Hurricane Helene
The purpose of this page is to provide information and resources to North Carolina residents and visitors who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to provide financial assistance to the State of North Carolina, local and Indian tribal governments, and private nonprofit organizations under major disaster declaration FEMA-4827-DR-NC.
Fact vs. Rumor
There are many false reports and misinformation being shared on social media about the response to Hurricane Helene. Do your part to stop the spread of rumors.
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Voters Affected by Helene
Find information for North Carolina voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election.
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Best Ways to Donate
The best way to help Western North Carolina recover is with a monetary donation but those who wish to volunteer their time can register with an accredited NC VOAD.
Learn More
Donate to the Disaster Relief Fund
Contributions help with the unmet needs of hurricane victims.
Donate- Open Shelters
- Emergency Declarations (En español)
- NCSBE: Helene Recovery and Voting
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance (En español)
FEMA:
- Disaster Recovery Center locations (En español)
- Individual Assistance: Get started on FEMA's website or call 800-621-3362
- FEMA: How to replace lost documents in North Carolina (En español)
- Don’t Wait to Clean Up or Make Repairs (En español)
Health and Wellness:
- NCDHHS: Replacement benefits available for Food and Nutrition Services recipients
- Emergency Prescription Assistance Program for uninsured North Carolina residents. Call the EPAP hotline, 855-793-7470 (TTY 1-800-876-1089).
- Laundry Services: TIDE Loads of Hope Laundry Truck are up in running in three locations. These facilities will operate 10 am – 4 pm daily, or until daily capacity is reached.
Locations:- Home Depot Hendersonville (401 Linda Vista Dr, Hendersonville, NC 28792) – TLOH laundry trailer
- Sams Club Hendersonville (300 Highlands Square Dr, Hendersonville, NC 28792) – shower trailer
- Excel College in Black Mountain (12 Florida Ave Black Mountain, NC 28711) – TLOH laundry trailer and shower trailer
- Guidelines for cleaning safely after a disaster (En español)
- Debris Cleanup Guidelines (En español)
- Muck and Gut Guide
- Heat your home safely - Carbon Monoxide safety tips (En español)
- Safely clean up trees after a storm - video
- NC Forest Service outdoor fire safety tips. Burn permits have been waived for 21 counties until further notice. NOTE - This waiver does not apply to permits required by other agencies, including the N.C. Division of Air Quality or a local fire marshal’s office.
- NCDHHS Fact Sheets
USGS Hurricane Helene 2024 Landslide Observations
This landslide inventory is based on an emergency analysis of the currently available, post-hurricane satellite imagery, and field collection. As a large quantity of images were utilized in the rapid mapping effort, a formal and systematic assessment on the positional accuracy of the data has yet to be completed. There are limitations to performing a hazard analysis remotely, and thus, further investigation and monitoring would be beneficial to accurately determine the threats posed by the mapped landslides.
USGS North Carolina Hurricane Helene Landslide Information
This landslide event page serves as an event summary to communicate timely science information to our partners. This information includes what is currently understood about the event and ongoing activities of the USGS and partner agencies and maybe be subject to change.
Additional Resources
Be Prepared for a Landslide - Info Sheet
USGS - Landslide Preparedness
- EO 315 - Declaration of a Statewide State of Emergency and Temporary Waiver and Suspension of Motor Vehicle Regulations
- EO 316 - Permitting Use, Sale and Distribution of Certain Non-Highway Diesel Fuels in Support of Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
- EO 317 - NC Human Resources Needs Support
- EO 318 - NC Health and Human Services Support
- EO 319 - Support Child Care and Health Care Needs During Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts
Storm Support Numbers
Report Price Gouging
Call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM
A complaint can also be filed online.
Call 211
1-888-892-1162
For shelters, food assistance, welfare checks and additional storm recovery help.
Disaster Distress Helpline
Call or text 1-800-985-5990
Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.”
NC Farm Help Line
Call or text 844-325-3276
Support available 24/7
How can you help?
Monetary Donations Are Needed Most At This Time. Please give to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund to help communities recover from Helene.
Donate Now
Other ways to donate or volunteer
- VolunteerNC Disaster Volunteer Opportunities
- Feeding Assistance
- Donate to a VOAD
- NC 2-1-1 Volunteer List
Read our recommendations on the best ways you can donate in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Coordinate any donation or volunteer efforts through an accredited organization.
Disaster Assistance
North Carolina Receives Federal Major Disaster Declaration
The counties in the disaster declaration are Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, 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.
More Information:
Read the declaration summary
FEMA - How a disaster gets declared
Start the application process in the:
- FEMA app
- Online: disasterassistance.gov
- Phone: 800-621-3362 (Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
Need help or have questions about applying? AskAI email is available for general questions or comments about FEMA assistance
Resources:
FEMA - Get Assistance After a Disaster
What to Expect After Applying with FEMA
FEMA Disaster Survivor Checklist (En español)
FEMA Assistance for North Carolinians
North Carolina Disaster Assistance Flyer and en español
Business owners in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties and The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Cabarrus, Cherokee, Graham, Iredell, Surry, Union, and Yadkin.
Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Where to meet with SBA Customer Service Representatives
Customer Service Representatives from the SBA are at every FEMA Disaster Recovery Center. In addition, the SBA has established three Centers in North Carolina where survivors can get help with their SBA disaster loan application. SBA’s Customer Service Representatives can answer questions, help survivors complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an appointment in advance. The hours of operation for the SBA Centers are as follows:
| Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) Mecklenburg County U.S. Small Business Administration District Office 6302 Fairview Road Suite 300 Charlotte, NC 28210 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed: Saturday and Sunday |
| Business Recovery Center (BRC) Buncombe County Asheville Chamber of Commerce 36 Montford Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed: Sunday |
| Business Recovery Center (BRC) Watauga County Appalachian Enterprise Center 130 Poplar Grove Connector Boone, NC 28607 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed: Sunday |
Resources:
Press Release (Sept. 30) - SBA Launches Disaster Assistance for North Carolina Residents and Businesses Impacted by Tropical Storm Helene English | En español
Press Release (Oct. 4) - SBA Launches Recovery Centers for Hurricane Helene Survivors: Help for the Displaced and Hard-Hit - English
Press Release (Oct. 7) - SBA Adds Counties in North Carolina for Businesses and Residents Impacted by Tropical Storm Helene - English | En español
Disaster Loan Fact Sheet - English | En español
SBA Disaster Assistance North Carolina Portal
FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and certain types of private non-profits so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.
After an event like a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or wildfire, communities need help to cover their costs for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure.
Resources
FEMA - Public Assistance full eligibility details and requirements (En español)
Top 10 Procurement under Grants Mistakes
FEMA - Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Greensheet
Tropical Storm Debby Applicant Briefing
NCDOT Disaster Relief Debris Removal
Tropical Storm Helene Applicant Briefing
Statewide Resources
State Agency Updates
- All North Carolina state parks west of Interstate 77 are closed through at least Oct. 31. These parks include Chimney Rock, Crowders Mountain, Elk Knob, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain, Lake James, Lake Norman, Mount Mitchell, New River, South Mountains, and Stone Mountains state parks, as well as Mount Jefferson State Natural Area and Rendezvous Mountain. More information can be found at dncr.nc.gov.
- State transportation officials are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel in western North Carolina as about 390 roads, including areas along Interstate 40 and dozens of highways in the foothills and mountains, remain closed due to flooding, downed trees, landslides or catastrophic damage from Helene. Read more at ncdot.gov.
- Attorney General Josh Stein announced that the NC Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division phone line is open for people to report price gouging or other Helene-related concerns. Report by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or go to www.ncdoj.gov/pricegouging.
- NC Department of Environmental Quality advises those participating in cleanup activities to be cautious due to environmental hazards, including risks from drinking water and flood waters. Cleanup efforts must also adhere to regulations to ensure contamination is not spread. Learn more.
- NC Forest Service has resources for landowners in less impacted areas that have broken or fallen limbs, downed trees and debris to remove.
- Information and resources for farms and agribusinesses can be accessed through the NC Department of Agriculture Emergency Programs page.