Massive Response Follows Hurricane Helene’s Gut Punch

Two monstrous hurricanes in as many weeks have left residents in the Southeast reeling. Samaritan’s Purse is responding across a broad expanse from Florida to Georgia and into the rugged mountains of western North Carolina and far eastern Tennessee where communities were decimated and cut off after flooding and landslides from Hurricane Helene.

Milton unleashed torrential rain and ferocious winds across Florida after making landfall Wednesday evening, Oct. 9, near Siesta Key, south of Sarasota. The deadly and powerful storm, which entered the state as a Category 3 hurricane and left as a Category 1 on Thursday morning, spawned tornadoes and caused severe flooding. In the greater Tampa area, we are responding to damage cause by both Helene and Milton. We are also responding in Charlotte County (Punta Gorda area).

So many of our neighbors are hurting. We're thankful that we can respond and help in Jesus' Name.

Volunteers are 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.

Historic Destruction Across Western North Carolina

Helene tore a deadly path through the mountains of western North Carolina, dumping extreme rainfall and causing catastrophic flash flooding. Numerous locations received from 12 to 31 inches of rain between Sept. 25–27. Some towns are in ruins. Toppled trees cover the landscape. Roads and bridges are washed out. Homes and businesses were destroyed by flooding and landslides. Many homes remain without power or running water.

We are bringing generators and other emergency supplies to help communities in the region’s remote mountainous terrain. We are using ground transportation currently, and previously coordinated hundreds of relief flights using our own helicopter and the fixed-wing assets of partnering organizations.

We are providing relief throughout Watauga County—home to Samaritan’s Purse international headquarters in the town of Boone—and in neighboring counties around North Carolina’s high country and into Tennessee. Southwest of Boone, rivers raged outside their banks causing widespread destruction in and around Asheville, North Carolina. Our relief response there extends around Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, Black Mountain, Montreat, and Swannanoa. More recently, we opened a third base in the hard-hit town of Burnsville, to include Mitchell and Yancey counties, also in western North Carolina.

At our sites across North Carolina, we are doing tree work, mudding out homes, removing debris, and tarping roofs. Heavy equipment is being used to clear private driveways and private roads. In some areas, we are also offering water and potable water to the community.

Volunteers are also hard at work at our bases in Tampa and Perry, Florida, and in Valdosta, Georgia.

More than 225 Helene-related deaths have been reported so far, a mainland U.S. death toll second only to Hurricane Katrina in the past 50 years.

Read More

• Love Arrives After the Storm
• Finding Joy in Jesus After the Storm
• An Orange Wave of Help Arrives for Swannanoa
• Water Filtration Systems Deployed to the Asheville Area
• Samaritan's Purse Starts Five-Site Response to Hurricane Helene
• Volunteers Help Lift Heavy Burden for Hurricane-Hit Couple
• Helpful Information for Volunteers (Asheville Base)