Helene Recovery Resources

Virginia VOAD is responding to assist communities in southwestern Virginia that were impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Helene

Here is a list of resources for people who need help and those who want to give help.

INFORMATION, GENERAL RESOURCES, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

  • Report Damage to your Home or Business – Southwest Virginia residents and businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene can self-report any damage to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) database. This information will be shared with damage assessment teams so that the damage can be recorded and validated. This electronic form requests insurance information and photos can be uploaded as well. Damage reported by property owners and businesses will be used by VDEM to for state damage reporting purposes.

  • 211 Virginia – Dial 211 on your phone for Hurricane Helene Recovery resources. For individuals near the borders of Virginia, you may need to dial 1-800-230-6977 directly in order to route to 211 Virginia to avoid the system routing you to 211 NC or TN.

  • FEMA Assistance
    • Federal funding is available for affected individuals in the following counties: Bedford, Bland, Carroll, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe. It is also available for the independent cities of Galax and Radford. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. You can sign up at https://www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362.
    • A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is open at 736 N Beaver Dam Rd, Damascus, VA. Hours of operations: Mon-Sat 8am-6pm.

  • Small Business Help – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is opening two Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) to support businesses and residents in Virginia impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. The BRCs will provide assistance with disaster loan applications, status updates, and document submission. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can schedule an appointment. Don’t wait to settle with insurance—apply for an SBA disaster loan today! Visit www.sba.gov/disaster or call 1-800-659-2955.
    • Galax: Crossroads Institute, 1117 E Stuart Drive – open Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm.
    • Abingdon: Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator Center, 851 French Moore Jr Boulevard – open Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm.

  • Crisis Cleanup Hurricane Helene Hotline – if you need help cleaning up damage from Hurricane Helene, call 844-965-1386. They will connect you with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups, and faith communities, who may be able to help with muck out, downed trees, tarping, and debris cleanup.

  • Virginia Department of Emergency Management – information and resources for Virginia residents impacted by Helene, including executive orders, recovery FAQs, how to report price gouging, cleanup resources, and more.

  • Debris Management – If you’re cleaning up from #Helene in southwest #Virginia, please keep all debris and waste on your property (for now!) and away from the street. This is so VDOT can come through and clear public roadways. Once VDOT completes road clearing, debris removal will begin, and further guidance will be given on where to put it.

  • Case Management – case managers are available at the Donations Center at 744 N Beaver Dam Ave, Damascus, VA to provide assistance in navigating local, state, and federal resources that may be available to you if your home or business was damaged.

  • Red Cross Assistance – if your property was damaged by Helene, you may be eligible for some financial assistance from the Red Cross. If you have not spoken with them yet, please call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). This will not impact your eligibility to receive financial assistance from other sources, such as FEMA, but provides some additional help.

  • Assistance for Farmers and Landowners
    • Report Damage – If you have experienced any damage to livestock, fences, farm structures, vehicles, hay, or woodlots due to the recent storm, your input is important for assessing the impact and coordinating assistance. Please fill out the survey from the Virginia Cooperative Extension with your information. You can also contact Phillip Meeks with the Virginia Cooperative Extension at (276) 328-6194.
    • Southwest Virginia Agriculture Relief Program – fill out this survey to let the Virginia Cooperative Extension know your needs including hay, feed, and fencing materials.

  • Damascus Donations Center – 744 N Beaver Dam Ave, Damascus, VA. Open 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri. The center is located in the old Family Dollar store building in front of the Food City. It is operated by the United Way of Southwest Virginia and has a variety of donated goods, such as water, cleanup buckets and supplies, hygiene kits, diapers, etc. You can also call the United Way for assistance at 276-628-2160.

  • Disaster Distress Helpline – If you or someone you know is struggling to cope emotionally with the effects of Hurricane Helene, you’re not alone. Call or text the Distress Line at 1-800-985-5990 for immediate, 24/7 emotional support. Help is just a call or text away. Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.” For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: Please text or call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 using your preferred Relay provider.

RESOURCES BY CITIES and COUNTIES ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

Counties and cities are posting information available specifically for their residents on their websites and/or facebook pages. Be sure to check these sites for information on your community.

COMMUNICATIONS

  • Starlink – Starlink is offering free satellite WiFi throughout the US region impacted by Helene, including southwest Virginia, for 30 days. You must purchase the Starlink equipment though or have access to one. If you have one, please click here to register.

INFORMATION FOR DONORS

Before donating goods, please consider donating cash. Cash allows non-government organizations and disaster survivors to purchase exactly what they need for recovery. Donated goods require warehousing and volunteer labor, and many goods may expire quickly or may not be needed.

  • Donations of Supplies – Needs List – the needs in SW Virginia are constantly changing. If you’re thinking about donating goods to help those affected, there’s a way to make sure you know what is really needed now. Text DONATE to 247-211, and you will receive a new list each day. The list is refreshed nightly by volunteers at the Damascus Donations Center at 744 N Beaver Dam Ave, Damascus, VA.

  • Donations Needed for Farmers – If you can donate specific materials or hay and feed to farmers, please fill out this form from Virginia Cooperative Extension. Currently they cannot accept financial donations but are working on that. You can choose on the form to be contacted when financial donations options are established.

  • Virginia Cattleman’s Association – accepting donations to assist farmers with relief and rebuilding. Donations can be made online through Venmo or mailed to: Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation, Memo: Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 9, Daleville, VA 24083.

VOLUNTEERING

Note: Please do not self-deploy! Volunteer through organizations that you trust. You can find reputable organizations on our website who are members of Virginia VOAD. Volunteering with trusted organizations ensures your safety and helps public safety officials focus on meeting affected communities’ needs. Let’s ensure our efforts are safe and coordinated. Spontaneous volunteers and donations can hinder emergency activities and create complications for those involved in managing the effort.

  • Donations Management Volunteers – if you would like to help collect, sort, inventory, and distribute donations, please sign up at the United Way of Southwest Virginia Volunteer & Donation Coordination Center at 744 N Beaver Dam Ave, Damascus, VA. They are open 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri.

  • Cleanup Volunteers – if you would like to assist residents in cleaning up their property and homes, please sign up at the Volunteer & Donations Coordination Center, 744 N Beaver Dam Ave, Damascus, VA. They are open 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri. NOTE: Volunteers may not be allowed into the area impacted until it is safe. Many roads are damaged and are not yet clear to navigate. Properties must also be assessed for damages, including my insurance adjustors, before volunteers can assist.

  • Volunteering in Pulaski County – If you are interested in volunteering in Pulaski County, please leave a voicemail at 540-994-2574 with your contact information and how you are willing to assist.

  • Volunteering in the City of Radford – volunteers may be needed after damage assessments are completed. People interested in helping can contact Melissa Skelton at [email protected]. She will be in touch with needs as projects become available.
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