Disaster Relief Resources

Click on a county name from the North Carolina Emergency Management list to access local resources.

The Hurricane Helene Community Support Hub centralizes information on donation sites and volunteer needs to better connect resources with locations in need.

The Helene Response & Rebuild WNC Resource Guide list of general resources covers various areas such as help access, safety updates, essential services, and locating food, water, and shelter. It also includes support for finding people or pets, health and well-being, clean-up guidance, and financial assistance.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health offers a list of local health departments residents may contact.

Red Cross – Find disaster recovery shelters, health services, and food assistance provided by the Red Cross.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers

ReadyNC.gov Open Shelters

NC Emergency Management warns against false information on Helene and urges people to trust only reliable sources. In light of this, the state agency has set up a website to counter rumors and provide accurate information on relief and recovery efforts.

Congressman Chuck Edwards shared the following information in a press release on October 8.

1. Hurricane Helene was NOT geoengineered by the government to seize and access lithium deposits in Chimney Rock.
   • Nobody can control the weather.
   • Charles Konrad, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Regional Climate Center, has confirmed that no one has the technology or ability to geoengineer a hurricane.
     • Current geoengineering technology can serve as a large-scale intervention to mitigate the negative consequences of naturally occurring weather phenomena, but it cannot be used to create or manipulate hurricanes.
   • Local officials have confirmed the government is NOT seizing Chimney Rock.
     • There was no “special meeting” held in Chimney Rock between federal, state or local governments about seizing the town.
2. Local officials are NOT abandoning search and rescue efforts to bulldoze over Chimney Rock.
   • Chimney Rock is NOT being bulldozed over.
   • Rutherford County emergency services personnel are going to extensive lengths to search for missing people, including in debris by using cadaver dogs to locate any remains of individuals trapped in the debris.
   • Just as every other community in Western North Carolina, Chimney Rock officials are focused first and foremost on recovery efforts, followed by plans to rebuild in the future.
3. FEMA is NOT stopping trucks or vehicles with donations, confiscating or seizing supplies, or otherwise turning away donations.
   • FEMA does not conduct vehicle stops or handle road closures with armed guards – all road closures are managed by local law enforcement who are prioritizing getting resources to their fellow community members.
4. FEMA has NOT diverted disaster response funding to the border or foreign aid.
   • Disaster response efforts and individual assistance are funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts.
     • FEMA’s non-disaster related presence at the border has always been of major concern to me, even before Hurricane Helene, and I will continue to condemn their deployment of personnel to the southern border, but we must separate the two issues.
5. FEMA is NOT going to run out of money.
   • FEMA officials have repeatedly affirmed that the agency has enough money for immediate response and recovery needs over the next few months.
     • Secretary Mayorkas’ statement indicating otherwise was an irresponsible attempt to politicize a tragedy for personal gain.
   • In the coming months, Western North Carolina is going to need more disaster relief funding than is currently available to assist with recovery efforts.
     • I’m confident that supplemental disaster relief funding, which I am already involved in the process of creating, will be considered in the House once we return to session in mid-November.
6. FEMA cannot seize your property or land.
   • Applying for disaster assistance does not grant FEMA or the federal government authority or ownership of your property or land.
7. The FAA is NOT restricting access to airspace for Helene rescue and recovery operations.
   • Nobody seeking to fly resources into Western North Carolina will be prohibited from doing so by the FAA or North Carolina Emergency Management so long as they coordinate their efforts with NC Aviation.
     • If you are looking to conduct an airdrop of resources but don’t know who to contact for approval, please reach out to my office and we will share that information with you.
8. FEMA is NOT only providing $750 to disaster survivors to support their recovery.
   • The initial $750 provided to disaster survivors is an immediate type of assistance called Serious Needs Assistance that may be made to individuals in need as soon as they apply for FEMA assistance.
     • The $750 is an upfront, flexible payment to help cover essential items like food, water, baby formula and medication while FEMA assesses the applicant’s eligibility for additional funds.
     • This award is just the first step of a longer process to provide financial assistance to disaster survivors in need of federal support.
   • As an application moves through the review process, individuals are eligible to receive additional forms of assistance for other needs such as temporary housing, personal property and home repair costs, etc.

FEMA is providing an initial $750 in immediate assistance to survivors of Hurricane Helene to help with essential items, temporary housing, home repairs, and other disaster-related needs. Residents can apply by April 7, 2025, at 800-621-3362 or disasterassistance.gov.

This award is just the first step in a longer process to provide financial assistance to disaster survivors who need federal support.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible locations providing information on disaster assistance programs and support for specific cases. They assist with applying for aid, checking application status, understanding FEMA communication, and finding housing assistance. DRCs also resolve issues, answer questions, and provide referrals to additional agencies, including SBA programs.

Use the DRC Locator to find nearby center locations, hours, and services.

The North Carolina Medical Board updates a directory of open or partially-open medical practices in western NC.

The state’s 211 service (accessible by calling 211 and pressing 1 or visiting nc211.org) provides information on obtaining food, water, and shelter, locating loved ones, checking road conditions, and filing damage and insurance claims. Use 911 only for emergencies.

The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy maintains a list of operating pharmacies.

During emergencies, the Department of Homeland Security collaborates with various partners to aid affected areas, and ICE and CBP designate emergency response sites as protected areas. Consequently, they generally refrain from conducting immigration enforcement at locations like evacuation routes, shelters, and distribution or registration sites for disaster assistance. Consequently, shelter, aid, and other emergency assistance are provided regardless of immigration status. Further details are available from this DHS press release.

Visit DriveNC.Gov, which the North Carolina Department of Transportation regularly updates, for current roadway conditions.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety oofers the following resources:

Guidelines for cleaning safely after a disaster (En español)

Debris Cleanup Guidelines (En español)

Muck and Gut Guide

Duke Energy – Flooding and Electrical Safety 

Keeping Your Family Safe: Propane Safety Check (En español)

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

After the flood (English | Spanish)

Mental Health (English | Spanish)

Mold Cleanup (English | Spanish)

Restaurant Emergency Operations (English | Spanish)

Safe Water (English | Spanish)

Septic Repairs (English | Spanish)

Well Disinfection (English | Spanish)

Sewage Exposure (English | Spanish)

Feeding Infants in a Disaster (English | Spanish)

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers disaster assistance loans for homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes to repair or replace damaged property or keep businesses afloat. Applications are accepted until November 27 at 800‐659‐2955 or ccdoc.org/sba.

Residents should contact their local government for guidance on disposing of disaster debris following an emergency. Typically, they will need to use their county or municipal waste disposal services or take the debris to a permitted municipal solid waste landfill.

North Carolina’s Interactive Mapping Application provides a map of the state’s active disaster debris sites.

Two volunteer organizations – Crisis Cleanup and Team Rubicon – are assisting with post-hurricane debris removal and home cleanup services.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched a new webpage with disaster relief resources, providing a single place for veterans and their caregivers to access VA resources on health care, housing, benefits payments, insurance, and more.

The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571.

If a veteran needs immediate housing assistance after Hurricane Helene, they can call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 424-3838. The call center is open 24/7.

If a veteran has a VA-backed home loan and is unable to make mortgage payments, they can contact their mortgage servicer or the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The American Legion is offering financial assistance to Legionnaires, Sons of the American Legion members, and Legion Posts. Eligible Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members can receive up to $3,000, while Legion Posts can receive up to $10,000. To request assistance, individuals must use the provided link and submit their applications within 90 days.

The Charles George VA Medical Center and Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic are open for essential and emergency services.

Veterans can refill medications at the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy or through the Regional Clinical Contact Center. Local pharmacies in the VA’s community care network can also fill prescriptions.

Hickory and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are operating regularly, but staffing may be limited due to the hurricane. Veterans are asked to be patient as the VA rebuilds its workforce.

The U.S. Justice Department has launched a website to provide voting information for hurricane-impacted communities.

Congressman Chuck Edwards’ office lists food and water distribution sites in the following counties: Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey.

The North Carolina DEQ Public Water Supply regularly updates a map of water system status and use restrictions.