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Help for Western North Carolina

Added 2024-10-03 21:00:59 +0000 UTC

Note: this post will be frequently updated and pinned for the time being.

As many of you know, Western North Carolina was hit severely by Hurricane Helene last week.

Three weeks ago, I was in Asheville and the surrounding area; last week some of those places were under water and some of them were completely destroyed. The devastation is unimaginable and so many lives have been lost.

I have friends who lost their houses, won’t have power or water for weeks or months, who had to be airlifted away from their homes because the roads have been washed away, and friends of friends who are still missing.

Here's an amazing video of the devastation and cleanup:

Here's how you can help

The state or regional chapters of such national organizations as American Red Cross, United Way, and Salvation Army are in full rescue mode. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also accepting donations for communities devastated by Helene.

Renowned chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen teams are on the ground after disasters, setting up kitchens to serve thousands of meals to victims and responders. You can support their efforts by donating on their website.

Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based nonprofit, started meal service with dinner Tuesday night in Asheville; the group is accepting donations and volunteers for its post-storm work in North Carolina and Florida.

Hearts with Hands, a North Carolina nonprofit founded after Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992, posted supplies it urgently needs, such as pull-tab canned goods, hygiene kits, and pet food. The first item on its priority list is “EVERYTHING.”

Asheville’s River Arts District is accepting donations for the artists on its website.

Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub has a great list of places you can drop off physical items in Charlotte, the Triad, and Triangle, but unfortunately, it’s an Instagram slideshow, so awkward to use.

To help beyond Asheville, the governor’s office recommends the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. Though you can’t earmark your contribution for a specific town or county, the fund said donations will help support “nonprofits working with disaster survivors.”

Asheville chef and restaurant owner William Dissen encourages people to get in touch with their senators and congressional representatives — no matter where they live — to send emergency relief.

“Tell them that they’re scared for their brothers and sisters in North Carolina and that they need to step up and send as much money to the region as they can as soon as possible,” Dissen said. “And get people here soon.”

Duke Athletics is partnering with Two Men and a Truck to collect relief supplies. Duke Athletics is accepting supplies at the ticket office in Scott Family Athletics Performance Center at 110 Whitford Drive during business hours from Monday to Friday through Oct. 11.

Items needed include non-perishable food, bottled water, contractor-size trash bags, blankets, first aid supplies, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby clothes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, paper towels, bleach, shovels, brooms, gloves, coolers, flashlights, batteries and fans.

Two Men and a Truck will also collect items directly at Tribull Plaza during Countdown to Craziness from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4; and on Morton Plaza for the Florida State football game on Friday, Oct. 18.

Anyone unable donate in person who would like to contribute items can order from this Duke Athletics relief drive link at Amazon. When checking out, select Duke Athletics Ticket Office Hurricane Relief as your shipping destination.

Visit NC Outdoor Adventures and their GoFundMe to support communities in Mitchell County.

Volunteering

Check out Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs) here: https://www.ncvoad.org/volunteer/, or you can sign up at the Survey Monkey linked here: https://www.nc.gov/working/volunteer-opportunities/volunteernc

Duke University’s Doing Good Employee Giving Campaign has activated an Emergency Relief option for this year’s campaign through December 31. All Doing Good funds go directly to the community causes that employees select for their gifts. Through a longstanding partnership with the United Way of the Triangle, emergency relief funds will help rebuild communities affected by the storm.

The State Medical Assistance Team responds to disasters across North Carolina and is in need of volunteer RNs, NAs, paramedics, RTs, APPs, physicians and non-clinical staff. If you are interested in volunteering, please discuss with your supervisor and complete the volunteer signup form.

The next deployment will depart on Saturday, October 5. Volunteers may be deployed to the state shelter in Shelby or to one of three Duke Lifepoint hospitals in the area. The usual deployment period is seven days, but volunteers will be accepted regardless of how long they are available. Volunteers will likely be in shared accommodations with limited showering facilities.

Duke Divinity School is partnering with the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church to coordinate volunteers for the relief effort. The school will also be collecting donations of needed items. More information is available here.

Legal Assistance

NC residents affected by the disaster will have legal assistance needs for up to a year, or more, post-event through the North Carolina State Bar Association.

In the first few weeks after a storm passes, the legal needs of those affected will concern initial FEMA and insurance claims, government benefits, school enrollment for displaced families, landlord/tenant and real property issues, document replacement, and income protection matters.

Two to six months out from the event, those affected by the hurricane will require assistance with FEMA/SBA appeals and recoupments, housing displacement, repair and contractor scams, and powers of attorney.

In the longer term (6+ months post-event), affected residents may need legal advice and assistance regarding foreclosure, insurance disputes, bankruptcy, and disaster relief tax applications.

Lawyers barred outside of NC can help under new NC Supreme Court order issued this week, by registering here

Additional organizations providing specialized assistance

All Hands and Hearts: This volunteer-driven organization collaborates with local communities to rebuild schools, homes, and infrastructure. They have established a fund specifically for Hurricane Helene.
Americares: Focused on medical aid, Americares helps communities recover from disasters by providing access to medicines and essential medical supplies. A donation page for Hurricane Helene is available on their website.
CARE: This organization offers emergency cash assistance to underserved families. You can contribute to their Helene fund through their website.
Direct Relief: Committed to providing long-term medical assistance, Direct Relief has made over $74 million in medicines and medical supplies available to healthcare providers affected by Hurricane Helene. Donations can be made to their general fund or specifically for the Hurricane Helene Response.
The Duke Fertility Clinic is collecting items in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce in McDowell County, which was hit hard by the storm. Items needed include fuel and fuel tanks, non-perishable food including Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), and baby formula.
Global Giving: This disaster relief charity delivers immediate aid and addresses long-term recovery, focusing on local organizations. You can donate to their Helene fund on their website.
The Independent College Fund of North Carolina is accepting donations to support students, staff, and campuses at the seven independent nonprofit colleges in western North Carolina that were damaged and disrupted by the storm.
International Medical Corps: Partnering with local healthcare providers, this organization offers critical medical care and supplies. Their Helene fund can be accessed through their website for donations.
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief: A grassroots network focused on delivering aid directly to underserved communities often overlooked in disasters. Donations can be made at mutualaiddisasterrelief.org.
Operation Blessing: Collaborating with local churches and emergency management, this group provides clean water, food, and medical supplies to those in immediate need. You can contribute to their Helene fund on their website.
Save the Children: This organization focuses on delivering child-specific supplies to families severely affected by the storm, including hygiene kits and educational materials. You can donate to their Children’s Emergency Fund to support these efforts.
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Dogwood Health Trust and WNC Bridge Foundation: All three organizations are coordinating a response to assist those impacted by Hurricane Helene. Anyone wishing to support aid to those affected can donate to the Emergency and Disaster Response Fund at www.cfwnc.org. Administrative fees are waived so that every dollar goes directly to assistance.
The North Carolina Nurses Association and the North Carolina Foundation for Nursing: Both organizations have initiated a campaign to provide financial assistance to nurses affected by Hurricane Helene. The NCFN Nurse Recovery Fund aims to quickly distribute funds to nurses experiencing loss or damage from catastrophic flooding, wind or landslides in the region.