Hurricane Helene

Give Help

How You Can Help

  • The most immediate and effective way to help is through cash donations, which allow us to respond quickly to the evolving needs of affected communities.
  • Catholic Charities USA is collecting donations for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. 100% of gifts will go to support recovery efforts.
DONATE TO CCUSA

Check out this video from our friends at National VOAD explaining the importance of cash donations for disaster response and recovery operations.

Applying for FEMA

FEMA has declared Individual Assistance (IA) for Hurricane Helene. What does this mean for you? It means that you can apply for disaster assistance from FEMA to help offset your disaster-related expenses.

You can apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by telephone at (800) 621-3362. Otherwise, you can download the FEMA weather app from Google PlayStore or the Apple Store and you can apply for assistance on the app and upload receipts.

Whichever method you choose, the form has a few questions that are tricky. To avoid delay, please follow the following tips:

  1. One of the questions that FEMA will ask when you register is “Do You Have Emergency Needs”? This means during your evacuation or since staying at home during the disaster, do you need help with Gas, Medication, Food (meals, water, had no power and everything spoils), Shelter (you are staying with friends, family or in a hotel); Clothing; or Durable Medical Equipment (oxygen, walkers, cane, glasses, all major equipment, etc). If this is true, say “YES” to this question. That will result in your receiving Displacement / Critical Needs Assistance, which is $750.
  2. When asked if your home is/was accessible, answer “NO” if there was debris, tree branches, continued flooding, loss of power, damage or destruction that prevented you from staying there after Helene. This question is asking whether you can stay at your home or apartment and will trigger the ability for you to receive assistance to pay for hotels or provide funding to use while you stay with family or friends.
  3. When asked if utilities are out, say “YES” even if your utilities were out for a few days. This triggers assistance $ to stay somewhere other than your home or to buy fuel to power a generator.
  4. When asked “Are you willing to relocate” say “YES” if you cannot live in your home due to damage, loss of power, etc. This question means you are willing to stay in a hotel or apartment temporarily, and triggers that funding for you. It is not asking if you are willing to move away from your home permanently.
  5. If you bought or buy a generator, FEMA will reimburse you up to $629, but you must submit the receipt. If you bought a chainsaw, FEMA will reimburse you up to $219. Again, you need to provide the receipt. Save your receipts.

Our Work

Collecting Supplies

  • Prior to landfall, we began discussions with CCUSA to arrange delivery of anticipated supplies after the impact to distribute to families in need.
  • Supplies pre-positioned with Catholic Charities, provided by Food for the Poor, were sent to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee within a week of the storms impact.
  • Catholic Charities locations are acting as collection sites across Central and Eastern NC for specific items to be delivered to impacted areas. Visit the Donation Drives tab for more information.

Staffing Crisis Clean Up

  • Crisis Clean Up is an online platform that connects survivors whose homes were damaged or destroyed with volunteer groups offering to help.
  • Catholic Charities Staff and Volunteers are helping to accept the thousands of calls that are coming in each day.

Collaboration with Others

  • We are actively in communication with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte to provide support as they begin their relief and recovery efforts.
  • We have partnered with the North Carolina State Council of the Knights of Columbus around the collection and delivery of needed supplies to impacted areas.
  • Our Disaster Services staff are actively participating in coordination calls through North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NC VOAD).
  • All efforts are being coordinated in collaboration with Catholic Charities USA.