Massive Response Follows Hurricane Helene’s Gut Punch

Helene tore a deadly path through the mountains of western North Carolina, dumping extreme rainfall—2 feet in some places—and causing catastrophic flash flooding. Many areas are in ruins. There are toppled trees everywhere; roads, bridges, and driveways are washed out; homes and businesses have been destroyed by flooding and landslides.

We are providing relief throughout Watauga County, North Carolina—home to Samaritan’s Purse international headquarters in the town of Boone. The response also extends to include neighboring counties in North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

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

“Our hearts break for all those who have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. People have lost their homes, roads are washed out, millions are without power, and some have even lost loved ones—so many of our neighbors are hurting. We're thankful that we can respond and help in Jesus' Name. Please pray for these families and for our teams that are working in some of the hardest-hit areas across the Southeast.” —Franklin Graham

Samaritan's Purse is also responding to some of the many medical needs in western North Carolina. We have deployed a 20-bed Emergency Field Hospital—designed as an emergency room triage unit—at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville. The facility is staffed by our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) medical personnel. We are also providing oxygen at different locations to support those who have no power.

Many communities in the High Country of North Carolina and far eastern Tennessee are cut off by Helene's devastation. Samaritan's Purse is coordinating air relief to some of these locations—delivering basic necessities to those in dire straits using our own helicopter as well as the aircraft of other organizations. We praise God we have been able to deliver food, water, and other relief to those isolated by the storm.

We also are responding to the destruction caused by Helene in Florida and Georgia. We have U.S. Disaster Relief bases in Perry, Florida, where the hurricane made landfall with Category 4 strength, and in Tampa where thousands of houses are flooded. South Georgia was also slammed. We have set up a base in Valdosta.

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

More than 180 storm-related deaths have been reported, with many more still missing. This is the second deadliest storm in the past 50 years. Please pray for the families who have lost loved ones.