It is not uncommon for people to want to help out as much as they can after Tropical Storm Helene devastated western North Carolina, but without coordination involving the right people, these efforts can overwhelm already limited resources.
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Rescue efforts are underway in Western North Carolina as crews work around the clock to provide emergency services to those most in need. In the wake of the storm, people from all over the Southeast have started organizing their own efforts to help out.
“In the aftermath of devastating storms like Helene, it is natural for people to want to help by donating supplies to victims. Unfortunately though, sudden influxes of donations directly into a disaster area can complicate and overwhelm recovery efforts,” according to Lenoir County Emergency Services .
The agency in Lenoir County says there aren’t enough secure storage facilities or workers to effectively manage the distribution of items to those in need.