10/01/2024
🚨 Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief 🌀
Tuesday, October 1 — it’s been a long few days for our friends and family from the Florida panhandle through the eastern half of Georgia, the upstate of South Carolina and western North Carolina. In my hometown (Swainsboro/Emanuel County), much of the county remains without power. Water is being restored for city residents, but those on wells who don’t have power are relying on water stockpiles or generators to have running water. Much of the same is true in Statesboro and at my beloved Georgia Southern University. Power is slowing being restored, but many have been without power since early Friday morning.
Dozens of roads in western North Carolina have been entirely washed away. Access into Asheville and Boone (among other areas) is limited or restricted. The city of Asheville in particular has been especially hard hit as their water supply was almost entirely destroyed. Residents there may be without water for months while the system is rebuilt. Resources in the area are limited and while there is a massive effort to get people supplies, officials are focused first on locating people and getting people out so that full damage assessments can be made and resources can be brought in. The airport in Asheville reopened, but not for commercial traffic, for supplies and resources to be flown in.
The immediate need is for cash donations, gasoline, and water. My office, among numerous other locations here in Charleston are gathering supplies to send to the people who need it most. As of now, the primary operations center for a lot of these resources is in Simpsonville, SC (near Greenville).
If you wish to donate, here are some of the best places to donate so that resources can get to people in the fastest possible way:
American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/
KW Cares
https://www.kwcares.org/
The Salvation Army USA
http://helpsalvationarmy.org/
You can also donate directly to me and I will gather supplies to head up to WNC. My friend Bre Powers is on the ground in WNC and can get cash to people who need it most. Venmo: (last 4: 9501)
If you’re local here in Charleston and just want to donate items, here are the supplies we need:
Bottled water
Gallon water
Flash lights *with batteries!
Packaged snack bars
Packaged crackers
Any other non-perishable snacks
First-Aid Kits
Propane tanks for grilling
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Cleaning solutions
Blankets
Baby food (jarred and formula)
Diapers
Clothing
BLANKETS!
Paper plates/bowls/plastic cutlery
Dog food
Cat food
Gas cans (empty)
Text me (843-789-9501) and I can connect with you to collect these items, or tell you where you can drop them off!
Together, we’ll get everyone through this! 💙
Every 8 minutes the American Red Cross responds to an emergency. Support the Red Cross. Join us today by making a donation.
