Disaster Recovery Resources
The Disability and Disaster Hotline If you are impacted by Hurricane Helene and need help, call or text The Disability and Disaster Hotline at 800-626-4959 or hotline@disasterstrategies.org
For true life-threatening emergencies call 911 Important note: local 911 operators are overwhelmed with calls in Western North Carolina. Call local 911 only in life-threatening situations.
Apply for FEMA assistance – for homeowners and renters FEMA – 1-800-621-3362 (TTY – 1-800-462-7585) Home | disasterassistance.gov
AshevilleRelief.org Open, crowdsourced, vetted info by people on the ground for people on the ground Crowd Sourced Asheville Flood Relief Resources For Helene
NC DPS website with information on shelters, cleanup efforts, power outage updates, and more Hurricane Helene | NC DPS
Find Open Red Cross Shelters (in addition to shelters listed on DPS website) Disaster Shelters | Find Shelters | American Red Cross
NOTE: If your shelter is inaccessible, notify the shelter’s administrator and the local EMS director. Also notify DRNC, 919-856-2195 or email communications@disabilityrightsnc.org
Salvation Army Hope is On the Way: The Salvation Army of the Carolinas Two-State Response to Impacts from Helene (salvationarmyusa.org)
Ready NC Road conditions, power outages, shelter information and more Plan. Prepare. Stay Informed. | Ready NC
NC Emergency management If you call NC211 (1-888-892-1162) to report a missing person or request a welfare check, press 1 once you are connected to reach an operator. Have all information available (name, location, health conditions, etc.) to complete the request. Call volumes are high, but operators are processing requests as quickly as possible. Also, if you have connected with someone who is listed as missing, please call NC211 to report you found them.
BeLoved Asheville is an incredible organization helping folks locally. Keep up with their current efforts including food and water distribution online Beloved asheville (@belovedasheville) • Instagram photos and videos https://www.facebook.com/BeLovedAsheville/
The Department of Adult Correction is responding to the effects of Hurricane Helene and working to keep staff and offenders safe. View agency status here. Hurricane Helene | NC DAC
Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance
www.des.nc.gov. The deadline to apply is December 2, 2024.
Crisis Cleanup: Call 844-965-1386 to be connected with volunteer organizations who can assist with issues like trees, debris, tarps, and mucking out. Note: Crisis Cleanup cannot assist with social services such as food, clothing, shelter, insurance, or FEMA registration.
Power Outages: You can track power outages here https://www.readync.gov/stay-informed/power-outages
NC Centers for Independent Living Centers | NC Statewide Independent Living Council (nc-silc.org)
Disaster and Human Trafficking Resources Human Trafficking Awareness Resource Library | North Carolina Judicial Branch (nccourts.gov)
Accessibility in Shelters: Here is a checklist for those in or running shelters for accessibility https://www.ncdps.gov/documents/files/shelter-worker-accessibility-checklist/download
DIY guides for Cleanup DIY Cleanup – Mutual Aid Disaster Relief
Recovery Resource Database – NC Housing Coalition created a centralized and collaborative database with information about assistance and resources for WNC.
Deaf Hurricane Information Group
The DRC Locator helps you find the hours, services, and locations of DRCs near you. FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. DRC Locator
Combatting Disinformation
Communication Assistance
Communication Tool: You can use this one-page document to help someone communicate with you or to communicate with someone: https://nccdd.org/images/blog/2020/ENGLISH_EMERGENCY_COMMUNICATION_TOOL.pdf
Show Me Communication Tool Booklet: This communication booklet can help with communications: https://www.nccdd.org/images/article/Forms-docs-brochures/2016/ShowMeBook_2015b.pdf
Food Resources
Replacement Benefits Available for Food and Nutrition Services Recipients Impacted by Hurricane Helene Replacement Benefits Available for Food and Nutrition Services Recipients Impacted by Hurricane Helene | NCDHHS
Food Bank Find Help | Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC | United States (secondharvestnwnc.org)
Enlace Latino NC Enlace Latino NC: Four distribution areas for food and water in Buncombe.
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief – Marshall, North Carolina Mutual Aid Hub: Food, medical supplies and more as available.
Health
NC Medicaid has published a provider bulletin Hurricane Helene Policy Flexibilities to Support Providers and Members – Oct. 11, 2024, updating flexibilities implemented by NC Medicaid due to the Hurricane Helene Public Health Emergency. The flexibilities in this bulletin are effective from Sept. 26, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024 (unless otherwise communicated by DHHS). Additional updates will be provided as they become available.
Vaya Health Hurricane Helene Recovery Hurricane Helene Recovery | Vaya Health
Partners Health Hurricane Helene Resources Hurricane Helene – Partners Health Management (partnersbhm.org)
Find the nearest EPAP pharmacy with this easy-to-use locator EPAP Enrolled Pharmacies (hhs.gov)
Mental Health Resources, including Spanish speaking therapists, for survivors of Helene: Mental Health ProBono Referrals for WNC Survivors – Google Drive
Someone to Talk To: If you are in a personal crisis and need someone to talk with, you can call the Crisis Line at 988. If you are not in an immediate crisis, but need someone to talk with, you can call the North Carolina Warm Line: 1-855-733-7762.
LME/MCOs: LME/MCOs are the key connection for most mental health and developmental disability services. You can find your LME/MCO here: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/providers/lme-mco-directory
Operating Pharmacies in Counties Affected by Hurricane Helene EmergencyOperatingPharmaciesHelene (ncbop.org)
Order Your 4 Free At-home COVID-19 Tests ASPR COVID-19 Testing
North Carolina Reproductive Care Disaster Relief North Carolina Reproductive Care Disaster Relief
Legal
Pisgah Legal Services-Applying for FEMA Assistance after Tropical Storm Helene FEMA – Pisgah Legal Services
Legal Aid of North Carolina can help immediately after the storm Tropical Storm Helene Disaster Assistance – Legal Aid of North Carolina (legalaidnc.org)
North Carolina’s Price Gouging Phone Line is Open North Carolina’s Price Gouging Phone Line is Open – NCDOJ
The State Bar is compiling a list of legal resources for those in need of legal assistance in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. Statewide Disaster Relief Legal Resources | North Carolina State Bar (ncbar.gov)
NC Justice Center Do you know your rights in case of a natural disaster? Read helpful information about tenants’ rights and responsibilities. Resources for Natural Disasters – North Carolina Justice Center (ncjustice.org)
Updates from Legal Aid NC A message about Hurricane Helene (constantcontact.com)
Notice from Office of Public Affairs, Justice Department, Federal trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Public Affairs | Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Warn Consumers About Potential Scams and Price Gouging in the Wake of Hurricanes and other Natural Disasters | United States Department of Justice
Utilities
Other Resource Guides
Help in a hurry: Quick guide to finding essentials and navigating Asheville after Helene Asheville guide to finding food, water, shelter and Wi-Fi after Helene (citizen-times.com)
New Disabled South Resource Guide NDS – Resource Guide/ Guia de Recursos – Google Docs
Appalachian Hurricane Helene Resources Google doc including donations, how to get help, information on surrounding states and more. Appalachian Hurricane Helene Relief Resources – Google Sheets
Hurricane Helene Disaster Recovery Resources Reddit community dedicated to Helene recovery resources Hurricane Helene Disaster Recovery Resources : r/asheville
WNC HELENE RESOURCE GUIDE – Google Docs This guide should not be used in place of reaching out to your local emergency services.
WNC Recovery Resource Database https://tinyurl.com/NCHC4WNC
Crowd Sourced Asheville Flood Relief Resources For Helene Crowd sourced flood relief resources in Asheville updated constantly by community members and resource providers in the aftermath of Helene. Crowd Sourced Asheville Flood Relief Resources For Helene