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Stamford, Conn. – Sept. 29, 2024 – Americares is deploying a response team to North Carolina to assist the relief efforts for Hurricane Helene. The emergency response experts are expected to be in Asheville by Tuesday assessing the health needs in flood-ravaged communities, before making their way toward Tennessee.
“This storm is one of the worst to hit western North Carolina and Tennessee in years; it’s going to be a long recovery,” said Americares U.S. Director of Emergency Response Mariel Fonteyn. “Americares will be there to support those in need in the days and weeks ahead.”
The storm made landfall late Thursday in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane before heading north, leaving millions without power and a trail of destruction in its path. News outlets are reporting 64 people have died throughout the Southeast and President Joseph Biden has issued federal disaster declarations for dozens of counties and tribal governments in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee.
In western North Carolina, where major flooding destroyed homes and washed away roads and bridges isolating communities, Governor Roy Cooper reported 10 state residents have died and more than 200 people have been rescued from the floodwaters.
The Americares team headed to western North Carolina is ready to deliver medicines and relief supplies to affected communities, as well as provide emergency funding to support the restoration of health services. It is the second group of responders Americares has mobilized for Helene. The first emergency team arrived in Florida on Saturday and is on the ground in the hardest-hit communities assessing the health needs.
Americares has reached out to 360 partner organizations in eight states, mostly clinics serving low-income residents without health insurance, to offer assistance.
Americares responds to more than 35 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters. The organization has a long history of responding to flooding and major storms in the southeastern United States, including Hurricanes Florence, Ian, Idalia and Michael in recent years.
Donations to Americares Hurricane Helene Relief Fund will support the organization’s response to this emergency. To donate go to: americares.org/Helene