Helene Destruction in North Carolina: How to Help

Severe flooding in North Carolina has caused widespread damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, with entire communities cut off and facing dangerous shortages of food, water, gas, and power.

Two of the most urgent issues right now are a lack of access to clean drinking water and the risk of infectious diseases in impacted areas.

Project HOPE is on the ground in North Carolina providing immediate support to partners and affected communities. Our team anticipates urgent health, water, sanitation, and mental health needs in the communities most impacted by this crisis.

Read on to learn more about how you can help.

>> Situation Report #2: Flooding and Destruction in North Carolina

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What damage did Hurricane Helene cause in North Carolina? 

In Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas, flood waters are now receding but the damage to communities and roadways is significant. As rivers rose rapidly and dams met their capacity, many roads in and out of the region — including sections of Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 — remain closed as they are blocked by landslides or severely damaged.

More than 1,200 people are living at 23 state and local shelters and countless families are residing with friends, family, and neighbors after evacuating.

Project HOPE’s team on the ground reports that health workers and their families in the Asheville area are living at health facilities, without access to water for cleaning and personal hygiene,so they can continue to care for patients.

“Hurricane Helene has left a trail of devastation, leaving families homeless overnight,” said Arlan Fuller, Project HOPE’s Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “People have gone days without power or potable drinking water. Flooding has caused sewage overflow which contaminates the surrounding area and creates a breeding ground for water-borne illnesses. With roads impassable, many areas are cut off from basic services like pharmacies and grocery stores. We’re racing against time to provide relief to people who need it most.” 

Our team also reports that hospitals in impacted areas are discharging patients who have less immediate needs. Local health workers across the region are at risk of burnout because of the dual surge in community needs and the impact of the storm on their own lives. Our team has noticed a huge demand for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for both health workers and community members who are still grappling with the storm’s devastating impacts.

>> News Alert: Helene Causes Catastrophic Flooding in North Carolina

Health facilities, including long-term care facilities, report immense needs for not just drinking water, but for water they can use to ensure sanitary conditions for their patients.

In addition to WASH supplies, Project HOPE continues to receive requests for medicines and medical supplies, including over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and insulin and cold chain support for people with diabetes. The Project HOPE team has also received reports from health workers that prenatal care in the most heavily impacted areas has been severely disrupted, with some pregnant patients forced to evacuate to seek care.

“You never think it will happen to you and then it does, and you don’t know where to even begin. … We feel alone and forgotten. We are in the mountains and people don’t remember us. We don’t know if anyone is going to come and check on us.”

–Laurie, a staff member at Bear Mountain Health and Rehabilitation, a nursing home that received a Project HOPE distribution near Asheville, North Carolina

How is Project HOPE responding? 

Project HOPE’s response team in western North Carolina has begun distributions of hygiene supplies, water, and OTC medicines, in coordination with local shelters and clinics. Through rapid assessments, the team has identified additional urgent needs and is working to establish a consistent supply chain for impacted communities.

Project HOPE is preparing to deploy volunteers in coordination with health clinics to relieve frontline health workers in order to give them space to assess their personal needs and regroup for long-term recovery efforts. As the impacts of this crisis continue to unfold, we anticipate health, water, sanitation, and mental health needs will continue to grow and become more urgent, especially as access is restored to communities who remain cut off from health and support services.

Project HOPE is committed to supporting local responses and partnering with local organizations. Our team continues to coordinate with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFCC), as well as local and state chapters. Project HOPE has a history of active partnership with the NAFCC to empower health workers with the tools they need to provide care across the United States. As frontline responders to underserved and under-resourced communities, charitable clinics are critical to improving health equity, especially during emergencies.

Where did Hurricane Helene make landfall? 

Hurricane Helene made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26 as a Category 4 hurricane, causing severe storm surges along the Florida coastline. Helene continued north causing significant flooding in Georgia and southern Appalachia, especially in western North Carolina where some towns remain cut off from road access. Currently, more than 1 million people remain without power, more than 150 people have died, and hundreds more are missing.

What is Project HOPE’s history in the U.S.?

Project HOPE has a long history of emergency response in the United States. Project HOPE recently responded to Hurricane Ida in 2021, Hurricane Ian in 2022, and Hurricane Idalia in 2023 by providing surge staffing to health facilities, delivering urgently needed supplies to affected communities, and equipping health facilities with medicines and supplies.

Project HOPE previously partnered with free and charitable clinics across the southeast during the Covid-19 pandemic, helping dozens of clinics across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas provide more than 21,000 vaccines to communities in need. As frontline responders to underserved and under-resourced communities, charitable clinics are critical to improving health equity, especially during emergencies. Project HOPE is committed to supporting local responses and partnering with local organizations.