UW Combined Fund Drive

September 27, 2024

Hurricane Helene: how you can help recovery

Hurricane Helene as it makes landfall on Sept. 26. NOAA photograph.Millions of people living in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and as far north as the Ohio Valley are reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Helene blasted Florida’s northern Gulf Coast late Thursday, making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph where the state’s panhandle and peninsula meet.

After leaving catastrophic wind damage and substantial flooding along the Gulf Coast in its wake, the storm continued moving north, knocking out power to millions of homes and businesses from Florida to West Virginia, stirring countless tornadoes and dumping torrents of rain — up to 24 inches in some locations — resulting in landslides and widespread flooding, especially across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. More than 100 people have died as a result of the storm.

One of the hardest hit areas is the lush mountains of western North Carolina, centered in the city of Asheville. Besides storm damage and widespread flooding, communities there are struggling to cope without water, food, power, gasoline and cellphone service. Roads remain blocked, bridges washed out and water and sewer services disrupted. Officials are warning that restoration of services could take weeks and recovery could take months or even years.

“This is an unprecedented tragedy that requires an unprecedented response,” said Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina.

The region is in immediate need of medical and disaster relief supplies

Consider making a one-time gift or setting up monthly payroll deduction through the UWCFD to one of our member organizations actively responding in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath: 

AmeriCares (charity code 0315518), a health-focused relief and development organization, is responding to the impact of Hurricane Helene with medicines, relief supplies and emergency response teams.

Project HOPE (charity code 0316050) is responding to help people impacted by Hurricane Helene. Your gift today helps their teams prepare for emergencies and continue lifesaving work around the world.

The Salvation Army (charity code 1478728) is preparing field kitchens and other relief supplies, including food, clothing, tarps and clean-up kits to help along the path of Hurricane Helene.

American Red Cross (charity code 0337346) is working around the clock with our partners to provide help to people struggling with the heartbreaking damage left behind by Hurricane Helene.

Direct Relief (charity code 0316325) has committed an initial $1 million in funding for Hurricane Helene relief efforts and has made its $100 million+ medical inventory available for medical needs in the region.

International Medical Corps (charity code 1479246) delivers vital healthcare services and training to help those affected by conflict, disaster and disease, often in difficult and dangerous environments such as Hurricane Helene.

Save the Children (charity code 0315475) is mobilizing its emergency response team to meet the most urgent needs of children most impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Humane Society Disaster Relief (charity code 0314983) is dispatching its Animal Rescue and Response team to answer the call in Hurricane Helene and in all large-scale emergencies, including tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes and power outages.