Edited by Deanna Sipe
Efforts to help those affected by Hurricane Helene continue across Western North Carolina.
Helene led to thousands without power and hundreds of unprecedented deaths. Community, State, and Federal agencies have banded together to help with relief efforts for those affected by Helene. As attempts to recover from Helene continue, relief organizations still need volunteers and resources.
Hurricane Helene WNC is an Asheville-based nonprofit organization that works with French Broad River Academy. Their mission is to help with recovery efforts. The Salamander Fund, created by Hurricane Helene WNC founders Lance Buskey, Cooper Leist, and Sam Iatarola, is accepting donations.
“Originally, we started just with a few kayakers and few barrels of water on delivering food and coordinating volunteers. This has grown into a massive grassroot relief effort,” said Quinn Manning, Hurricane Helene WNC volunteer and WCU student.
Manning is a senior majoring in Emergency and Disaster Management. Manning has a background working in AmeriCorps and FEMA Corps. Since Oct. 1 he has been helping with relief efforts in Asheville.
“Pictures don’t do it justice. It is just an unfathomable scene out there. The community is going to take a lot of time to rebuild if not years and maybe decades,” Manning said during an interview for the student-run radio station 95.3 WWCU on Oct. 9. “The people of WNC are a resilient crew. They came prepared with side by side ATVs and chainsaws. They were able to be the first ones there to help people clear roads, trees fallen over and help with houses that just imploded… for a lack of better words.”
Manning added that misinformation on government and military relief efforts has hindered effective assistance to the community by creating distrust and hostility. Initially, road damage made it hard for FEMA and the military to get to Asheville. Military groups have worked overtime to get supplies to those affected according to Manning.
“They are definitely there. On our first day there, we saw caravans and National Guard rolling in all kinds of supplies and troops. So they are most definitely there” said Manning.
The Jackson County Emergency Management Facebook page has a full list of opportunities for those who want to volunteer or donate. Hurricane Helene WNC is accepting donations for the Salamander Fund as well. The most needed items for donations are generators, hygiene products, clothes, and sleeping bags.
Click here for more information on donations, volunteering, and progress.
