Hurricane Helene Resources

Important Resources for Affected Counties

FEMA Disaster Assistance

FEMA Advisory | How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene

• FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. Homeowners and renters in 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 and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians can apply.
• There are several ways to apply: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App or call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET daily. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. 
• To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.
• FEMA’s disaster assistance offers new benefits that provide flexible funding directly to survivors. In addition, a simplified process and expanded eligibility allows North Carolinians access to a wider range of assistance and funds for serious needs.
• View the full advisory PDF.

FEMA | North Carolina Helene Website

FEMA | Hurricane Helene Rumor Response

FEMA | News and Information

FEMA | Community Disaster Loan (CDL) Program (Fact Sheet & Presentation)

FEMA | Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) Locations

FEMA | Private Property Debris Removal Fact Sheet

FEMA | Reforming Individual Assistance: New Benefits and Streamlined Processes to Help Disaster Survivors

FEMA | North Carolina State and Local Level Referrals

• This is a list of providers that offer various on-the-ground emergency management services.

FEMA | Fact Sheet: How to Appeal a FEMA Decision

FEMA | Allowable and Unallowable Costs Guide

FEMA | Eligibility Tool

FEMA | Houses of Worship May be Eligible for FEMA Assistance

FEMA | Supporting Helene Survivors with Temporary Sheltering and Housing Solutions

FEMA | Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide

Resource Needs

WebEOC | Emergency Management and Daily Operations | Juvare

• Counties are encouraged to log request needs such as staffing, supplies and more in WebEOC.
• The three greatest staffing needs, as identified by NCEM, include law enforcement, shelter support staff and emergency management personnel.
• Supply needs include, but are not limited to, generators, radios, food and water.
• If your county is unable to log requests into WebEOC due to internet connectivity issues, you are encouraged to coordinate through your county emergency management department. Local departments can work with NCEM regional coordinating offices to get request needs processed.  

NCACC | Direct Mutual Aid Assistance

• We’re providing a direct mutual aid assistance service to assist with any long-term recovery needs. Please note, this service is intended to compliment the state-coordinated mutual aid process through WebEOC (listed above). Please continue to direct any assistance that should be coordinated through NCEM. 
• If your county has been impacted by Hurricane Helene and you need help with direct, non-emergency/response mutual aid, or your county would like to offer assistance, email [email protected].
• Please include your county name in the subject line. In the body of the email, be sure to include some brief details of your ask or offer, including personnel and/or positions you can make available, number of people, and duration. Please also include a contact name and the best/most immediate way to reach the point of contact. An NCACC staff member will be in touch as soon as possible.

Drinking Water Systems | Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking

Debris Disposal Sites | Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites

NCDEQ | Situation Report Tracking System

NCDPS | County Emergency Management Agencies

NCBOP | Operating Pharmacies in Counties Affected by Hurricane Helene

NCDOT | Request Package for Disaster Relief Debris Removal (DRDR)

NCDHHS | Providing Free Well Disinfection, Well Water Collection Kits to Communities Impacted by Hurricane Helene

North Carolina Public Health Collaboration | Mental Health Support Resources

Helplines

SAMHSA | National Disaster Distress Helpline

• The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
• Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
• Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.”
• For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: Please text or call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 using your preferred Relay provider.

NCDHHS | Hope4NC Helpline for First Responders and Volunteers

• NCDHHS has launched the Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463) to provide mental health support for first responders and volunteers working on our Hurricane Helene disaster response. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
• The webpage is currently being modified. The Hope4NC Helpline phone number is open and taking calls.

988 Lifeline | 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

NC Farm Help Line | For Mental Health and Farm Stress Needs

• Call the NC Farm Help Line at (844) 325-3276.

FEMA | Individual Assistance

• Visit www.disasterassistance.gov, call the FEMA Hotline at 800-621-3362, download the FEMA App or visit a mobile Disaster Recovery Center (DRC).

How You Can Help

Private Sector Donations

NC Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (NCVOAD)

• NCEM strongly recommends that county officials refer any offers for donations, volunteers, or other services to NC Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (NCVOAD), which helps coordinate the appropriate response to realities on the ground in the impacted areas.
• People who want to do physical clean-up work can sign-up at www.ncvoad.org/volunteer/.
• NCVOAD member organizations that are vetted for donations and other response efforts are listed at www.ncvoad.org/members/.
• We are encouraging cash donations to be made to the state’s Disaster Relief Fund or other organizations listed on NCVOAD’s website.

Disaster Relief Fund

• Governor Cooper announced a Disaster Relief Fund for those wishing to make financial contributions. Donations made to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund will go to nonprofits working to meet the immediate needs of storm victims such as food and water, cleaning supplies and other emergency supplies. All of the donations made will go to disaster relief.

VolunteerNC Disaster Volunteer Opportunities 

Feeding Assistance 

NCDPS | Best Ways to Donate in the Wake of Hurricane Helene

NCDPS | Helene Donation Information

At this time, NCEM does not advise individuals or other organizations not coordinated through NCVOAD to collect unsolicited donations.

More News and Information

January 17, 2025

NCDPS | North Carolina Disaster Case Management Program (NC-DCM) Available to Guide Survivors Through Recovery Process

NCDHHS | Disaster Energy Assistance Available to 25 Counties Beginning January 15

FEMA | Updates, Resources, and Information

January 10, 2025

Governor Josh Stein Announces Members of Western North Carolina Recovery Team

FEMA | Disaster Fact Sheet (January 8, 2025)

FEMA | Transitional Sheltering Program Update

January 3, 2025

Executive Orders by Governor Josh Stein:

• No. 1: Increasing Temporary Housing Supply in Western NC
• No. 2: Repairing Roads and Bridges
• No. 3: Reorganizing Executive Branch to Meet Needs of Western NC
• No. 4: Establishing Advisory Committee on Western NC Recovery
• No. 5: OSHR Exceptions – Helene Relief

FEMA | Helene Disaster Assistance Extension to February 6, 2025