Photo from New Hanover County Fire Rescue showing NC Task Force 11 on the ground in Buncombe county.

Disclaimer. Your emotional, mental, and physical well- being are important. This post may contain information that triggers you, so please take care of your own needs. If you need a break from Hurricane talk, take it. If you want to donate, do it. I actually had to stop my doomscrolling this weekend because I was becoming semi-overloaded myself. Sensory overload is a very real thing, especially for people who carry more empathetic and compassionate traits than others. 

Y'all, it's been a week and weekend. On Tuesday, last week, I vividly remember a conversation with a Children's Ministry colleague from Hendersonville. We were at a continuing education event on First Aid Mental Health of teens (a whole post for a whole other time.). At the time, we both were in Salisbury and discussing the coming storm. Of course, being coastal, I'm always worried that they will turn and head up my way, but this time, it was predicted to go up through the mountains. 

I remember saying to her "Do you see that the storm is supposed to come up your way this weekend?" This was right after Hurricane Helene officially adopted her name and became a hurricane. Her response was yes, I did, and I hope I can make it back from Charlotte before the storm gets too bad (as she was making a day trip down the mountain for a family event).  At that point, people were concerned, but not overtly so. No one could predict the outcome. 

She emailed us on Thursday morning describing the rainfall situation prior to the Hurricane hitting, and then describing to us her situation Friday morning as well. Prior to Thursday, the region had already received 8+ inches of rain. Hurricane Helene added to that, cresting rivers, streams, and lakes. Of course, wind damage was a major concern as trees coming down isn't good for anyone, let alone mountains. 

At that point, she, nor us, had no idea what devastation would happen upon the high country across GA, NC, TN and even regions of SC. Now we are on Tuesday morning after a very harrowing weekend, and we are JUST beginning to see what things look like as waters recede, as rescue crews get into the remote cut- off communities, and as evacuees tell their stories. 

For those of us with Christian faith backgrounds, we are a people of the resurrection. We believe that in grace and goodness, new life arises from death and destruction. If you are a person of a different faith background, I trust you to lean into your own beliefs right now. 

We are also a people of community, no matter our faith backgrounds. 

The Southeast has a long way ahead of us. Our immediate desire is to help, right? We want to donate, to give, to do something tangible for these people that our hearts are breaking for. While there are boots on the ground grassroot organizations working diligently to reach people, get water & food into their hands, I urge you to consider the long-term disaster response. 

When Hurricane Florence hit our Wilmy area in 2018, I attended a respite retreat put on by Lutheran Disaster Relief. One of the things that struck me was that it takes ten years for a community to start to feel semi-normal after a disaster (of any kind, not just hurricanes). Ten years. Ten. Years. Think about that-think about how old your children are, and in ten years what their worlds will look like. It's a long time. Ten years down the road, how many organizations are still in the field, assisting and aiding people? It's been over five since Florence, and I can tell you that while the work continues, the needs continue, most people are long gone. 

It's easy to want to jump in on the front of a disaster. It's easy to want to load our grocery carts up with water, drop them off at the donation center, and see the photos of people grateful for receiving replies afterward. Yet, it's difficult to be in those communities a year from now. Ten years from now. 

There will be mucking out. There will be rebuilding. There will be resilience and fortitude from those communities, but I encourage you as you think about donating and relief, what would it look like for you to partner for the long-haul and long run? Not just the here and now?

Of course, there is the here and now, and you might be wondering what the heck your family can do instead of spending your hours reading Facebook posts and photos (NC Weather Authority has been GREAT for info, btw).

For us in the Lutheran World, we do what Lutheran Disaster Response suggests. LDR Carolinas is telling us to make flood/ cleaning buckets, to give financially, and to wait. LDR is generally in a community for the long- haul and not the short fix. 

We know other organizations that meet the short- term needs of caring for evacuees by providing food, water, immediate shelter. For us, we look long- term and what we can do once it's time to start rebuilding.  

No matter the location, everyone will need to clean-especially after losing power for a significant time period, so flood buckets do come in handy for those that still have property and minor flooding. For those completely devasted, LDR works with other agencies to rebuild. 

I know many of our ELCA congregations across NC will be creating flood buckets, so reach out if you want to participate in this mission, and I'll try to put you in touch with someone in your area. 

Giving financially is another easy way to help. While it doesn't seem as tangible as personally buying supplies and/ or creating kits, money often goes directly to the appropriate need at the time it's needed. 

Make sure that organizations you are partnering with are legitimate. A lot of people don't want to give to larger organizations like the Red Cross or Samaritan's Purse because they have larger overhead expenses, but these organizations know what to do and have lots of training in disaster relief. Smaller organizations are appropriate, if you have done your research, and are sure that they are legitimate and that the funds will be used to meet the disaster needs of what is being shared. 

I also discourage giving through social media. Make sure you're giving directly to an organization and you know where your funding is going. Someone's cashapp/ venmo account that you saw on your local facebook community page may or may not be a scam, so just be aware and do your research before hitting that send your funds button. 

In the meantime, 11 Alive, a news outlet from Atlanta, has put together a comprehensive list of places to donate towards.. better than I could do, so check it out. 

Ways to help Western Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene

BPR News also has some good info: Ways to donate and help flood victims in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

Of course, these two outlets focus on WNC, but we also know our gulf coast of Florida was affected. In fact, one of my good friends recently moved to Perry to be a pastor at a Presbyterian church there, so I've heard account of the destruction in those areas too. I used to live in Florida, and know several people, friends, and colleagues across the state, so along with WNC/ GA/TN/ SC, my heart has been heavy this weekend. 

Friends, its also not over. As waters recede and flow down the mountain, they may overwhelm systems in GA/ SC, (as most travel that way and not into NC, but the foothills are in danger as well), so please keep all communities near a water source in your prayers. Plus, hurricane season isn't over. There are other storms out there and we hope they turn or dissipate. 

For those of our community that live in an area hit by Hurricane Helene, please let us know how you are doing and how we might be able to help you.