If you live in a disaster area impacted by Hurricane Helene and it's been declared a presidential disaster zone, you may be eligible for $750 in initial relief to cover urgent needs. Learn more
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If you live in a disaster area impacted by Hurricane Helene and it's been declared a presidential disaster zone, you may be eligible for $750 in initial relief to cover urgent needs. Learn more
Hurricaine Helene Relief & Resources
Victims of Hurricane Helene are facing numerous hardships that are straining both their immediate well-being and long-term recovery prospects. Many have lost their homes or are living in unsafe conditions, needing temporary housing solutions and financial aid for repairs. Access to essential items like food, clean water, and hygiene supplies remains a critical issue, as relief organizations struggle with overwhelmed supply chains. Power outages continue to affect thousands, leaving them without electricity or communication, making it difficult to access emergency services. Healthcare systems are also under pressure, with hospitals overwhelmed and some areas lacking medical services entirely. Adding to these challenges, many people have lost their jobs, leaving them without income to rebuild or cover basic expenses. In response, greater financial support, volunteers, and coordinated efforts among relief organizations are urgently needed to help communities recover.
If you're looking for relief and resources related to Hurricane Helene, here are several options across government, local, and faith-based organizations:
FEMA Financial Assistance
You may qualify for FEMA assistance if you live in a presidentially declared disaster area impacted by Hurricane Helene. If approved, you may receive $750 initially for immediate needs and may also be eligible for other assistance for temporary housing, basic home repairs or other disaster-caused expenses. You can apply:
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The National Disaster Distress Helpline
The National Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Key Organizations Providing Assistance
These organizations, along with numerous local churches and community groups, are working tirelessly to support Hurricane Helene survivors, uniting their efforts to provide immediate relief and ensure a sustainable, long-term recovery. These organizations provide a range of services from medical care to rebuilding homes and communities in disaster-stricken regions.
Here’s a list of key entities offering assistance:
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Here are some locations providing food, clothing, and essential resources for victims of Hurricane Helene:
Please use the interactive map to locate nearby churches, community centers, or government aid stations distributing supplies and accepting donations for Hurricane Helene victims. If you're aware of any location not currently listed on the map, kindly reach out to us with the details so we can keep it updated and ensure that as many resources as possible are available to those in need.
Press Release Release No. 0199.24 - usda.gov U.S Department of Agriculture
USDA Announces Availability of D-SNAP for Disaster Areas in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that people in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee recovering from Tropical Storm Helene may be eligible for food assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Approximately 982,930 households in Georgia, 152,572 households in North Carolina and 54,692 households in Tennessee are estimated to be eligible for this relief to help with grocery expenses. Through this program, which USDA makes available through states in the aftermath of disasters, people who may not be eligible for SNAP in normal circumstances can participate if they meet specific criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.
Georgia will operate D-SNAP in four phases:
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October 21, 2024 through October 26, 2024 for these counties: Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, and Long.
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October 29, 2024 through November 4, 2024 for these counties: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Glynn, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, and Ware.
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November 7, 2024 through November 14, 2024 for these counties: Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, and Washington.
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November 18, 2024 through November 23, 2024 for these counties: Appling, Candler, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, and Wheeler Counties.
North Carolina will operate its D-SNAP application from Oct. 18 – Oct. 24, 2024.
Eligible counties include 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.
Tennessee will operate its D-SNAP application from Oct. 21 – Oct. 25, 2024.
Eligible counties include Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington.
How to Apply for D-SNAP
To be eligible for D-SNAP, a household must either live or work in an identified disaster area, have been affected by the disaster, and meet certain eligibility criteria. Eligible households will receive one month of benefits – equal to the maximum monthly amount for a SNAP household of their size – that they can use to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or from select retailers online. For more information about each state's SNAP program, visit Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services, North Carolina’s Division of Health and Human Services and Tennessee’s Department of Human Services.
For more information about this and other available aid, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee residents can dial 2-1-1.
The timing of D-SNAP varies with the unique circumstances of each disaster, but always begins after food distribution channels have been restored and families can purchase and prepare food at home. Before operating a D-SNAP, a state must ensure that the proper public information, staffing, and resources are in place. Additional information about D-SNAP application dates and locations will be shared locally through the Departments of Health and Human Services in each state.
Current SNAP households are not eligible for D-SNAP. However, USDA has also approved Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee and to automatically issue supplemental SNAP benefits to current SNAP households in the affected areas to bring their allotment up to the maximum amount for their household size if they do not already receive that amount. SNAP households in any remaining counties may request supplemental benefits from their state SNAP agency.
FEMA Programs to Support Disaster Survivors
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) provides several programs to assist disaster survivors, offering both immediate relief and long-term recovery support. These programs help individuals and communities recover from natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Here are some key FEMA programs available to disaster survivors:
Here are several key programs FEMA provides for disaster survivors:
Individual Assistance (IA) Program:
This program provides direct financial support to individuals and households affected by a declared disaster. It helps cover a wide range of needs, such as temporary housing, essential home repairs, and other disaster-related expenses. Assistance can include:
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Housing Assistance: Funds for temporary housing (rental assistance or hotel costs) and essential home repairs to make a residence safe and livable.
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Other Needs Assistance: Support for medical, dental, funeral, childcare expenses, and other critical needs.
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Transitional Sheltering Assistance: Short-term lodging in hotels for those displaced by the disaster.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA):
For individuals who lose their jobs due to a disaster and are not eligible for standard unemployment insurance, DUA provides temporary financial assistance. This program is designed to help workers, including self-employed individuals, farmers, and others whose employment was directly impacted by the disaster.
Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP):
FEMA offers mental health support to disaster survivors through the CCP. This program provides short-term counseling services for individuals dealing with stress and trauma from the disaster. It focuses on emotional recovery and offers coping strategies through community-based outreach.
Disaster Case Management Program
Disaster Case Management (DCM) is a supplemental award made to a state, tribal, or territorial government or non-governmental organization to assist disaster-impacted individuals and families through the recovery process. DCM involves partnerships between a case manager and a disaster survivor. The intention of this program is to assess and address a survivor’s unmet needs through a disaster recovery plan. This disaster recovery plan includes resources, decision-making priorities, providing guidance, and tools to assist disaster survivors.
If you need help reconnecting with loved ones missing after the hurricane:
Visit the Red Cross website and Provide as much detail as you can to assist them in potentially locating your missing loved one.