On Sept. 27, life changed for untold numbers of people in Western North Carolina. Hurricane Helene charged hollers, valleys, mountain sides and caused apocalyptic damage. While much cleanup has occurred in the month since the storm, an overwhelming amount of work is still required – an estimated year’s worth or more – in some areas.
“I’ve cried most every day,” said one woman, who has a farm in Banner Elk with her husband. They lost a friend to a mudslide and daily drive by gigantic piles of trees, debris, and personal belongings on roadsides.
So many in Macon County have donated supplies, money, and/or volunteered their time in various capacities – to organize items at donation centers, deliver aid to hard-hit areas, or clean up homes and properties.
“This is not going away,” said Laura Knight, who has assisted at the GR828 donation center. “People are saying this is not a sprint but a marathon.”
GR828, with information available on Facebook and www.wncstrong.com, has had since a week after Hurricane Helene a collection and distribution center located next to Discover Church, 45 Macon Center Drive, Franklin. It has inventoried countless items that are periodically delivered by volunteers to dramatically affected areas northeast of Franklin. Currently, donations most needed are large propane tanks and small butane burners with butane tanks, noted Knight. Also, volunteer workers and first responders need thick, heavy socks.
“We are still also looking for supplies of shelf-stable milk (powdered or cartons) and canned meat,” said Brian Moffitt, principal at Bartram Academy and one of the leaders of the GR828 distribution center’s efforts, along with Billy Vanhook and Trevor Blair. “Batteries are also important for lighting sources. Five-gallon storage containers of water, instead of bottled water. So many people still don’t have clean, running water for cooking and cleaning. Hang-up shower systems are also appreciated.”
“People are having to be the hands and feet of Jesus for so many people,” said Knight. “Lives are being changed, but we have to realize that there will be needs for so long and these people cannot be forgotten.”
Currently, GR828, associated with nonprofit Mountain Alliance and Mission, has its distribution center open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for volunteers and accepting donations. The organization asks that anyone interested provide 24-hours notice to allow scheduling of volunteers by calling (828)371-8062. Plus, proceeds from the purchase of t-shirts and sweatshirts help pay for relief efforts; visit https://wncstrongmercantile.com/.
“We appreciate people who are signing up for a few hours at a time to help in the distribution center and who are donating funds for the relief effort,” added Moffitt. “We’ve had close to 1,000 people who have volunteered, even students from some of the area’s schools, but we always need volunteers. There has been such a great response from the community. It’s unprecedented. We will continue to be here for as long as we need to be. We are grateful to Discover Church to allow us to use the empty space next to the church.”
Warren Cabe, Macon County’s emergency response director, has regularly been keeping county residents and the media apprised of updates regarding Hurricane Helene-related efforts and information.
“The need for donated items, whether collected here or in other places, now seems to be more long-term recovery related, such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and other items more related to winter weather. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) will be transitioning from the original damage assessment teams to their recovery teams that will be able to assist more with applications that have already been submitted that may require more actions and follow-ups,” Cabe said in a statement last Friday.
“We do want to encourage residents to not forget our local charitable human services groups that traditionally support the various needs of our populations, and we want to encourage residents to think about their own preparedness plans while this event is still fresh on our minds.”
While Macon County residents may not have as much need as neighbors to the northeast, according to FEMA “at least 92,000 households have already applied and received funding to kick start their disaster recovery efforts; however, the Disaster Recovery Centers are filled with many others still working through the process. FEMA is continuing to serve individuals and households in 39 counties.”
Additionally, FEMA (https://www.fema.gov/) stated that it is “providing Direct Temporary Housing Assistance to survivors displaced by Helene. Qualifying households are eligible for temporary housing in 25 counties: Macon County is one of them. Direct Temporary Housing Assistance may be provided in three forms:
• Direct Lease – FEMA may lease existing, ready-to-occupy residential properties for use as temporary housing.
• Multifamily Lease and Repair – FEMA funds the repair or improvement of existing vacant multi-family rental properties that eligible applicants can use for temporary housing.
• Transportable Temporary Housing – A travel trailer or Manufactured Housing Unit that FEMA may place on a private site or in a commercial park.”
Another organization needing volunteers and support is Operation Blessing, which is focusing on these tasks: “install blue roofs (that provide temporary water storage), do chainsaw work, debris removal, salvage personal belongings, and, most importantly, to be there to love, listen, and minister to these residents who have lost so much,” according to an announcement on its website, https://www.ob.org/.
The North Carolina Extension Office offered a list of “trusted organizations” with which to sign up for a volunteer slot. The list includes Baptists on Mission, American Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, and The Salvation Army. Individuals may go onto the organizations’ sites and sign up to volunteer for day work.
The N.C. Extension Office also warned about giving to or working with potential scammers, issuing this statement: “Natural disasters often present an opportunity for scammers, who try to take advantage of people at their most vulnerable. Donate only to trusted organizations and be wary of unsolicited requests for money or offers of ‘too good to be true’ deals on services like waste removal or cleanup.”
Finally, check with local churches to learn the organizations and businesses they are partnering with to best help Hurricane Helene-affected populations. Discover Church, for one, has been providing information on its managed site https://www.ilovemytown.org/.