Hurricane Helene Relief Information
Hurricane Helene Impacts:
Blowing Rock was incredibly fortunate through the storm and is open for visitors. Town of Blowing Rock infrastructure is undamaged and operational. Major highways into our area are safe and open for travel. But our broader community is still recovering from Hurricane Helene and the impact to the area is significant. If you are visiting soon, we urge you to plan ahead and keep several things in mind. Please learn more about local impacts here >>
Support Your Village Businesses
A webpage has been setup to share ways to support your Village Businesses.
Business Recovery Assistance
American Express Small Business Hurricane Recovery Grant
This week, American Express announced that its giving pledge on Small Business Saturday raised over $5 million toward a second round of grants to help support the small businesses impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
This is in addition to the 1,000 small businesses receiving grants through the Small Business Hurricane Recovery grant program launched in October, in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Additional details:
- Eligible small businesses can apply online through January 3, 2025, at 11:59pm ET.
- The program offers $5,000 grants to businesses that meet eligibility requirements, including being in SBA disaster-declared counties, being financially harmed and cannot cover costs, and having 1-25 employees.
- For more details on eligibility and to apply, visit the program’s website here.
And as always, the Readiness for Resiliency Grant Program continues to help small businesses prepare and become eligible for a $5K grant in a disaster based on the grant requirements
SBA Disaster Recovery
Within the declared areas, loans are available for businesses (any size), private nonprofit organizations, and residents affected by Helene. The type of loans available are:
Application Filing Deadlines
Physical Damage: January 7, 2025 Economic Injury: June 30, 2025
Fact Sheet (English) Fact Sheet (Spanish)
You can apply online or call (800) 659-2955 to locate a Recovery Center.
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.
Before you apply for an SBA loan, you will need to obtain a FEMA case number.
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.
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. More information can be found here. Pro bono lawyers are needed to join disaster support efforts. Go here to donate; lawyers can sign up to volunteer here.
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.
Community Resources
Blowing Rock C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry is only accepting donations of food and household cleaning items. Our hours are Wednesday 9:00am - 2:00pm and by appointment: 828-532-3323
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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.
Current Donation Needs:
- Laundry detergent
- Dish soap
- Eggs (please ensure they aren't broken)
- Allergen-friendly foods (nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free)
- Items to rebuild people's pantries (flour, sugar, salt/seasonings, cooking oil, condiments) — regular-sized containers, no bulk containers please
Donation Information
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.
Project HOPE is still accepting disaster relief donations by scheduled appointment. To set up a time to meet, please text Sheri at (828)-729-8424.
Neighboring Communities
OFFICIAL STORM RECOVERY HELP & NEWS FROM TOWN OF BANNER ELK
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The Ashe County Chamber is accepting donations through The Ashe Advantage Project. Donations can be made by visiting ashechamber.com.
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For information on Avery County including Recovery information visit the Avery County Chamber of Commerce.
Blue Ridge Parkway
As of 10/23/2024 the Blue Ridge Parkway from Bamboo Gap (mm285.5) to Beacon Heights (mm 305.1) has been reopened. Single lane closures are possible. Check here for more information, including winter closures.
- Interior of the Moses Cone Manor House and Carriage Barn restrooms, milepost 294.0
- Boone Fork Trail, milepost 296.5
- Price Park Campground, milepost 296.9
- Bass Lake (restrooms available), milepost 294
- Moses Cone Manor House parking and carriage trails (no restrooms available), in and around milepost 294
- Price Lake Picnic Area (expect portable toilets), milepost 296.4
- Other trails between milepost 285.5 and 305 (use with extreme caution)
Visitors may experience delayed openings and modified hours in some locations. Complete campground information and reservations are available at recreation.gov.
Click here to confirm service availability and operating hours.
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
The Red Cross is also accepting volunteers, you can sign up at https://www.redcross.org/vol.../volunteer-opportunities.html
Road Conditions
- 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.
- 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