WNC Helene Relief: County Resources

As part of the FHLI-wide response to Hurricane Helene, our NC Rural Health Association (NCRHA) program put together a county-by-county resource map. With this resource, our goal is twofold:

to support anyone seeking direct services in their county access them more quickly, and
to help anyone who would like to contribute easily find community-based organizations working in every impacted county.

The map will continue to be updated. If you know of a resource not yet listed, please contact brady.blackburn@foundationhli.org to add it.

Below, you can learn more about why supporting local community-based organizations is so important, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Local, State, & Federal Partnerships in Disaster Recovery

During his speech at the 2024 Bernstein Event, US Health and Human Services Regional Secretary Antrell Tyson, Esq. underscored the essential importance of local, state, and federal partnerships in the Hurricane Helene disaster response.

“This calls for partnerships across sectors, bringing together public health, health care providers, community organizations, and private sectors because together, we can prepare for future challenges to ensure that our systems are not only robust but also adaptable to the ever-changing landscape of public health.”

— US Health and Human Services Regional Secretary Antrell Tyson, Esq.

These partnerships have already been instrumental in saving lives and supporting those impacted by this catastrophic event. According to FEMA, as of October 24, 2024, the response in North Carolina has included:

$191M toward community response and recovery costs
$3.8M in disaster unemployment assistance
22,700 home visits and survivor interactions
3,000 hotel stays currently checked in
1,500 federal responders
12,000 total disaster recovery center visits
$167M assistance to individuals
110K total individuals approved

While state and federal support is essential and will remain vital moving forward, local, community-based organizations (CBOs) are the key to ensuring communities drive their own paths to recovery and guide the rebuilding process.

The Unique Role of Community-Based Organizations

CBOs are public or private nonprofit organizations representing a community or a significant segment of their community. The National Community-Based Organization Network defines these organizations as “driven by community residents in all aspects of its existence.”

This means that most of the leadership and staff are from the community, the offices are local, the community members set the focus areas, and residents work closely with the organization to create solutions, guide programs, and take on leadership roles in all stages of their work.

The CDC Foundation says, “Community-based organizations find innovative solutions aligned to the unique needs of their community, serve as trusted voices in their areas, and build cross-sector partnerships for the good of public health.” These organizations are uniquely positioned to improve outcomes, increase access, and advance equitable solutions to the most pressing challenges in their local areas during natural disaster recovery and beyond.

The Importance of Investing in Community-Driven Care

Often operating with limited funding and staff, as recovery continues in WNC, CBOs across the region will need as much financial support and as many resources as possible to sustain this long-term work. Natural disasters are traumatic events to live through, and CBO leaders and staff members have also experienced the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.

“There is no right or wrong way to feel when a disaster hits, and people will continue to experience the emotional impact long after the storm has passed. Helping western North Carolinians rebuild means also helping them heal.”

— NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley

Supporting CBOs includes supporting the leaders and staff members who provide community care, ensuring they have what they need to care for themselves and avoid burnout.

Each community knows best what they need and how to meet those needs. We must prioritize putting money and resources in their hands so they can drive the decision-making around how they are used. It will be important to continue directing support to WNC in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

Support Community-Based Organizations in WNC

As recovery from Hurricane Helene continues, FHLI is committed to supporting community-based organizations across Western North Carolina (WNC). We will be collaborating with our statewide partners and advocating for policies that advance health access and equity for every North Carolinian, regardless of who they are or where they live.

Please share the NCRHA county resource map with your network. We hope you find it helpful in identifying community-based organizations to support as WNC continues to heal and rebuild. Stay tuned for more, and check out the Oral Health in WNC Post-Helene.