Hurricane Helene Relief Information
Hurricane Helene Impacts:
Due to ongoing impacts from Hurricane Helene and continuing emergency response operations, Watauga County, the Town of Boone, and the Town of Blowing Rock remain under a curfew from 11pm to 7am until further notice.
Local crews and volunteers continue to work tirelessly, and we are so grateful to all our emergency response teams. Blowing Rock was incredibly fortunate through the storm. Our water is safe and downtown power and internet largely restored thanks to the hard work of Town employees, Blue Ridge Energy, and others. Town of Blowing Rock infrastructure is undamaged and operational. If you are seeking information about a particular business in Blowing Rock, please contact them directly about operations.
Town of Blowing Rock crews continue to assist the Town of Boone and nearby communities where possible and we remain dedicated to supporting recovery efforts with our neighbors. Please note that many areas in our region are still without power and over 100 roads in the county remain impassable. The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed to all public use. See road updates at DriveNC.gov.
For updates on local attractions operations, click here.
Our top priority is the safety and well-being of both our visitors and residents. We urge everyone to stay updated through our official county and town channels and those of local emergency management for the latest information on conditions, safety advisories, and travel restrictions. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work to ensure that Watauga County can once again provide the safe and memorable experiences our destination is known for. We encourage those currently visiting to respect the curfew and follow the guidance provided by emergency officials to ensure your safety.
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Business Recovery Assistance
Experts from the SBA will provide an update on those resources and how you can access them now in a complimentary webinar this Thursday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m.
Every business (any size) within the declared areas, private nonprofit organization, or resident affected by Helene can apply online or at the opened Business Recovery Centers (BRC’s) managed by SBA or Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC’s) managed by FEMA. A full list of counties in the declared areas is at the bottom of this email.
It’s helpful to start this process immediately. You do not have to wait for insurance coverage determinations or claims denials to apply for SBA programs. The application filing deadline for physical damage is Wednesday, Nov. 27 and economic injury is Monday, June 30.
This webinar is open to all and there will be time for questions at the end of the session. We hope to see you there.
North Carolina Department of Commerce – Business Recovery Portal for NC
A Business Recovery Portal has been published by a partnership of SBTDC , the N.C. Community College's Small Business Center Network, the NC Rural Center, and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Access the portal here.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in South Carolina following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 25. Click the links below for more information:
US Chamber – Resources Page
https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/disasters/responding-to-hurricane-helene
WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund
Applications are now open for the WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund, made possible
through $7.5 million in initial funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation. These rapid recovery
loans are available to help small businesses rebuild after the devastating impacts of Tropical
Storm Helene. Businesses impacted by Tropical Storm Helene & based in one of the 32 NC
counties covered in the SBA’s Helene Disaster Declaration Area can apply for rapid recovery
loans of up to $100,000 to meet immediate needs while waiting for federal loans, insurance
payouts, or other relief.
Apply here:
https://www.mountainbizworks.org/helene/fund
https://www.mountainbizworks.org/helene-espanol/fund-espanol/
Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund
Click here for the application link, and eligibility requirements, for the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund (RDRF). A partnership between DoorDash and Hello Alice, restaurants, gastropubs and bakeries with brick & mortar locations that have lost revenue from a disaster may apply for $10,000 grant awards from the RDRF program. The program is accepting entries this round up December 2, 2024 at 6PM EST. To read complete terms and conditions of program, click here.
From the IRS
IRS provides relief for Helene; various deadlines postponed to May 1, 2025; part or all of 7 states qualify - IR-2024-253, Oct. 1, 2024 — The Internal Revenue Service today announced disaster tax relief for all individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Helene, including the entire states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and parts of Florida, Tennessee and Virginia.
Residential Recovery Assistance
FEMA - Hurricane Helene Information Page
How to apply for FEMA assistance for homeowners
Legal Aide of North Carolina
The non-profit law firm will deploy in disaster-stricken areas to help with FEMA aid applications, legal support, long-term housing, fraud cases, and more. The organization also operates a Legal Aid hotline (866) 219-5262. Pro bono lawyers are needed to join disaster support efforts. Go here to donate; lawyers can sign up to volunteer here.
It is our understanding, now that we have been declared a Federal disaster area, families losing groceries to spoilage due to power outages can place a request to FEMA to get up to $750 in reimbursement to help alleviate the drain on the family pocketbook. You can call 1-800-621-3362 and state exactly “I HAVE A SERIOUS FOOD NEED” – FEMA FOOD ALLOWANCE. If you choose to use the website, visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.
Information on FEMA Response Rumors
How to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance
October 1, 2024: Following a federal disaster declaration because of Hurricane Helene, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are now available in 25 counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. People in these counties have 60 days from October 1 to file an application for Disaster Unemployment Assistance at des.nc.gov. The deadline to apply is December 2.
The purpose of this page is to provide information and resources to North Carolina residents and visitors who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
Blue Ridge Energy
Community Resources
Blowing Rock C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry is now open 6 days a week from 9:00am - 3:00pm as a donation drop off location as well as a food pick-up pantry. We have food and household items as well as boxed meals that are ready to serve that do not need to be heated.
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The Hunger and Health Coalition (H&HC) has many resources available now. They are reaching out to all areas and will provide needs where needed, please ask them! They also have an open pharmacy with insulin (prescription proof required) as well as Benadryl (yellow jackets have been an issue in the county) and EpiPens. H&HC also has baby supply needs, pet needs and shelf stable food which can be eaten without the need of power. They are accepting donations and using their resources to send donations to all local areas. They are open Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm and located at 141 Health Center Dr Ste C, Boone. You can also give them a call for assistance: Main Line: (828) 262-1628, Pharmacy: (828) 264 5212.
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Casting Bread and Blowing Rock Cares are organizing a resource center from the American Legion Building (333 Wallingford Street, Blowing Rock) beginning Friday, October 5th and (for now) operating until Tuesday, October 15th. The center will be open from 10:00am-4:00pm daily. Supplies available will be bottled water, nonperishable items, baby items and more. Electrical outlets will be available to charge electronics, and anyone can use our public Wi-Fi while the center is operating. Donation items can be dropped off from 10:00am to 4:00pm (donations can also be left by the front door from 6:00am-10:00am). Anyone can volunteer through www.love-give.org or make donations online through www.blowingrockcares.com or www.increasefoodsecurity.org - please make all donations payable to Blowing Rock Cares or Casting Bread.
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Wayne Miller of Footsloggers is working with World Central Kitchen to take delivery of 2-2000 gallon water tanks with pumps and spigots to serve anyone who needs fresh drinking water to those who need it. These will be at the Boone Footsloggers location on Depot Street in Boone.
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Urgent Care at Blowing Rock Medical Park is back to full speed and the Medical Clinic is back to a regular schedule. 828-295-3116.
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UNC HEALTH Appalachian -
Watauga County
- Watauga Medical Center, Cannon Memorial Hospital, and Appalachian Regional Behavioral Health Hospital are fully operational and open 24/7.
- Surgeries have resumed at Watauga Medical Center and will resume at Cannon Memorial Hospital on Monday.
- Urgent Care Services are available at 261 Longvue Drive in Boone (across from Watauga Medical Center) from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- This is the direct link for updated openings/closings for UNC Health Appalachian: https://apprhs.org/openings-and-closings-hurricane-helene/We will update this daily if you would like to just share the link.
Avery County
- Baker Primary Care Center is located at 436 Hospital Drive, Suite 230, Linville, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Click here for the latest information
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(828) 263-4178 IS THE NON-EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER. The Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps call center is now operational for all non-urgent inquiries and reports related to the hurricane. Use this number for information regarding your families and homes in the area. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., leave a message after hours.
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Appalachian State University has opened the central dining hall on campus.
They have power and internet and are serving food. If you need help, you do not need to be a student. Main Line 828-262-2000
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High Country Radio is broadcasting on 96.5FM (WATA), 95.3 (The Pulse), and 94.3 (The Highway) while other transmitters are offline. Please tune in for important emergency and community operations information over the coming days. WFDD (88.5) FM has also been supplying regular updates about conditions in Western North Carolina.
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The Town of Blowing Rock
There is free public WiFi and anyone within the Main Street area of Town can access it.
Trash: Public works is picking up normal residential trash as it is accessible. Cleanup Week has been canceled. Republic is not collecting recycling for the foreseeable future so it may be some time before they pick up, this includes commercial cardboard pickups. The Town in conjunction with Watauga County has contracted with SDR to remove debris damage from homes. The debris pickup will begin in our area on Monday - please do NOT block any drains. This pickup does not include furniture or appliances damaged by flooding - when we have more information about where everyone can take these items, we will let you know. As of now, the landfills are being overrun and are only open to the contract company SDR. Convenience Centers, like the Aho Road Site, are accepting the normal things they usually do (like household garbage, glass and cardboard). Aho Convenience Center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 6:30am-6:00pm and Saturday: 8:00am to 6:00pm.
Donation Information
Official Donation Drop-Off Site for Watauga County
The Summit Pickleball - 278 Industrial Park Dr, Boone, NC 28607. (828) 532-5442
First Baptist Church Blowing Rock is a disaster relief collection location. We are collecting items here at the First Baptist Church Blowing Rock Fellowship Hall to collect items the guys can bring when they go to some of the unreached areas for disaster relief. Please bring items between 10-2 daily. Call the church office at 828-295-7715, and we will let you in and help unload the items. Here is a list of their current needs.
Project HOPE and friends are supporting the leading efforts of Cornerstone Summit Church who are distributing food and water on the front lines. Your donation will immediately be put in the hands of those in desperate need. You can be a part of sustaining their strength!
Here is how you can offer HOPE:
DISASTER RELIEF DONATION DROP OFF:
-Blowing Rock Exxon Gas Station on the corner of Sunset
-Cornerstone Summit Church on 421 across from New Market
Wine To Water - Our warehouse at 689 George Wilson Rd is still the main drop point for donated supplies and pickup.
Valle Crucis Conference Center Annex - open for hot showers, coffee, charging stations, and water. We had another incredible donation this morning of diapers, toilet paper, manual can openers, and hand sanitizer. We will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., until we are no longer needed. If you are able to bring donations, what seems to be needed are:
- Individually wrapped snacks
- Bread and peanut butter
- Batteries
- Diapers
- Heavy duty trash bags
- Big bottled waters
- Work gloves
- Travel size toiletries!
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The Ashe County Chamber is accepting donations through The Ashe Advantage Project. Donations can be made by visiting ashechamber.com. Also, needed items are:
- Cleaning supplies
- Work gloves
- Pet food
- Gas jugs
- Generators
- Dehumidifiers
- Jugs and cases of water
Volunteer Opportunities
Samaritan’s Purse is coordinating day and night volunteer opportunities for tree work, debris cleanup, roof tarping and mud outs. Sign up at spvolunteer.org.
Debris clean-up through Samaritan’s Purse call Brent Graybeal at (828) 773-9580 or Andy Burke at (828) 434-5554.
Casting Bread - please visit our Facebook page
Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps is coordinating volunteers with state and national emergency response teams. Sign up by filling out this interest form: https://forms.gle/AaKy78d2pL7V2sNk7
Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
Every day the fellas meet at the Speckled Trout Outfitters to identify high priority areas and go from there; while Erica, Emily and our office staff run mobile command ops. In addition to the construction and electrical work we are doing in the community we are organizing massive supply and food collection and disbursements.
We would appreciate any help you can provide us. Attached is donation request letter with details on our efforts and have included a go fund me link below. We appreciate any support you can offer, and also if you would share this info with your friends and family. https://gofund.me/ae85c348
The Brinkers
Perkinsville Baptist Church (274 Jefferson Rd, Boone) is organizing daily volunteers who have equipment - particularly chainsaws. -
The Red Cross is also accepting volunteers, you can sign up at https://www.redcross.org/vol.../volunteer-opportunities.html
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Website
From Our Members
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Chetola Resort
If you are in need of hot showers and free laundry, to come to the Spa and Pool area at Chetola. You can park up behind the pool and come in that door from 9am to 6:45pm. We have free extra detergent for those who need it. We also have WiFi and computers at our business center for those who need to get online.
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The Blowing Rock Community Library is open and has power outlets if you need to charge any devices.
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Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
We invite you to bring small devices that need to be charged to our Community room and make use of our Wi-Fi.
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Carolina West Wireless
Our retail stores are open and ready to serve your wireless needs. Please stop by our locations in Wilkesboro, Boone, West Jefferson, Lenoir and Hickory where we can help with charging your devices or use our Wi-Fi. You can also enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you're there! Stay safe, everyone. We're in this together.
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Uneek Tree - Drone Inspections
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we are offering drone inspections for residential and commercial properties. To request an inspection, please text or email us your full address. While road closures may limit access to some areas, we will do our best to reach every property. As a local business, we are not seeking to profit from our community's devastation, and we are offering services at 50% off our regular rates. Our goal is to provide essential support during this challenging time. Let us help you assess the damage and move forward.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we are offering drone inspections for residential and commercial properties. To request an inspection, please text or email us your full address. While road closures may limit access to some areas, we will do our best to reach every property. As a local business, we are not seeking to profit from our community's devastation, and we are offering services at 50% off our regular rates. Our goal is to provide essential support during this challenging time. Let us help you assess the damage and move forward.
828-228-7825 / justin@uneektree.com
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Home Remedy USA
If there is anyone in the Blowing Rock area that needs help with roof typing or any other kind of waterproof services, please contact us at our emergency number as our office is also without power, Internet, and phones. The emergency contact number is 828-234-6445. Feel free to email at bfries@homeremedyusa.com
Brandon Fries
Owner
Home Remedy USA / Roofing - Gutters - Windows
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Republic Services
We are working around the clock to assist with clean up.
If any companies or residents are in need of dumpster services, please contact me.
We are giving discounted rates to assist with this.
Also, we can have supplies brought to wherever - Water, food, clothes, whatever is needed. We are all local and a lot of our staff up in the high country have been affected. So please let me know how we can assist in any way.
Tabetha Tallent
Construction Account Manager
Serving All Temporary Containers Needs. Big and Small.
Covering Alexander, Catawba, Lincoln, Caldwell, Wilkes, Ashe, Watauga, and Avery.
e TTallent@republicservices.com
c 828-303-0191 (call or text)
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Road Conditions
- There are shortages of water, food, gas, power and communications in western NC.
- Access is limited to local and hurricane response traffic. You cannot get from North Carolina to TN via I-40 or I-26.
- There may be closed roads not listed on DriveNC.gov as many areas are not able to report at this time.
- People evacuating the Asheville area can use I-40 east or I-26 east.
- View suggested route map from TN
The Chamber Office is situated in the historic Miller/Robbins house located at:
132 Park Avenue
(Behind the Blowing Rock Market on Main Street)
Our hours are Monday – Saturday, 9AM – 5PM
For information about the Blowing Rock area, please call 828-295-7851