items
  • Black Mountain
  • Burnsville
    • Bald Creek Elementary — 100 Bald Creek School Rd, Burnsville
    • West Yancey Fire Department — 6557 US-19, Burnsville
  • Charlotte
    • SEAC Village -- 500 Bradford Dr. (10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon-Fri)
    • Carolina Migrant Center -- 3400 Shamrock Dr. (8 a.m. - 5 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.
  • Foscoe
    • Foscoe Home Team/Grandfather Mountain Community Center — 233 Park Road, Banner Elk (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, see website for updated needs)
  • Greensboro
    • Democracy Green Drop-Off Site & Distribution Center #2 – Guilford College - Contact Ashley Raper at (336) 430-0704 to schedule a drop-off time
  • Hot Springs
    • Hot Springs Elementary -- 63 N Serpentine Ave.
  • Mayodan
    • Basecamp -- 101 E. Main
  • Swannanoa

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.

Tennessee

  • Carter County
    • TLC Community Center: 145 Judge Don Lewis Boulevard, Elizabethton, Tenn.
  • Jonesborough
  • Trade
    • Stateline Resource Station — 11878 US-421, Trade. Accepting specific donations 11 a.m.- 4 p.m Mondays and Fridays

South Carolina

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

Virginia

  • 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.) 
  • Floyd
    • Floyd’s Lichen or Knot Plant Company -- 105 East Main Street
  • Roanoke
    • Common Clay Pottery -- 1111 Shenandoah Avenue NW
  • Tazewell
    • The Labor of Love Mission – 1379 Tazewell Ave. North Tazewell VA  2463 (276) 970-5323 No clothing or furniture

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 and may add to a storage issue.

  • 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

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

  • 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)

 

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. 

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.

General information:

Below are some resources available in your area to assist with well-water testing.  If your municipality isn’t listed, reach out to your local government to see if assistance is available.

North Carolina

South Carolina 

Tennessee 

Virginia