Our hearts are heavy for all affected by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast and here in the Carolinas. And we are also inspired by the power of community we’re witnessing, from grassroots mutual aid networks taking shape to outpourings of financial support from across the nation. 

Although it is too early to know the full extent of the devastation, many of you have asked us how you can help. As local communities and organizations are best positioned to know what their communities need regarding relief and recovery efforts, we have compiled this list for you, aggregating resources, funds, and relief projects based in WNC and Upstate SC.

As rescue and recovery efforts are still actively evolving, this is by no means an exhaustive resource: this post is a living document that will be updated regularly by the CFSA team as more information becomes available. Currently, it draws largely from resources identified in local communities, as well as state and federal resources; please note that inclusion in this list does not indicate CFSA endorsement and that questions regarding specific resources and aid efforts should be directed to their respective organizers. 

Note: The CFSA team has been working with our web development agency to address an identified website issue: a few visitors have reported that the Hurricane Helene running resources webpage is returning an error message when loading. The developers have assessed the issue and determined that this error is caused by spikes in heavy page traffic, which are triggering brief, necessary server downtime windows. If you receive an error message when attempting to load the Hurricane Helene running resources webpage, please close the tab, wait 10 minutes, and try again. If the issue persists, try clearing your browser history/cookies, using a private browser to load the page, and/or re-attempting during a non-peak time (early morning and evening). We are grateful for our community’s interest in using and sharing this resource, and we thank you for your patience. 

Table of Contents

This is a living document. Last updated 2pm, 10/7.

FOR IMPACTED FARMS

CAMERAS BEFORE CHAINSAWS: Please take pictures of existing crops and any damage that has occurred. Guidance from RAFI on documentation for FSA:

  1. Document damage with dated photographs, videos, and third-party verification (non-family if possible).
  2. Make every effort to report farm damage to your local USDA Service Center to request assistance (if the office doesn’t answer, be sure to leave a voicemail).
    • If the line is down, you may call any county office in your state. (Be prepared to leave your name and description of damage – include both emergency and long-term needs – and a list of repairs you are requesting funding for.)
  3. Farmers should start taking extensive notes in addition to pictures
    • What damage you’ve experienced
    • What repairs you need to do
    • What costs you incur in implementing repairs
    • RECEIPTS!
  4. If possible to wait, do not start permanent repairs and field restoration without FSA authorization. You may do emergency repairs, e.g. gates, fencing, etc.

Request Assistance

Cleanup & Recovery Resources

Recovery Funding Programs

  • How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene | NC Gov. Cooper 
  • Farm Aid Emergency Grants: $500 Emergency Grants are given with the assistance of our Hotline team members, who answer calls on 1-800-FARM-AID, connecting farmers to appropriate resources and recommending emergency grants when support is urgently needed.
  • AgSouth Farm Credit: 844-AGSOUTH to reach a loan officer. 
  • Organic Growers School: clearinghouse of farmer funding needs
  • USDA Recovery Assistance Programs for Farmers:
    • Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): NAP provides financial assistance when natural disasters cause low crop yields, crop loss, or delayed planting for uninsured crops.
    • Tree Assistance Program (TAP): TAP assists orchardists and nursery growers in replanting or rehabilitating eligible trees, bushes, and vines damaged by natural disasters.
    • The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): EQIP is a conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to integrate conservation into working lands. It may be used for hurricane recovery in several ways, including obstruction removal, clearing and snagging, land smoothing, repair of access roads, and repair of fences for prescribed grazing and protecting sensitive areas.
    • Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP): Extended ECP and EFRP signup that begins Oct. 15, 2024, and runs through June 1, 2025, in states affected by Hurricane Helene.Waiver of onsite inspection requirement for non-engineering practices for ECP and EFRP. Executed Emergency Response (ER-850) authorization of emergency National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) circumstances to expedite FSA approval of practices involving surface debris removal, fence restoration, and non-ground disturbing activities. 
    • Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL): Additional time for producers to deliver commodities to a buyer to repay MALs with sale proceeds. Postponement of MAL foreclosure letters applicable to losses or damages due to hurricanes for up to 90 calendar days.
  • Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA): Benefits are now available in 25 counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. People in these counties have 60 days from October 1 to file an application for Disaster Unemployment Assistance at des.nc.gov. The deadline to apply is December 2. Farmers are included!
  • Small Business Disaster Loans: Disaster loans are now available for businesses and residents in declared disaster areas to help communities recover and rebuild. Apply online by visiting sba.gov/hurricane-helene. For more help: Call: 800‐659‐2955 or email [email protected].

Food Safety

Livestock 

  • WNC Regional Livestock Center: Contact: Yvonne Coburn with Civilian Disaster Response at 828-216-4496.
  • Request livestock management assistance and supplies from NCDA&CS and NC Cooperative Extension by completing this form. 
  • NC Disaster Hay and Livestock Resources Assistance Portal 
  • Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP): ELAP provides financial assistance to qualifying farmers who have lost animals, honeybees, or farm-raised fish during certain natural disasters. 
  • Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): LIP provides assistance to farmers who have had an excess of livestock deaths due to natural disasters. LIP payments are equal to 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock.
  • Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or that is planted specifically for grazing. Learn more about LFP.
  • Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) – provides livestock producers, who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program for forage losses due to severe drought or wildfire, emergency relief payments to compensate for increases in supplemental feed costs. No producer applications required.  

Sell Product

  • Crops for mass feeding should contact [email protected].
  • WNC From the Ground Up is BUYING produce, meat, and dairy from impacted farmers to distribute to communities in need: 828.331.0334 or [email protected]
  • Greenville Feed & Seed Food Hub is BUYING produce from LFPA-approved minority farmers impacted by the hurricane in Upstate SC for distribution to communities in need: email Wholesale Manager Kyle McCluskey at [email protected].
  • Contact Alyssa at TRACTOR Food & Farms: [email protected], (828) 372-2028. 

DONATE FUNDS

Local Nonprofits & Mutual Aid Organizations

Government & Education Funds

Regional and National Nonprofits

DONATE SUPPLIES

Helene Supply Dropoff Points

Most Needed Supplies

Check individual dropoff point websites/social media for most accurate requests by location.

  • Contractor-size trash bags
  • First Aid supplies
  • Hygiene products
  • Diapers
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper towels
  • Shovels
  • Brooms
  • Gloves
  • Coolers
  • Propane
  • Cookstoves
  • Flashlights
  • Batteries
  • Fans
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Generators 
  • Infant formula and baby food

VOLUNTEER

FOR IMPACTED COMMUNITIES

FEMA for Individual Assistance info from NC Department of Insurance: FEMA has declared Individual Assistance (IA) for Hurricane Helene. What does FEMA IA mean for you? It means that you can apply for disaster assistance from FEMA to help offset your disaster-related expenses. 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. To avoid delay, please follow the following tips from the NC Department of Insurance:

  1. One of the questions that FEMA will ask when you register is “Do You Have Emergency Needs”? This means during your evacuation or since staying at home during the disaster, do you need help with Gas, Medication, Food (meals, water, had no power and everything spoils), Shelter (you are staying with friends, family or in a hotel); Clothing; or Durable Medical Equipment (oxygen, walkers, cane, glasses, all major equipment, etc). If this is true, say “YES” to this question. That will result in your receiving Displacement / Critical Needs Assistance, which is $750.
  2. When asked if your home is/was accessible, answer “NO” if there was debris, tree branches, continued flooding, loss of power, damage or destruction that prevented you from staying there after Helene. This question is asking whether you can 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.
  3. When asked if utilities are out, say “YES” even if your utilities were only out for a few days. This triggers assistance $ to stay somewhere other than your home or to buy fuel to power a generator.
  4. When asked “Are you willing to relocate” say “YES” if you cannot live in your home due to damage, loss of power, etc. This question means you are willing to stay in a hotel or apartment temporarily, and triggers that funding for you. It is not asking if you are willing to move away from your home permanently.
  5. 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.

Emergency Services

Local News

Community Forums

Shelter

North Carolina

South Carolina

Aid and Relief Assistance

  • Flood Insurance Claims: National Flood Insurance Program policyholders should follow the steps below to begin filing your flood claim. Report your loss immediately to your insurance agent or carrier. Need help finding your insurance agents? Call the NFIP at 1-877-336-2627 or visit floodsmart.gov/how-do-i-start-my-flood-claim to begin your claim.
  • USDA NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program
  • D-SNAP – The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), also known as disaster food stamps, helps you pay for food if you live in a state with an Individual Assistance declaration from the president. D-SNAP provides funds on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card to pay for food. Even if you do not normally receive or qualify for food assistance through SNAP benefits, you may qualify for D-SNAP.
  • Contact Samaritan’s Purse’s Hurricane Helene damage assessment team at 1(833) 747-1234. 
  • FEMA for renters/homeowners
  • For dialysis patients affected by Hurricane Helene, please call DaVita Guest Services at 1-800-244-0680.
  • Blue Roof (Provided by US Army Core of Engineers) provides tarps to those needing to cover their roof till it can be repaired. Call : 888-766-3258
  • If you’re a disabled person in need, please call the Disability & Disaster Hotline 800-626-4959.
  • Hurricane Helene Asheville Response
  • Hunger and Health Coalition: distributing available supplies of food, medicine, water, hygiene supplies 9am-4pm, Mon-Fri
  • F.A.R.M. Cafe offering free meals.
  • Hurricane Helene | South Carolina Department of Public Health  
  • Text WNC From the Group Up at 828.331.0334 for food.
  • Burke County Hotline: (828) 764-7068, 7am-9pm
  • WNC Food Systems Coalition is coordinating targeted supply drops to rural households. Email [email protected] with information about families in your network who need support, especially in East Buncombe and McDowell counties. Include specific needs in email if possible. 
  • Legal Aid NC assistance hotline: (866) 219-5262

Search & Rescue

  • North Carolina residents trying to connect with family members may call NC 211 (or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from outside the state) to report missing loved ones. People in the impacted areas can indicate they are safe by checking in on Facebook crisis response or reporting themselves safe through Red Cross Reunification by calling 1-800- ED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations.Try these numbers : 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) Charlotte Metro Chapter : 704-376-1661 Blue Ridge Piedmont Chapter : 828-322-4151 Western North Carolina Chapter : 828-258-3888
  • BUNCOMBE COUNTY has a portal to aide in searching for missing persons. Please go to this website and fill out a form.
    https://www.buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=21753
    • IF YOU SENT IN A FORM AND HAVE SINCE MADE CONTACT PLEASE LET THEM KNOW AT : [email protected]
  • OnStar crisis service is activated.All current, eligible Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac owners with properly equipped vehicles. Impacted by a crisis event and need help? Simply push your blue OnStar or red Emergency button to speak with an Advisor.

Telecommunications

  • Starlink free access in WNC and Upstate SC: Hurricane Helene Relief
  • Asheville Starlink Stations for Public Use
    • 1. DoubleTree Hilton Downtown, 199 Haywood
  • SSID: SORTOR STARLINK
  • Pass: ncstrong
  • 2. Asheville Shelter, Ferguson Building, 340 Victoria Rd
    • SSID: HALL STARLINK
    • Pass: ncstrong
  • SOS services on iPhone 14 or newer https://support.apple.com/en-us/101573
  • To connect your phone to disaster roaming services try:
    Go to settings > Connections > Mobile Network Settings > Enable Roaming
  • Carolina Emergency Response Team is looking for Helicopters/pilots:
    Call 843-860-8054
  • As phone services are restored, it is recommended to use texting whenever possible, so as not to overload the phone towers.
  • Mobile Apps for Emergencies – South Carolina Emergency Management Division