Emergency Relief for Hurricane Helene
If you have information/resources to add please DM @JessicaLBurbank on X (Twitter) or email at Kaburbank.inquiry@gmail.com
WESTERN NC BY COUNTY
Shelters/Housing
- FEMA Assistance Application Instructions HERE
Missing People Support
American Red Cross
- Call 800 RED CROSS or 800-733-27677
- Select “Disaster”
- Follow prompts for Hurricane Helen
- Tell them your location
- Give as much possible information
Buncombe County Search List for Missing Persons
- Fill out prompts in the spreadsheet below for missing persons in Buncombe County
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OsmpDMiy3ijjqRaMXahz7apnRrhEYnUUNVRMxOcGDkE/htmlview
Food Assistance
Medicines
Emergency prescription assistance program linked below. You can use any pharmacy, not just express scripts. The pharmacy does not need to be in the disaster area. People who evacuated can fill at any pharmacy in the US, as long as they are from the disaster area.
It covers prescriptions , diabetic supplies and durable medical equip. You can call and register before going to the pharmacy or the pharmacy can call for you.
Once registered, you basically have prescription insurance for the month, Or longer if it is extended.
Here's a link to the HHS Press release NC north carolina (with the correct number to call for north carolina residents):
https://aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages/EPAP-Activated-for-Uninsured-NC-Residents-After-Hurricane-Helene.aspx
Meals in Boone, NC:
https://www.hosphouse.org/about
Legal
If you're an NC organization in need of connection to resources such as volunteers, donations, legal help, etc., reach out to Andrew.Shoenig@MDCinc.org
Livestock Support
Western NC Regional Livestock Center
Animal Rescue Support
Wildlife and Pet Help
Instruction on the FEMA Assistance Process
FEMA has declared Individual Assistance (IA) for Hurricane Helene. What does this mean for you? It means that you can apply for disaster assistance from FEMA to help offset your evacuation expenses. Answering these five questions incorrectly is the greatest reason disaster survivors fail to receive the benefits they are entitled to from FEMA.
One of the questions that FEMA will ask when you register is “Do You Have Emergency Needs”? This means during your evacuation or since the disaster at home, do you need help with Gas, Medication, Food (such as having no power and everything spoils), Shelter (paying for a place to stay with friends, family or a hotel); Clothing; or Durable Medical Equipment (oxygen, walkers, cane, glasses, etc). Say “YES” to this question. That will result in you receiving Critical Needs Assistance, which is $750 to purchase any of these items.
You can apply online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by telephone at (800) 621-3362. Otherwise, you can download the FEMA weather app from Google PlayStore or the Apple Store and you can apply for assistance on the app and upload receipts.
Whichever method you choose, the form has a few questions that are tricky. In order to avoid delay, please follow the following tips:
- When asked if your home is/was accessible, answer yes if there was debris, tree branches, continued flooding, loss of power, damage or destruction that prevented you from staying there after Helene. The question means could you stay at your home or apartment and will trigger the ability for you to receive assistance to pay for hotels or provide funding to use while you stay with family or friends.
- When asked if utilities are out, say yes, if your utilities were out for even a few days. This triggers assistance $ to stay somewhere other than your home or to buy fuel to power a generator.
- When asked “are you willing to relocate” say yes if you cannot live in your home due to damage. This question means you are willing to stay in a hotel or apartment temporarily if needed, and triggers that funding assistance for you. It is not asking if you are willing to move away from your home permanently.
- If you bought or buy a generator, FEMA will reimburse you up to $629, but you must submit the receipt. If you bought a chainsaw, FEMA will reimburse you up to $219. Again you need to provide the receipt. Save your receipts.
- (Share-able image below for social media)
Emergency Prescription Refills (NC)
Disaster Hotline
https://disasterstrategies.org/hotline/
Flood Insurance
If you have a federally-backed mortgage and live in a floodplain, you are likely required to maintain flood insurance and will probably have it, but you should verify your coverage just in case. Flood insurance is not the same as homeowners insurance. Find out more here https://www.floodsmart.gov/how-do-i-start-my-flood-claim
Donations & Mutual Aid
BeLoved Asheville: Non-Profit on the Ground
Venmo: BeLoved-Asheville
Paypal: BeLovedAsheville
Website: https://belovedasheville.com/get-involved/
Flood Needs List BeLoved Asheville
Bring/Send to:
32 old Charlotte Hwy, Asheville NC
- Bottled water
- Food
- Contractor size trash bags
- Clothes all sizes
- Blankets
- First Aid supplies
- Feminine hygiene
- Diapers &baby clothes
- Hand Sanitizer
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Bleach (bottles, spray, wipes)
- Shovels
- Brooms
- Gloves
- Coolers
- Propane
- Cook stoves
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Fans
- Dehumidifiers
- Generators
- Volunteers
- People to organize supplies and take
- donations
- People to deliver supplies
- People with trucks to help with trash & car
Physical donations for East Tennessee/Elizabethton/Carter County are being accepted at:
Elizabethton Parks & Recreation Center
300 west mill street
Elizabethton TN 37643
Urgently needed:
- Drinking water
- Liquid baby formula
- Diapers
Needed:
- Contractor garbage bags
- Mops and brooms
- Paper products, such as toilet paper, kitchen rolls
- Cleaning rags
- Bleach
Not accepting :
- Clothing
East TN Appalachia Service Project:
Help with repairs and emergency services
Fund to help App State Students, Faculty and Staff in need:
Meals being served in Boone, via Northwest NC Hospitality house:
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief
Paypal: MutualAidDisasterRelief@gmail.com
Venmo: @ MutualAidDisaterRelief@gmail.com
https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/mutual-aid-disaster-relief
Episcopal Relief Fund in Western NC:
https://support.episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-relief
Erwin, TN Recovery Fund:
Josh Griffith is personally delivering food and supplies in the Asheville area:
Operation Airdrop Hurricane Helene Relief
North Carolina Community Foundation
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
Samaritan's Purse
Homeword Bound Homelessness Relief Buncombe County
MANNA Food Bank Asheville donation page
Hearts with Hands disaster relief
Baptists on Mission donation page
LIVESTOCK & PET AID
- Creager Foundation for Animals is holding a food/suppy drive for misplaced animals in Asheville, Haywood County and the surrounding areas. Needing dog and cat food, horse feed, Tractor Supply gift cards, blankets, good bowls, pet carriers. Also need a volunteer with a truck to help deliver supplies. Donations can be dropped off at Suzi Q's Pet Salon at 637 Chapel Hill Road in Burlington, or you can contact Susan Creager at 336-639-0711
- Western Regional Livestock Center Partnering with Yvonne Coburn with Civilian Disaster Response. Immediate need for feed for displaced animals. Taking donations locally at livestock market. People who need help or wish to donate can contact Yvonne Coburn at 828-216-4496.
GetOutdoors Pedal & Paddle:
- Taking donations over the next few weeks. Accepted Items include sports drinks, hydration packs, baby wipes, diapers, baby formula, bug spray, sunscreen, plastic utensils, manual can openers, large trash bags, non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, plastic sheeting/tarps, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toiletries/sanitation items, pet food, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes, feminine hygiene products, heavy-duty work gloves and unworn socks. Located ay 1515 W Gate City Blvd. in Greensboro.
The Coffee Mill in Lewisville NC
- Accepting donations of the above supplies at their location at 6275 Shallowford Road in Lewisville.
Victory Lanes
- Accepting donations of the above supplies at their location at 125 Morlake Drive in Mooresville NC
Forsyth Humane Society:
- Partnering with BISSELL Pet Foundation to rescue pets. Need emergency fosters to help take in animals from Asheville Human Society. Fostering is completely free. Forsyth Humane Society will provide you with all the supplies you might need. If you would like to help out, you can email foster@forsythhumane.orgwith the subject line "Hurricane Helene Foster" or check forsythhumane.org/foster for incoming animals.
Henry James Bar-B-Que
- Taking donations at its location at 2004 South Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. It is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network
- Coordinating a water supply drive for 150 animals that are landlocked and quickly running out of water. An official team will head out Sunday to deliver supplies. If you'd like to donate, please drop it off at All Pets Considered in Greensboro at 2614 Battleground Ave.