On Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 in the Florida Big Bend, leaving 500 miles of destruction in its wake, and as it moved northwards, it dumped a monumental 40 trillion gallons of rain across the Southeast.
Meteorologist Ryan Maue, a former NOAA chief scientist, estimates that 20 trillion of those gallons just hit Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Florida. The 140-mph winds flattened houses and felled trees and power lines, while the torrential downpour resulted in extreme flooding. This unprecedented flooding has caused bridges and roads to fail in multiple states.
It is estimated that 1.3 million people are without power, and many do not have stable access to the internet or cellular services. More than 160 people have died, and the death toll continues to rise. Hundreds more are missing as the flooded and damaged roads hamper search and rescue workers.
Supplies are being delivered to impacted areas via air, truck, and even mules, and the National Guard has been deployed to assist in rescue efforts.
The states that have declared states of emergency from Hurricane Helene include Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Part of the reason Hurricane Helene was so severe is because storms are getting wetter as the climate changes. This is because the air holds 4% more moisture for every degree Fahrenheit warmer, according to the laws of physics.
Responding Post-Hurricane
If you are an NALP member who has been impacted by Hurricane Helene and needs assistance, please contact NALP membership.
Depending on your location and the damage you’ve experienced, financial assistance may be available through various state disaster funds.
FEMA has announced federal disaster assistance is available to Georgia to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene from Sept. 24, 2024, and continuing as well as South Carolina from Sept. 25, 2024.
The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.
The Small Business Administration is offering disaster loans in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
For additional resources on how the U.S. government is responding to Hurricane Helene, click here. Individual states have more specific information on disaster relief and emergency assistance available.
Ways to Help
Currently, it is advised not to try to visit these impacted areas in an effort to help. In a press conference on Monday, Buncombe County Manager Avril Pender, in Asheville, North Carolina, told people not to come.
“We know you want to help, but please do not come here,” she says. “We do not have water, and we do not have power across the county, most of the county. The roads are still incredibly dangerous, and we simply cannot accommodate people.”
Do not send donations or supplies that have not been specifically requested by state and local organizations. While well-intentioned, this influx of unsolicited donations can further burden struggling communities.
The best way to offer your support is to donate money to reputable organizations like the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and local United Way chapters. Give.org and Charity Navigator provide trustworthiness ratings for many charitable groups.
Some of the impacted states also have disaster funds and information on how to help. See the list below.
Georgia
Application for in-kind donations
Florida
Florida Disaster Fund
North Carolina
North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund
South Carolina
Tennessee
Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund
Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Recovery Fund
