Helene relief update

Water, food, electricity, roads, cell service

Western North Carolina was just smashed by a 1-in-500 year flood.

It ravaged a part of our state that is 300 miles from the coastline and 2,000 feet above sea level. This is an extreme outlier event for our mountain towns, and the shock is equal to the devastation.

A lot of people are stuck, and some are running low on supplies.

If that’s you, I want you to know what is happening right now to get you what you need.

There is a massive mobilization underway led by the Governor. The National Guard is on the ground with hundreds of guardsmen, aircraft, and highwater vehicles. They’ve done over 100 rescues and have brought in over 30,000 pounds of food, water, medicine. 

We’ve got heavy-lift aircraft from seven states running those missions. The Asheville airport has re-opened, but not for commercial traffic, only for relief supplies.

There are dozens of search and rescue teams from across the country on the ground. We’ve got about 700 people focused on search and rescue handling the most urgent situations.

Water is a top priority for the region. The damage to treatment plants was severe. We’re talking more than repair - some of them are going to require rebuilding. We will be bringing water into the region for an extended period of time.

Thousands of linemen from across the country (and Canada) have arrived to get the electricity back on. Two days ago, there were a million people without electricity. Now it’s about 400,000 - but a lot of substations flooded and the water has to recede before repairs can be done. Some of those substations will need to be substantially rebuilt.

All hospitals all open, but some are on backup power. Getting all hospitals back on grid power is a major priority.

More than 1,600 people from NCDOT are working to re-open critical roads. They are focused on gaining access to communities that have been cut off so we can people out and food and water in.

Emergency mobile cell towers are on the way to ten western counties. Their locations will be announced once they are in place. Cell phone carriers have also activated “disaster roaming” so that any phone on any carrier can access any network to place calls.

Governor Cooper’s request for a major disaster declaration has been approved. That means if your home was damaged or destroyed in a disaster area you can apply online right now for help from the Individual Assistance program.

If you’re reading this from somewhere other than Western North Carolina and can help, you can support at nc.gov/donate. That effort is being managed by United Way.

As for Congress, one of our primary roles is to make sure the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund can cover the costs of the emergency response. However, the latest effort to replenish the fund failed due to opposition from the right-flank. So fixing that is going to be the first order of business when we return.

Just to be very clear: 

For folks who are reading this and are currently cut off and waiting to see some help, please know that you are the primary mission. An enormous effort is underway to get to you. You are the top priority for thousands of people and help is coming. Stick together. Good people are moving toward you and they won’t stop until you are safe.

- Rep. Jeff Jackson