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, 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

  • 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

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

Virginia

  • Fort Chiswell High School: 1 Pioneer Trail, Max Meadows, VA
  • Marion Senior High School: 848 Stage St., Marion, VA
  • Brookside Baptist Church: 5523 Sugar Grove Highway, Sugar Grove, Va.
  • 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

  • WNC Agriculture Center: 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Asheville, N.C.
  • Appalachian State University Dining Hall: 480 Rivers St., Boone, N.C. Open to all, no university affiliation required, for food, power, internet access
  • Athletics and Activities Center: 708 South Grove St., Hendersonville, N.C.
  • Glenwood Baptist Church: 155 Glenwood Baptist Church Rd., Marion, N.C.
  • National Guard Armory: 235 Armory Dr., Clyde, N.C.
  • First Baptist Church Swannanoa: 503 Park St., Swannanoa, N.C.
  • Trinity Baptist Church: 216 Shelburn Rd., Asheville, N.C.
  • Oak Hill Methodist Church: 2239 NC 181, Morganton, N.C.
  • West Caldwell High School: 300 West Caldwell Dr., Lenoir, N.C.
  • Jackson County Department of Aging: 100 County Services Park ,Sylva, N.C.
  • Lincoln County Middle School: 2361 Startown Rd., Lincolnton, N.C.
  • Polk County High School: 1681 NC 108 Highway East, Columbus, N.C.
  • South Toe Elementary School: 139 South Toe School Rd., Burnsville, N.C.
  • West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department: 6557 US Highway 19, Burnsville, N.C.
  • Holmes Convocation Center: 111 Rivers St., Boone, N.C.
  • A-B Technical College: 340 Victoria Ave., Asheville, N.C.
  • Henderson County Recreation Center: 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, N.C.
  • Cashiers Recreation Center: 355 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, N.C.
  • Madison County Wellness Center: 5734 US 25-70 Hwy., Marshall, N.C.
  • First Baptist Church of Old Fort: 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, N.C.
  • McDowell County Senior Center : 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, N.C.
  • Rutherfordton/Spindale High School: 641 US 221 US Hwy N., Rutherfordton, N.C.
  • Swain Community College: 125 Brendle St., Bryson City, N.C.
  • Pisgah Forest Baptist Church: 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, N.C.
  • Blue Ridge Elementary: 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, N.C.
  • Madison County Wellness Center: 5734 US 25-70, Marshall, N.C.
  • Mountain Heritage High School: 333 Mountain Heritage High School Rd., Burnsville, N.C.
  • West Wilkes Middle School: 1677 N. NC-16, Wilkesboro, N.C.

Kentucky

  • Perry County: First Presbyterian Church – Red Cross shelter East Perry Elementary
  • Floyd County: Jenny Wiley State Resort Park Floyd County Community Center
  • 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.

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: 02 East Main St, Marion, VA 24354
  • 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.
  • Roanoke Area:
    • The Village Grill:
1802 Memorial Ave., SW,
Roanoke, VA 24015
    • Scratch Biscuit Company:
1820 Memorial Ave., SW,
Roanoke, VA 24015
(For both restaurants, ask staff where to leave donations)
    • St. Philip Lutheran Church:
8115 Williamson Rd., Roanoke, VA 24019
(Donations accepted between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
    • Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke: 2015 Grandin Rd., SW, Roanoke, VA 24015
      (Donations accepted: Wednesday, Oct. 2, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
      Friday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.) After hours donations box available
    • Parkway Brewing : 739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem, VA 24153 
    • Cardinal Bicycle (Grandin)
      1312 Winborne St. SW
      Roanoke, VA 24015
    • Cardinal Bicycle (Orange Ave)
      2901 Orange Ave NE
      Roanoke, VA 24012
    • Twisted Track Brewpub
      523 Shenandoah Ave. NW
      Roanoke, VA 24016
      (Donations accepted through Sunday, Oct. 6)
  • Richmond area:
    • Helen’s Restaurant: 2527 W. Main St.,Richmond, VA 23220
    • SoulShine Studios: 9200 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 111, Richmond, VA 23235

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
  • 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

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
  • N95/KN95 face masks
  • Tarps
  • Scrub brushes
  • Duct tape
  • Chainsaw oil and two-stroke gas mix

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.