Hurricane Helene has wreaked havoc across North Carolina, with mountain communities experiencing the greatest loss. Some 20-30 inches of rain over three days virtually destroyed entire towns, wiping out infrastructure and rendering roads impassable. Many families are grappling with the harsh reality of weeks without food, water, or shelter. And hundreds are still missing. In the chaos, United Way of North Carolina has been coordinating relief efforts, primarily focusing on people in the most isolated mountain hollers. The situation continues to be dire.
Brittany Pruitt Fletcher, CEO of United Way of North Carolina, describes the devastation as unprecedented, particularly in rural, mountainous areas like Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery counties. “The infrastructure in these communities was already fragile,” she explained. “Now, with roads washed away, people are trapped with no way out and no way in.”
North Carolina’s 211 service (NC 211), which United Way manages, has been a critical resource during the crisis, fielding thousands of calls for help. Many are searching for loved ones. “We received over 4,200 calls on Sunday alone,” Fletcher said. “The majority were welfare checks, people desperate to know if their family members were okay.”
211 is at the heart of North Carolina’s crisis response. The 24-7 hotline is partnering with state and local government emergency management to handle welfare check requests, creating a system for people to text or call to report missing persons. This information is then funneled directly to search and rescue teams on the ground. At the height of the storm, the 10-member team fielded 4,200 calls in a single day. Despite their challenges, the team operated efficiently, reducing callers’ hold time to under 10 minutes.
One worried woman called to say she’d lost touch with her husband. She held onto the hope that as a trucker and former Marine, he’d know how to survive. Two days later, she called back to share that her husband was safe, hunkering down with three other truckers. While relieving to 211 call centers operators, her call also let rescue crews redirect precious resources to finding those still missing.
Beyond search and rescue, United Way is also tackling the pressing issue of shelter. Many homes have been destroyed, leaving people with nowhere to go. United Way is partnering with state agencies and organizations like Airbnb to find temporary housing solutions for displaced residents. “The challenge isn’t just finding shelter,” Fletcher said. “It’s (also) making sure we can get people to it, especially with so many roads impassable.”
United Way of North Carolina is already working towards long-term recovery. Infrastructure repair, mainly rebuilding roads and bridges, will take months, if not years. “This is going to be a long road,” Fletcher notes. “But United Way is here for the long haul. We’re not going anywhere.”
Meanwhile, United Way will keep supporting these communities, and working with local and state government to coordinate recovery efforts. “In moments like this, it doesn’t matter what side of the aisle you’re on. We come together. We help each other,” Fletcher said.
Join us and give back by donating to the Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund or contact your local United Way to get involved.