Last Updated on October 8, 2024 7:31 am

Watauga County, the Town of Boone, Appalachian State University, and partners are collaborating to keep our community informed about Hurricane Helene's impacts and the resources available for relief. Continue to check this post for updates.

FOR EMERGENCIES, CALL 911.

PAUSE ON UNSCHEDULED DONATIONS: We request that you please continue to PAUSE any unscheduled deliveries to Watauga County sites. Contact the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce at 828-264-2225 or info@boonechamber.com to schedule a donation delivery. To view a list of needed supplies, which is updated daily, visit: boonechamber.com/news/donation-intake-and-pick-up-information

One of the best ways for you to help support our communities, now and in the future, is by making a monetary donation to relief funds and to area nonprofits. Please consider the following donation sites:

• Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation: boonechamber.com/foundation
• App State Disaster Relief Fund: appstate.edu
• North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund: nc.gov/donate

NON-EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS:

• 828-268-6200 Boone Town Hall: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, hours subject to change.
• 828-263-4178 Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps Non-Emergency Call Center (for non-urgent inquiries and reports related to storm impacts): 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, leave a message after hours.
• 828-262-2000 Appalachian State University’s Main Line: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• 828-795-1970 AppHealthCare (health department serving Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties): Monday through Friday 8 a.m to 4:45 p.m.

CURFEW: 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for Watauga County, Town of Blowing Rock and Town of Boone until further notice, due to severely compromised roads and ongoing emergency operations in Watauga County.

RESOURCES (Food, Water, Volunteer & Donation Options, Health Care, Children’s Resources, Debris Cleanup, etc.):

• Boone and Watauga County Resources and Services: townofboone.net/hurricanehelenerecovery
• Watauga County Resource Information – Boone Area Chamber of Commerce: boonechamber.com/news/official-watauga-county-resource-information
• App State Disaster Relief Resources: appstate.edu
• UNC Health Appalachian Community and Employee Resources: apprhs.org

URGENT CARE: Urgent Care Services (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday – Friday): 261 Longvue Drive, Boone, NC 28607

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES:
AppHealthCare, the public health department serving Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m to 4:45 p.m. Contact AppHealthCare at 828-795-1970 or email eh@apphealth.com. The AppHealthCare Environmental Health Team is focused on:

• Ensuring food establishments and child care centers can safely reopen and operate
• Working with homeowners and businesses to ensure water is safe to drink from private wells, springs and septic systems that may have been impacted by flooding.
• Providing tetanus vaccines to those who have an open wound/rash and have been exposed to floodwater.

SHELTER:

• Red Cross Emergency Shelter for students and community members, Holmes Convocation Center, 111 Rivers St. Call about pet restrictions.
• Anyone in need of shelter should call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767).

FEMA ASSISTANCE FOR HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS:
Photograph all damages and items you have to throw away. Homeowners and renters in Watauga County can apply for assistance through FEMA. Use disasterassistance.gov, download the FEMA app, or call 1-800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily for assistance. Contact the local call center with questions at 828-263-4178, or visit governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/09/29/how-apply-fema-assistance-after-hurricane-helene

Disaster Recovery Assistance Specialists are available at these locations to assist with the application for emergency assistance. You’ll need a social security number and bank account and routing numbers. Times are 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

• Stewart Simmons Fire Department, 191 Jakes Mountain Rd, Deep Gap
• Appalachian Enterprise Center, 130 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone
• Bethel Baptist Church, 125 Mountaindale Rd, Vilas
  Locations may change daily, so please visit www.townofboone.net/hurricanehelenerecovery for updates.

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF: Disaster Unemployment Assistance can be applied for here: des.nc.gov/dua

SHOWERS

• The Care Collective, 584 State Farm Rd Suite 104, Boone: Call 828-406-4344 to schedule, or walk-ins welcomed. Shampoo/Conditioner/Soap/Towel available. Handicapped-accessible shower available. Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Sunday 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Walmart, Boone: 11 a.m to 4 p.m Daily, Shower Trailer, Bring Towels and Hygiene Supplies
• 180 Float Spa, 249 Kimberly Dr, Boone: Walk-in available Wednesday – Sunday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.; call 828-832-8180 if appointment is needed
• Fairfield Inn, 2060 Blowing Rock Rd., Boone: There is a room available for the public to take showers. Please ask at the front desk.
• Perkinsville Baptist Church, 274 Jefferson Rd., Boone: Available Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Valle Crucis Conference Center, 146 Skiles Way, Banner Elk: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for hot showers, hot coffee, charging stations, a cell signal (but no Wi-Fi yet), and hot meals. Toiletries and towels also available.
• Bethel Baptist Church now has community care centers available for public use between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. There are shower and toilet trailers available.
• Fairgrounds Raceway, 748 Roby Greene Rd, Boone: Showers available after 5 p.m.; please bring your own items.

COMMUNITY CARE CENTERS:

• Western Watauga Community Center, 1081 Old US Hwy 421, Sugar Grove: Shower, Toilet, Handwashing (ADA accessible), hot meals (lunch and dinner)
• Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1564 Silverstone Rd, Vilas: Shower, Toilet (ADA accessible), hot meals (lunch and dinner)
• Bethel Baptist Church, 125 Mountaindale Rd, Vilas: Shower, Toilet (ADA accessible), hot meals (lunch and dinner)
• Stewart Simmons Fire Department, 191 Jakes Mountain Rd, Deep Gap: Shower, Toilet, Handwashing (non ADA)
• Howard's Creek Baptist Church, 240 Howard's Creek Rd, Boone: Shower (ADA accessible)
• Shawneehaw Fire Department, 171 Rominger Rd, Banner Elk: Shower, Toilet (non ADA)

HOW YOU CAN HELP: The Town of Boone, Watauga County and App State have experienced a large volume of requests for volunteer information and an influx of volunteers traveling to the area. While we are extremely grateful, we ask all individuals NOT TO TRAVEL TO THE AREA FOR NOW unless you are part of a coordinated volunteer effort, such as the ones listed below. Consider donating to relief funds instead. Find more info at the resource links above and at boonechamber.com.

VOLUNTEER:

• Samaritan’s Purse: spvolunteer.org
• Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps: https://forms.gle/AaKy78d2pL7V2sNk7
• Down Home NC: facebook.com/DownHomeNC and instagram.com/downhomenc/
• American Red Cross: volunteerconnection.redcross.org/

This list of resources is subject to change. Many organizations and individuals are also providing resources for our community, and we are unable to provide an exhaustive list of all these resources. We, as a community, want to thank everyone for their patience and their willingness to help their neighbors!