Hurricane Helene Relief

All Community Outreach Posts

Children’s Hope Alliance has over 200 children, staff and foster families located in Western NC.  We are in communication with all of them and are providing this comprehensive resource list for those who may need assistance or those who may want to help.  Thank you for your interest and support for everyone throughout North Carolina.

Disaster Relief Resources

  • NC 211: Access local support services by dialing 211 for disaster-related information and resources in North Carolina.
  • Get in Touch: Trying to get in touch with your loved ones in North Carolina? Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts. Or fill out the form directly on the United Way website.
  • YMCA Emergency Shelters: Some YMCA locations are functioning as emergency shelters. Follow their updates on Facebook here.
  • North Carolina Department of Public Safety: Offers information on shelters, road conditions, and updates on recovery efforts. Visit their website.
  • American Red Cross: Provides disaster relief and assistance. You can donate to the Hurricane Helene Relief Fund here.
  • FEMA Assistance: Homeowners and renters can apply for disaster assistance through FEMA. To apply, visit disasterassistance.gov. From MDC, learn more about applying for assistance.
  • Disaster Distress Helpline: For those experiencing emotional distress due to the hurricane, call 1-800-985-5990 for immediate support.
  • The counties in the declaration are Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. As response operations and eligible damages dictate, North Carolina may be able to add additional counties or programs as assessments move forward.
  • FEMA – Assistance After a Disaster
  • Housing Assistance Program
  • Individual Assistance Fact Sheets

Ways to Help

  • Children’s Hope Alliance WNC Relief Fund:  Donate here.
  • Drop off supplies at Barium Springs:  Drop off supplies to our Barium Springs location during business hours. Supplies are delivered to the Statesville Regional Airport for disaster relief flight drops to Western NC. Find the supply list here.
  • North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund: Donate via nc.gov/donate.
  • The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund: Donate here.

CHA-specific Assistance

  • Temporary Housing: We are organizing temporary housing for any staff and their families who have lost access to water, electricity, internet, or safe shelter. Contact your supervisor.
  • PTO Donations: We have activated our Paid Time Off donation policy. CHA staff members can donate PTO to those colleagues who have been affected by Helene so that they do not fall into negative PTO while they recover from this disaster.
  • Crisis Needs Fund-WNC Relief: Requests for Crisis Needs Funds are already coming in. Development has set up an online giving page to allow donors an option to specify giving directly to CHA Western North Carolina area children, staff, and foster families.  If you need CNF assistance, contact ANichols@childrenshopealliance.org.

Latest News and Relief Efforts

  • Rescue crews are continuing to work in affected areas and utility crews are working to restore cell service and critical infrastructure to restore communications to the impacted areas. People should not travel to western North Carolina to keep the roadways clear.
  • With 10 search and rescue teams on the ground, another nine teams are arriving today for more than 900 personnel to assist with these efforts. 
  • Two FEMA Incident Management Assessment Teams are in North Carolina. The team will coordinate directly with the state to facilitate requests for assistance.
  • So far, 25 trailer-loads of meals and 60 trailers-loads of water have been delivered to the state to support response efforts. More trailer loads of meals and water will be delivered in the coming days.
  • A C-17 cargo plane full of food, water and other commodities has arrived at the forward operating base in Asheville, with a daily flow of commodities established via air bridge.
  • There are 29 shelters open with over 1,000 occupants. 
  • 40 Starlink satellite systems are available to help with responder communications and an additional 140 satellites are being shipped to assist with communications infrastructure restoration.
  • One Starlink will be deployed per county EOC to assist with communications and continuity of government.
  • Generators are moving from Charlotte-Mecklenberg to Asheville, with another 30 generators enroute to the staging base in Mecklenburg.
  • Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are in Asheville providing emergency room medical support at hospitals.
  • 200 federal ambulances have been provided to the state.
  • FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are going to the field, focusing on shelters, where they will assist survivors in applying for assistance.