Non-profit organizations reach out to help Western NC

Community volunteers, churches like the Mother Grove Goddess Temple and organizations like BeLoved Asheville are ramping up to provide relief to those in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, providing everything from gas cans to camping supplies to winter gear and first aid supplies.

In response to Hurricane Helene, volunteer group Flush AVL addressed the growing health issue of water shortages by distributing non-potable water to those in need for flushing toilets and maintaining hygiene. Volunteers used QR codes on the water containers to track refills, while an online map helped coordinate deliveries. Additionally, another group, Planet Water, installed AquaBlocks, devices that filter water from local sources to support up to 6,000 people daily, to further address the water shortage issue.

In the aftermath of Hurrican Helene, hospitals in Western North Carolina are working to keep healthcare services operational with methods like staff adjustments, backup power systems, coordination with local emergency services and creating disaster preparedness plans. These efforts have allowed the hospitals to stay open during the storms and continue providing care to those who need it.

In response to Hurricane Helene's devastation, water rescue experts from Outdoor Adventure Rafting in Tennessee are volunteering to deliver essential supplies, medical aid and communication to isolated communities. They mobilized over 200 volunteers and used resources like excavation equipment and Starlink satellite internet to bridge communication gaps. Their efforts have reached several communities, helping to stabilize them with food, water and other critical resources.

Volunteers with BeLoved Asheville are bringing Asheville residents water so they can flush toilets, wash their hands and shower amid the water scarcity caused by Hurricane Helene. These improvised distribution systems have become crucial to ensure residents can maintain their hygiene and prevent illness until their normal water access is restored.

Water Mission is helping ensure Western North Carolina residents have access to safe water following Hurricane Helene. The group installed four of its proprietary mobile water treatment systems which produce 15,000 liters of clean water a day. The group has also distributed and gassed 400 generators for people to power their wells.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene and Milton, mutual aid groups across the country are emerging to get essential supplies to thousands of people in isolated communities and working to combat misinformation and government mistrust surrounding climate change. Because mutual aid groups aren’t bound to the bureaucracy of government organizations, they’re able to act quickly and connect with community members on a deeper level.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the regional Veterans Affairs system around the Charles George VA Medical Center is sending out teams to provide services and supplies to more than 2,600 high-risk veterans living in isolated areas.

Dry Clean City is offering free laundry services to Hurricane Helene survivors, as most of them lost their belongings in the storm and/or still don’t have electricity. The need for these services is significant. In just eight days, the business washed about 4,000 pounds of clothes from both hurricane survivors and their normal customer intake.

With the help of mobile wastewater treatment units called Bluboxes, cities experiencing a water crisis after Hurricane Helene are now able to process 400,000 to 450,000 gallons of water a day, about half of their water plant’s normal capacity.