Catastrophic impacts from Hurricane Helene devastate Appalachia

Over a period of three days, Southern and Central Appalachia experienced unprecedented rainfall from a combination of an 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 information on places that are accepting donations. If you would like to contribute information, please email us at: floodresources@appvoices.org

We are in the process of updating this information, some of which may have changed.

Resources

Missing persons

  • National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: to report a missing child during a disaster 1-800-843-5678
  • 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

Ways to give

Verified organizations accepting online donations for relief:

Kentucky

North Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

South Carolina

Shelters:

Tennessee

  • Johnson County: First Christian Church, 401 W Main St., Mountain City, TN
  • Carter County:
    Cloudland Elementary School: 8540 Highway 19 E, Roan Mountain, TN
    Elizabethton High School: 907 Jason Witten Way, Elizabethton, TN
    Happy Valley High School: 121 Warpath Lane, Elizabethton, TN
    Temporary shelter; charging and showers
  • Greene County:
    Ashby United Methodist Church: 201 S Main St.,Greeneville, TN
    McDonald Mission Center: 75 Ailshie Lane, Mohawk, TN
  • Washington County
    Cherry Grove Baptist: 104 Cherry Grove Rd., Jonesborough, TN
    University Parkway Baptist Church: 219 University Pkwy, Johnson City, TN
  • Unicoi County: Clinchfield Senior Adult Center; 220 Union St., Erwin, TN
  • Sullivan County: Bristol Motor Speedway, Medallion Campground, 151 Speedway Blvd.
    Bristol, TN
  • Clinchfield Senior Adult Center (hot showers and meals at set times): 220 Union St., Erwin, TN

Virginia

  • Carnes Gym: 505 E 5th St. Big Stone Gap, VA
  • Coeburn Middle School: 518 Centre Ave. NE, Coeburn, VA
  • Christ Episcopal Church: 106 Clinton Ave., Big Stone Gap, VA (Charging Stations for those without power and free coffee/refreshments)
  • Galax Recreational Center: 601 S. Main St., Galax VA
  • Highlands Fellowship Church: Building A: 134 Commerce St., Bristol, VA
  • Tazewell County Fairgrounds (Fuller Perry Bldg): 515 Fairgrounds Road, Tazewell, VA

North Carolina

  • A-B Technical Community College: 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
  • Ashe County High School: 184 Campus Dr., West Jefferson, NC28694
  • Avery County Rock Gym: 185 Shady St., Newland, NC 28657
  • Blue Ridge Elementary: 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
  • Cane River Middle School: 1128 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
  • Edneyville Elementary School: 2875 Pace Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
  • First Baptist Church of Old Fort : 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC
  • First Baptist Church Swannanoa (hot food, distributing supplies, medical clinic, refrigerated insulin available) 503 Park St., Swannanoa, NC
  • Glenwood Baptist Church:155 Glenwood Baptist Church Rd., Marion, NC
  • Gold’s Gym: 801 Fairview; Asheville, NC 28806
  • Haywood County Armory: 258 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781
  • Harris Middle School-Spruce Pine: 121 Harris St., Spruce Pine, NC 28777
  • Holmes Convocation Center: 111 River St., Boone, NC 28608
  • Henderson County Athletics and Activity Center: 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
  • JF Hurley Family YMCA: 828 Jake Alexander Blvd.,Salisbury, NC 28023
  • Mitchell County High School: 426 Ledger School Rd., Bakersville, NC 28705
  • Mountain Heritage High School: 333 Mountain Heritage High School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
  • Oak Hill Methodist Church: 2239 NC 181, Morganton, NC
  • Polk County High School: 1681 NC 108 Highway East, Columbus, NC
  • Rutherfordton/Spindale Central High School: 641 U.S. 221 Hwy N, Rutherfordton, NC 28139
  • Transylvania Parks and Rec: 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 287
  • West Wilkes Middle School: 1677 N. NC-16, Wilkesboro, NC 2869
  • YMCA of Western North Carolina: 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 2875

Kentucky

  • Breathitt County: Breathitt County Courthouse
  • Knott County: Knott County Sportsplex
  • Letcher County: Letcher County High School Pine Mountain Grill
  • Pike County: Valley Elementary School East Kentucky Dream Center
  • Leslie County: W.B. Muncy Elementary
  • Wolfe County:Wolfe County Middle School

Donation drop-off 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. 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

  • Basecamp: 101 E. Main St., Mayodan, NC
  • Concord Walmart Parking Lot: 5825 Thunder Rd NW, Concord, NC 28027 Starting Sunday, Sept. 29, for Operation Airlift
  • Cox Mill High School: 1355 Cox Mill Rd. Concord, NC 28027
  • Back Alley Bikes: 100 Boyd St. Carrboro, NC 27510 Open Tues. thru Sat. 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
  • Rumah: 415 Hillborough St. Raleigh, N.C. 27603 Drop off during events, see calendar for more information
  • Art Post: 718 Iredell St. Durham, N.C. 27705 Accepting donations starting Monday Sept. 30 Monday-Saturday 12-6
  • The Scrap Exchange: 2050 Chapel Hill Rd. Durham, N.C. 27707 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Village Family Chiropractic: 717 Graves St. Kernersville, N.C.
  • Mountain Mule Packer Ranch:910-885-1402
    Mount Ulla, NC 28125
  • Democracy Green Drop-Off Site & Distribution Center #1: NC Diaper Bank, 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd. Suite 1, Hillsborough, NC 27278, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Democracy Green Drop-Off Site #2: The SwatchWorks, Inc 453 Oakhurst Rd, Asheboro, NC 27205 Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Eastern North Carolina:
    • Cape Fear Volunteer Center (accepting clean up kits, hygiene kits, & food). Accepting donations all week (the week of October 1st-4th). More information on donation needs.
    • 421 South College Rd., Wilmington, N.C.
    • 4618 Market St., Wilmington, N.C.
    • 703 Bellfork Rd., Jacksonville, N.C.
  • MegaCorp Logistics: 1011 Ashes Dr., Wilmington, N.C.
  • Hot Springs Elementary: 63 N Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC
  • Charlotte, N.C.: Organizations are in need of culturally appropriate food items to send to Western North Carolina. Including, rice (25lb bags), noodles (Mama, Shin Ramen), leafy greens (bok choy, collards, mustard greens, etc.) and sauces (fish sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, etc.).
    • SEAC Village: 500 Bradford Dr., Charlotte, NC 28208; Mon-Fri: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
    • Carolina Migrant Center: 3400 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215; Mon-Fri: 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
    • Central Law Group: 6769 Albemarle Rd. STE B, Charlotte, NC 28212; Mon-Fri: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
    • Patagonia Charlotte: 101 W. Worthington Ave. Charlotte, NC 28203; Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday: 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
    • Common Market Oakwold: 4420-A Monroe Rd., Charlotte, NC 25205; Mon-Sun: 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.
    • Curio, Craft & Conjure: 3204 N Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205; Tues-Sat: 12- 6 p.m.,Sunday: 12 p.m.-5 p.m.

Virginia

  • Plaza across from Food City: 744 N. Beaver Dam Ave., Damascus, Va 24236
  • Southwest Virginia Association of Realtors:
 128 Reedy Creek Rd., Abingdon, Va.
  • Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards: 113 E 4th St S, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
  • 1 Cloverleaf Sq. Suite D1: Big Stone Gap, Va. 24219
 Collecting supplies for Damascus
9/30-10/5, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Newport Community Center: 434 BlueGrass Trail, Newport, VA 24218 Tuesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Smyth County donation center: 102 East Main St, Marion, VA 24354
  • Charlottesville: Sotheby’s International Realty: 417 Park St., Charlottesville, Va.: Sunday 10/6 11-1pm; Monday 10/7 4:30-6:30pm; Wednesday 10/9 4:30-6:30pm
  • Blacksburg area:
    • 1590 Roanoke St., Christiansburg, Va. Hours: 11-7 Monday-Saturday and 10-2 Sunday
    • 1711 North Main St., Blacksburg, Va.  **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’s Lichen or Knot Plant Company: 105 East Main St., Floyd, VA 24091
  • Galax: God’s storehouse and Soup Kitchen: 227 S Main St, Galax, VA
  • Roanoke Area:
    • Common Clay Pottery
      1111 Shenandoah Avenue NW
      Roanoke, VA 24017
    • Cardinal Bicycle (Grandin)
      1312 Winborne St. SW
      Roanoke, VA 24015
    • Cardinal Bicycle (Orange Ave)
      2901 Orange Ave NE
      Roanoke, VA 24012
  • Vinton: Twin Creeks Brewing, 111 S. Pollard St. , Vinton, VA, United States, VA (accepting non-perishable food and water)
  • Richmond area:
    • Helen’s Restaurant: 2527 W. Main St.,Richmond, VA 23220
  • MidMountain: (through Oct 11): 338 Arnolds Valley Road, Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579

Tennessee

  • Boones Creek Church- Student Ministry 2684 Boones Creek Rd. Johnson City, TN 37615
  • Elizabethton Parks and Rec Center 300 West Mill St. Elizabethton, TN 37643
  • Jonesborough Washington Co. Public Library 200 Sabin Dr. Jonesborough, TN 37659
  • Loudon County Sheriff’s Office: 12680 Highway 11 W. Suite 1, Lenoir City, TN, Wednesday, October 2nd -11am-7pm; Thursday, October 3rd – 9am-7pm; Friday, October 4th – 9am-7pm

South Carolina

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

Kentucky

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

Flood relief supplies to donate:

Essentials

  • Water
  • Non-perishable food
  • Instant/powdered milk
  • Instant coffee
  • Hot chocolate
  • Powdered sports drinks
  • Can openers
  • Baby formula
  • Diapers (adult, baby, and 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
  • Coolers

Clean up 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
  • 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)
  • N95/KN95 face masks
  • Respirators
  • Rubber boots (all sizes)

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)

Ways to Volunteer

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.