Massive reaction follows the punch in the gut from Hurricane Helene

Helene ripped a deadly swath through the mountains of western North Carolina, dumping extreme rainfall — more than two feet in some places — and causing catastrophic flash flooding. Many areas are in ruins. There are fallen trees everywhere; Roads, bridges and driveways are washed out; Homes and businesses were destroyed by floods and landslides.

We provide assistance throughout Watauga County, North Carolina – home to Samaritan's Purse's international headquarters in the town of Boone. The response also extends to neighboring counties in North Carolina and East Tennessee.

Southwest of Boone, rivers raged beyond their banks, causing widespread destruction in and around Asheville, North Carolina. Our response there extends throughout Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, Black Mountain, Montreat and Swannanoa.

“Our hearts break for everyone devastated by Hurricane Helene. People have lost their homes, streets are flooded, millions are without power and some have even lost loved ones – so many of our neighbors are suffering. We are grateful that we can respond and help in the name of Jesus. Please pray for these families and for our teams working in some of the hardest hit areas in the Southeast.” –Franklin Graham

Samaritan's Purse also responds to some of the many medical needs in Western North Carolina. We have established a 20-bed emergency field hospital designed as an emergency room triage unit at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville. The facility is staffed by medical personnel from our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). We also provide oxygen at various locations to support those without electricity.

Many communities in the rugged mountains of North Carolina and far eastern Tennessee have been cut off by Helene's devastation. Samaritan's Purse coordinates aerial assistance in some of these locations, using our own helicopter and other organizations' aircraft to deliver basic necessities to people in need. We thank God that we were able to provide food, water and other assistance to those isolated by the storm.

We are also responding to the destruction caused by Helene in Florida and Georgia. We have U.S. disaster relief bases in Perry, Florida, where the Category 4 hurricane made landfall, and in Tampa, where thousands of homes are flooded. South Georgia was also hit hard. We have established a base in Valdosta.

Volunteers are urgently needed at all of our locations. Please continue to pray for all affected by the storm and for our teams who serve as the hands and feet of Jesus.

More than 190 storm-related deaths have been reported, and many more people are still missing. Katrina is the only hurricane with a higher death toll in the United States in the last 50 years. Please pray for families who have lost loved ones.

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