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
Regional/National
- Appalachian Hurricane Helene Relief Sheet (Public Google Doc)
- FEMA: Apply for assistance
- FEMA: Assistance for damaged privately-owned roads, bridges and driveways
- American Flood Coalition: Four Steps for Setting Up a Successful Long Term Recovery
- Text only updates from Blue Ridge Public Radio (for areas where poor service makes website difficult to load)
- Helene Response & Rebuild WNC Resource List
- Map of drop-off centers and shelters- this site is being updated as more information is compiled
- Red Cross: to report people affected by Helene, please call 1-800 RED CROSS, select ‘Disaster’ and provide as much information as possible to assist in helping.
- BetterHelp Online Therapy / App -- use voucher code: hurricane-helene-support to sign up.
- Shields & Stripes - Provides mental health services for first responders and veterans who have suffered service-related trauma.
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
- Crisis Cleanup Assistance
Virginia: 1-844-965-1386
North Carolina: 1-844-965-1386 - NC: North Carolina Emergency Management
- North Carolina Cooperative Extension Agriculture Weather Emergency Hotline: 1-866-645-9403
- NC: WNC Temporary Housing Facebook Group
- NC: WNC Strong: Business Recovery Resources: Find what you need to navigate your small business through this unprecedented time (En Español)
- NC: Map of drop off centers and road closures in WNC
- NC: List of Emergency Operating Pharmacies in impacted NC Counties
- NC: High Country Hurricane Helene Resources
- NC: Resources for Southern WNC (Buncombe, Madison, Henderson, Polk, Transylvania counties, etc)
- NC: Oxygen Assistance in McDowell County. Those that are homebound or without power and need help with oxygen cylinders or charging oxygen concentrators can call the Helene Hotline at (828) 652-3241 for support.
- TN: University of Tennessee Cooperative Extension
- TN: Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
- TN: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation: to report a missing person in the areas affected by flooding in Eastern Tennessee 1-800-824-3463
- TN: SNAP Assistance for Tennessee Disaster Areas
- TN: Mobile Clinic
- VA: Virginia Department of Health: Free residential private well test kits. Available to residents in the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe, and the City of Radford.
REGIONAL / NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- Appalachia Funders Network
- Southeast Climate and Energy Network - is collecting grassroots donations for flood relief. Donations should be tagged with "Helene."
- Mutual Aid Disaster Relief is a grassroots disaster relief network based on the principles of solidarity, mutual aid and autonomous direct action.
- Holler to Holler
- Hurricane Helene Airlift Relief
- Operation Air Drop
- American Red Cross Hurricane Helene Relief
- Lutheran Disaster Response: Hurricane Helene (religious organization)
- Salvation Army Hurricane Helene Relief (religious organization)
- Samaritan’s Purse International Relief (religious organization)
- Democracy Green
- Day One Relief
- Appalachia Service Project
- Rural Organizing and Resilience
- Episcopal Relief and Development (religious organization)
- Build for Good Foundation (WNC/TN/SWVA)
- Rebuild the Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies and its Southern Seed Legacy seed bank
STATE & LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Kentucky
North Carolina (general)
- North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund
- Mountain Projects
- WNC Regional Livestock Center - Working to help farmers and livestock affected by flooding
- Mountain Mules Packer Ranch - Bringing in supplies to WNC by mule. To donate, see Venmo on their Facebook
- Colaborativa La Milpa
- Democracy Green
- Hood Huggers
- Manna FoodBank (16 WNC counties)
- Foothills Food Hub (McDowell County)
- McDowell Cares (McDowell County)
- Mitchell County Development Foundation (Mitchell County)
Asheville, North Carolina
- Beloved Asheville
- Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry
- Homeward Bound
- River Arts District (Asheville) Relief
The High Country of North Carolina
- Hospitality House
- Quiet Givers (Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties)
- Health & Hunger Coalition (Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties)
- F.A.R.M. Cafe
- Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
- Immigrant Justice Coalition
Kentucky
- No shelters open in Kentucky
North Carolina
- ASHEVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREA
- A-B Technical College - 340 Victoria Ave., Asheville, N.C.
- Novant Health/Gold’s Gym - 1815 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC
- WNC Ag Center - 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC (at or near capacity as of 10/13)
- Transylvania Parks and Rec - 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC
- Henderson County Athletics and Activities Center - 708 South Grove St., Hendersonville, N.C.
- HIGH COUNTRY area
- Best Western Banner Elk - 1615 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604 (full as of 10/13)
- Caldwell County - 3305 Kellina Lane, Hudson, NC, 28638
- BURNSVILLE / SPRUCE PINE area
- Blue Ridge Elementary - 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
- Harris Middle School-Spruce Pine - 121 Harris Street, Spruce Pine, NC 28777
- 1-40 CORRIDOR
- Kellina Lane Shelter, 3305 Kellina Lane, Hudson, NC 28638
- McDowell County Senior Center - 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC
- 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
- Mauldin Methodist Church - 100 E Butler Rd, Mauldin, SC 29662
Tennessee
- All Tennessee shelters reported as closed
Virginia
- All Virginia shelters reported as closed
Access to some areas in the region is being restored, but road travel in many areas 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.)
- 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 – Anchorlight 1415 S. Bloodworth St., Raleigh, NC *Contact LA Whittington at 910-813-3757 to coordinate drops
- 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
- Rumah -- 415 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603 Drop off during events, see calendar for more information
- Art Post -- 718 Iredell St., Durham (Accepting donations starting Monday Sept. 30 Monday-Saturday 12-6)
- The Scrap Exchange -- 2050 Chapel Hill Rd., Durham (10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
- 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.
- Greensboro
- Democracy Green Drop-Off Site & Distribution Center #2 – Guilford College Alumni Gym, 5510 George Fox
- Hickory
- Democracy Green site: 1108 18th St NE #807
- Hot Springs
- Hot Springs Elementary -- 63 N Serpentine Ave.
- Kernersville
- Village Family Chiropractic -- 717 Graves St. (high priority items are new handheld radio with batteries; batteries; cold gear including new jackets, toboggan, gloves, 40 degree or lower rated sleeping bags; tents; electrolyte powders; diapers size 6+; baby wipes; formula; Life Straws.)
- Mayodan
- Basecamp -- 101 E. Main
- Mount Ulla
- Mountain Mule Packer Ranch -- call 910-885-1402
Tennessee
- Carter County
- TLC Community Center: 145 Judge Don Lewis Boulevard, Elizabethton, Tenn.
- First Baptist Church of Roan Mountain, 8498 Highway 19E, Roan Mountain, Tenn.
- Little Milligan Elementary School, 4226 Highway 321, Butler, Tenn.
- Johnson City
- Boones Creek Church- Student Ministry -- 2684 Boones Creek Rd.
- Jonesborough
- Jonesborough Area Ministerial Association Food Pantry: 287-299 Kent Rd, Jonesborough
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.)
- Floyd
- Floyd’s Lichen or Knot Plant Company -- 105 East Main Street
- Marion
- Smyth County donation center -- 102 East Main Street, Marion, VA 24354
- Roanoke
- Common Clay Pottery -- 1111 Shenandoah Avenue NW
- Cardinal Bicycle (Grandin) -- 1312 Winborne St. SW
- Cardinal Bicycle (Orange Ave) -- 2901 Orange Ave NE
- Tazewell
- The Labor of Love Mission – 1379 Tazewell Ave. North Tazewell VA 2463 (276) 970-5323 NO CLOTHING
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)
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
- Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps (WNC)
- Baptists on Mission -Disaster Response (WNC, various sites)
- Build for Good foundation
- Samaritan’s Purse - Buncombe County (NC)
- Samaritan's Purse - Watauga County (NC)
- Hillsborough, NC: Volunteers to load, unload and organize supplies and support with basic inventory tasks. Plus, drivers needed to transport between drop locations and hubs across the Triangle! Sign up here.
- World Central Kitchen (Banner Elk, NC)
- Helene Rebuild Collaborative (Asheville, NC)
- Hearts With Hands (Swannanoa, NC)
- Hands On Asheville (Asheville, NC)
- Lansing Recovery (Lansing, NC)
- Stateline Resource Station (Zionville, NC/Trade, TN)
- MANNA Food Bank (Asheville, NC)
- Mitchell Volunteer Reception Center: Call 828-660-0818 or email VolunteerMitchell@gmail.com
- Henderson County, NC
Tennessee
- Tennessee Emergency Management Agency: Northeast Tennessee
- Rise Erwin (Unicoi County, TN)
- Stateline Resource Station (Zionville, NC/Trade, TN)
- Volunteer United (Greene and Carter counties, TN)
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. Financial donations welcome as well, but supply donations no longer being accepted
- 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 -- **No longer accepting volunteers
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:
- Video: How to start using your well after a hurricane
- How to disinfect your private well
- What to do after a flood
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
- AppHealthCare well resources for Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties
- Buncombe County well water test kits
- Mobile EPA lab in Buncombe County (expanding to more counties soon)
- North Carolina Division of Public Health well water testing
- Northeastern University Well Water Resources
- North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality private well resources
- Wilkes County well and spring water testing
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia