We are here for you. Have a question or need support? Email us at [email protected].
Please email us with all inquiries, requests, concerns, feedback, and reports related to Hurricane Helene to [email protected]. This dedicated email address will be constantly monitored and available to collect all related Hurricane Helene information that will be channeled to the appropriate response contact. Thank you for your help in the county recovery process.
Important Resources for Affected Counties
FEMA Disaster Assistance
FEMA Advisory | How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Tropical Storm 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.
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.
Drinking Water Systems | Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking
Debris Disposal Sites | Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites
Disaster Distress Helpline
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.
Other Helpful Resources
UNC School of Government | Hurricane Helene Resources
- The UNC School of Government developed a webpage to assist affected counties in finding helpful resources. This webpage includes links to declarations, Disaster Recovery Finance office hours and more.
How You Can Help
Please refrain from traveling to Western North Carolina! NCEM remains in lifesaving mode and strongly discourages anyone from attempting to enter the damaged area at this time. People attempting to enter risk the coordinated response effort and potentially contribute to the difficult situation.
NCDOT states, “All roads in Western NC should be considered closed to all non-emergency travel.”
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.
- 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
At this time, NCEM does not advise individuals or other organizations not coordinated through NCVOAD to collect unsolicited donations.