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. 

As recovery and rebuilding efforts for farmers and communities continue, we welcome our community to review and share this running list of hurricane resources, funds, and relief projects based in WNC and Upstate SC.

This is by no means an exhaustive resource: this post is a living document that will be updated regularly by the CFSA team with timely and relevant information. 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. 

This is a living document. Last updated 12/2.

Table of Contents

FOR IMPACTED FARMS

We’re here to help. The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) is offering free technical assistance to help farmers recover from Hurricane Helene and build resilience for the future.

Our team is ready to work alongside you, providing essential services at no cost, including:

  • Damage Assessments to evaluate and document farm impacts.
  • Assistance applying to Farm Service Agency (FSA) or Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) programs for financial and technical support.
  • Food safety risk management guidance to strengthen your operation’s safety protocols.
  • Conservation practice support to help implement soil, water, and environmental conservation methods.
  • New market access assistance to connect you with new market opportunities and diversify income streams.

Take advantage of this valuable support to ensure your farm recovers and grows stronger. To get started, fill out an application and let us know how we can assist you.

Request Assistance

  • NCDA&CS Text Service: Farmers can text NCFARMAID to 888777 to opt in to receive emergency response information and links to important hurricane relief resources. The tool is free to use, and communication is one-way only. Information and resources include the hotline number, portal link to request feed, hay, and assistance, FSA links, FEMA links, guidance on best practices for animal health after a flood, etc.
  • Disaster Legal Services South Carolina Hotline: 803-799-6653 x120 and 803-576-3815
  • NC Small Business and Technology Development Center: offering free counseling and assistance to assess the financial impact on your organization, develop strategies for your recovery, reconstruct financial statements, and evaluate options with creditors. Call 800-258-0862 or find your regional center.
  • Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Disaster Relief Project provides disaster-related legal assistance and education to individuals and organizations impacted by natural disasters in NC. Call 866-219-5262 (Monday-Friday 8:30 AM–1:30 PM; Monday & Thursday 5:30-8:30 PM).
  • NCDA&CS Hotline: 1-866-645-9403. Open 8am-5pm; se habla Espanol
  • RAFI Crisis Hotline: 866.586.6746
  • FarmAid Hotline: 1-800-FARM-AID (800-327-6243) and Farm Aid Online Assistance Request Form. 
  • Meade Tractor Assistance Application – Meade Tractor has launched their crisis response program to aid farmers affected by devastating floods in Asheville, NC, Tri Cities, TN and Southwest Virginia. The program is designed to offer essential equipment and resources for clean-up, recovery, and rebuilding efforts during natural disasters, including the recent floods that have severely impacted these farming communities. The Crisis Response Program will provide: Access to a fleet of tractors, loaders, and other essential equipment at no cost to impacted farmers and on-site training from Meade Tractor’s skilled team to ensure the equipment’s safe and efficient operation.
  • Mental Health ProBono Referrals for WNC Survivors
  • NC Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Hotline: 844.325.3276 or [email protected].
  • Disaster Distress Helpline: 800-985-5990 (phone and text)
  • Request on-farm assistance from Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture: 828-412-0834 or [email protected], or complete this form. 
  • Piedmont Culinary Guild is coordinating cash and resource distribution to impacted farmers. Reach out by TEXT (323) 841-2887 or EMAIL: [email protected]m. 
  • Pick up farm supplies from NC State Extension drop sites, 9am-5pm. Use this form to request specific supplies. 
    • Avery County Warehouse, 6880 Linville Falls Highway, Newland, NC 28657
    • Macon County Fairgrounds, 1436 Georgia Road, Franklin, NC 28734
    • McDowell County Agriculture Center, 188 Ag Services Drive, Marion, NC 28752
  • Email Kendra Phipps at [email protected] to request agricultural fencing supplies. 

Cleanup & Recovery Resources

Recovery Funding Programs

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. 
  • Farmers’ Markets in WNC and nearby counties who are able to accommodate any displaced vendors who still have product and need a place to continue sales should complete this form from the NC Farmers’ Market Network for distribution to impacted farmers. 
  • Asheville area markets still operating and accepting vendors (info via NCFMN):
  • Organizations purchasing local food in Asheville area (info via NCFM):
  • Helene Recovery – Farm Pivot Market Outlets resource from ASAP

DONATE FUNDS

Local Nonprofits & Mutual Aid Organizations

Government & Education Funds

Regional and National Nonprofits

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

Aid and Relief Assistance

  • 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.
  • 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. 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.
  • Contact Samaritan’s Purse’s Hurricane Helene damage assessment team at 1(833) 747-1234. 
  • FEMA for renters/homeowners
  • 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
  • Disability & Disaster Hotline: 800-626-4959.
  • Hunger and Health Coalition: distributing available supplies of food, medicine, water, hygiene supplies 9am-4pm, Mon-Fri
  • 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
  • Replacement Benefits Available for Food and Nutrition Services Recipients Impacted by Hurricane Helene | NCDHHS
  • TreesAreGood.org: Find a certified arborist near you

Telecommunications

Shelter

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]

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