More than 1,000 American Red Cross responders have deployed to North Carolina, Florida and several more states throughout the Southeast to help people devastated by Hurricane Helene. Sadly, at least 100 people have lost their lives to this tragedy, and thousands are missing due to catastrophic flooding in North Carolina.
With destruction spanning some 800 miles, Helene could be one of the costliest storms in U.S. history. Conditions are extremely dire in western North Carolina, where severe flooding has isolated some 630,000 people, torn apart buildings and roads, cut off drinking water, and knocked out wireless connectivity and electricity. Survivors in North Carolina and beyond are counting on us for food and refuge, and we expect our assistance to be needed for months.
Helene made landfall Thursday in Florida’s Big Bend region, ripping apart communities that have suffered repeated disaster impacts over the last 15 months. From there, it carved a path of destruction through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee, tearing apart neighborhoods and leaving millions without power, unable to cook meals or charge phones and medical devices. “It scared me to death. I’ve been through three hurricanes in the past fifteen months — and this was the worst,” said Garry, of Steinhatchee, Florida. “But the Red Cross has been here every time.”
In the face of extreme tragedy, the Red Cross is delivering essential relief and sorely needed emotional support to thousands of people who’ve fled dangerous conditions and are facing profound heartbreak. With partners, we are running over 70 shelters, providing safe refuge to more than 2,600 people forced from their homes—about half of whom are in North Carolina. Given the extent of destruction, we expect to be sheltering people for months to come.
Where it is safe to do so, our volunteers are driving emergency responses vehicles loaded with nourishing meals, bottles of water and cleanup supplies into disaster-ravaged neighborhoods, making the aftermath of this disaster more manageable for survivors mucking out homes filled with filthy water and mold.
Thanks to donors like you, we can support Helene survivors today and for the long haul. Your powerful generosity makes it possible to help them weather this crisis and begin to recover.
