Hurricane Helene Relief for Southern and Central 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

  • No shelters open in Kentucky

North Carolina

  • ASHEVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREA
    • A-B Technical College - 340 Victoria Ave., Asheville, N.C.
    • A-B Tech Conference Center - 10 Genevieve Circle & 16 Fernihurst Dr., Asheville, NC
    • 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.
    • East Henderson High School - 150 Eagle Pride Dr., East Flat Rock, 28728
  • HIGH COUNTRY area
    • Ashe County High School - 184 Campus Dr., West Jefferson, NC 28694
    • Avery County Rock Gym - 185 Shady St., Newland, NC 28657
    • 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
    • Mitchell County High School - 426 Ledger School Rd., Bakersville, NC 28705
  • 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

  • Carter County
    • First Baptist Church Roan Mountain - 8498 US 19 East, Roan Mountain, TN 37687 (as of 10/10)

Virginia

  • All Virginia shelters reported as closed

DONATION DROPOFF CENTERS

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

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)

 

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

  • 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. 

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