As a result of Hurricane Helene, the death toll has reached over 230 storm-related deaths have been reported across six states, with an unknown number of people still reported to be missing. Hundreds of roads remain closed creating barriers to delivering needed supplies and over 1 million homes and businesses remain without power. Tens of thousands of residents in western North Carolina remain without running water.
How to support those affected by Hurricane Helene:
Foundations:
Community Foundation of Western North Carolina: Contributions will support the long-term recovery efforts related to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. The Emergency and Disaster Response Fund is supporting frontline nonprofits addressing relief efforts in 18 Western North Caroline counties and the Qualla Boundary.
North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund: The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is now accepting contributions for hurricane damage. Contributions help with the unmet needs of hurricane victims.
One SC Fund: The Central Carolina Fund is directing donations to local nonprofits providing disaster relief and recovery.
Sewa International: Sewa International teams in the Southeast US are working to clear roads and provide food, water, and aid to mountain towns and villages.
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County: Providing financial support for residents’ immediate and long-term needs.
United Way of Big Bend: activated the Disaster Recovery Fund to support the recovery efforts and needs of neighbors.
Nonprofit Agencies:
The following are some of the nonprofit agencies that are on the ground, providing immediate assistance to those who have been affected by the hurricane.
Airlink: providing transportation of relief workers and humanitarian aid cargo to the disaster-stricken area.
All Hands and Hearts: Swiftly mobilizing several teams across Florida to respond to the severe impacts of Hurricane Helene. Field assessments are in progress, and crews are preparing to begin mucking and gutting homes heavily damaged by floodwaters. Relief efforts are already underway in Fort Myers, while another team is in route to Tallahassee, with plans to extend their work into Madison County.
American Red Cross: Providing food, shelter, supplies, and emotional support to victims of the multi-state crisis. Deploying hundreds of workers and volunteers in Florida and has opened shelters for evacuees.
Americares: Responding to urgent medical needs in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Baptists on a Mission: Assembling teams to serve those affected in North Carolina as conditions allow. Actively accepting donations and seeking additional volunteers.
City Serve International: Mobilized in North and South Carolina to provide hot meals, water, clothing, medical supplies, diapers, and other emergency supplies.
Direct Relief: Assessing the needs of impacted areas and providing resources such as emergency medical supplies, hygiene kits, and transportation support.
Feeding the Carolinas: The member Food Banks of Feeding the Carolinas are hard at work assessing the impact at their local communities and offering food assistance.
Information Technology Disaster Resource Center: Following Hurricane Helene’s landfall, ITDRC quickly mobilized to provide critical communications support across the southeastern U.S, with a focus on areas heavily impacted by extreme storm surges, flooding, and infrastructure damage.
International Medical Corps: Working with Florida’s Department of Health to support the response. They are assessing critical needs as the storm passes and are partnering with state and community clinic partners throughout the Southeast to support response and recovery efforts.
Mercy Chefs: Providing chef-prepared, nutritious meals and clean water for victims, volunteers, and first responders in natural disasters and emergencies
Operation Blessing: Bringing relief in Georgia and deploying staff to North Carolina, where unprecedented flooding has destroyed infrastructure and left thousands vulnerable without electricity, adequate safe drinking water, and access to food.
Project Camp: Working with community partners to provide trauma-informed pop-up camp programming for kids to process through play in North Carolina.
Salvation Army: Provides emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and long-term recovery services to survivors and rescue workers.
Samaritan’s Purse: Responding in five locations after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the southeast.
Save the Children: Activated the Children’s Emergency Fund to provide hygiene kits, diapers, baby wipes, and classroom cleaning kits to schools and childcare centers.
SBP Long-term Home Rebuilding: Rallied a multi-state disaster response to support affected areas to shrink the time between disaster and recovery by rebuilding homes. Assessments are underway.
Send Relief: Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) teams have been deployed to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene to assess needs, set up feeding sites, and provide debris removal.
Team Rubicon: Veteran-led on the ground clearing routes and debris from roads for communities.
World Central Kitchen: Establishing several locations across the affected states to provide hot meals and water to persons affected.
