Last Updated on October 10, 2024 6:40 pm

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.

CONTINUED PAUSE ON PHYSICAL DONATIONS: We thank everyone for the tremendous outpouring of support for Watauga County and neighboring communities. We are fortunate to have had an abundance of supplies donated to multiple partners across our county and surrounding High Country region.

Effective Thursday, October 10th at 6PM, Summit Pickleball Intake Facility will PAUSE all incoming donations.

We will continue to work with partners around the region to ensure donated supplies are getting distributed to those in need, and will continue that work for weeks to come. We also want to be mindful about redirecting bulk resources to communities throughout our region that are faced with the most critical need.

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-PROFIT DONATION DASHBOARD: Local non-profits in the area are requesting donations to help them provide additional services to Hurricane Helene survivors. Nonprofits that are currently accepting donations are listed on the following dashboard: app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=f555d8bebeeb401a8c1f48d1aed36550

Nonprofits who wish to be added to the dashboard can request that using the “Submit a Donation Center” button on the dashboard.

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.

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.

SHELTER UPDATE:
Effective Oct. 10, the American Red Cross closed the emergency shelter location at the Holmes Convocation Center. Anyone in need of emergency shelter or other disaster relief assistance should call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767).

CHILD CARE:

• Kid Cove at Oak Grove is now accepting reservations Monday – Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. 306 Oak Grove Road in Boone. Breakfast, lunch and snacks provided. Text 828-964-8924 or email kidcoveboone@gmail.com.
• Merryland Academy has openings in multiple classrooms. 199 Jefferson Rd Unit C, Boone. Call 828-355-9898.
• Boone United Methodist Church has openings for children aged 6 months to kindergarten for emergency personnel and essential workers. 471 New Market Boulevard, Boone. Call 828-264-6090 for more information.

RESOURCES (Food, Water, Volunteer & Donation Options, Health Care, Children’s Resources, Debris Cleanup, Wi-Fi, Showers, Laundry, 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
• Crisis Clean Up: Call 844-965-1386 for help getting items to the road for pickup.

APP STATE OPERATIONS UPDATE:

• App State classes will resume on Wednesday, Oct. 16. On Friday, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m., Adverse Weather Condition 1 (Reduced Operations) will go into effect and remain in effect until further notice. For more info, visit appstate.edu.
• Free meals at the university’s Central Dining Hall will continue until Friday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m. The dining hall will transition to Fall Break operations on Saturday, Oct. 12.

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

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 preparedness@apphealth.com.

• If your well or spring has flooded, it is recommended you disinfect and test your water. Visit: apphealthcare.com/apphealthcare-urges-safe-water-usage-following-hurricane-helene-recommends-disinfection-and-testing-for-wells-and-springs/ for more information and to request test kits at no cost.
• If you have an open wound/rash and have been exposed to floodwaters, get a tetanus vaccine to prevent infection.

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

COMMUNITY CARE CENTERS:

• Western Watauga Community Center, 1081 Old US Hwy 421, Sugar Grove: Showers (available 24/7 and ADA accessible), toilet, handwashing. Laundry and hot meals (lunch 11 a.m. and dinner 5 p.m.). Donation pickup also available. FEMA representative on site. Call 828-297-5195
• Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1564 Silverstone Rd, Zionville: Showers (available as needed), toilet (ADA accessible), hot meals (lunch noon to 2 p.m., and dinner 5 p.m.) and donated supplies. Call 828-297-7820
• Bethel Baptist Church, 125 Mountaindale Rd, Vilas: Shower, toilet (ADA accessible), hot meals (lunch/dinner 7 a.m. and 7 p.m). Call 828-297-2694
• Stewart Simmons Fire Department, 191 Jakes Mountain Rd, Deep Gap: Showers, toilets, food, over-the-counter medicines, handwashing (non-ADA) 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. but subject to change. Call 828-865-1112
• Howard's Creek Baptist Church, 240 Howard's Creek Rd, Boone: Shower (ADA accessible, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and supplies available). Lunch 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., donated supplies and cleanup help. Call 828-264-1908
• Shawneehaw Fire Department, 171 Rominger Rd, Banner Elk: Showers and toilets (non-ADA), home supplies and water, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Call 828- 963-4180
• Valle Crucis Conference Center, 146 Skiles Way, Banner Elk: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for hot showers, hot coffee, charging stations, Wi-Fi and hot meals. Toiletries, towels, hygiene items and diapers also available. Call 828-963-4453
• Walmart Supercenter, 200 Watauga Village Dr, Boone: Portable restrooms, laundry, showers
  Wi-Fi, charging stations, IT Disaster Resource Center available daily. Mobile pharmacy open Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

VOLUNTEER: While we are extremely grateful to everyone who has reached out to help, we ask visitors NOT TO TRAVEL TO THE AREA FOR NOW unless you are part of a coordinated volunteer effort, such as the ones listed below. Find more info at the resource links above and at boonechamber.com.

• Samaritan’s Purse: spvolunteer.org
• Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps: https://forms.gle/AaKy78d2pL7V2sNk7
• American Red Cross: volunteerconnection.redcross.org/
• Baptists on Mission: baptistsonmission.org/Mission-Projects/By-Mission-Type/Disaster-Relief/Hurricane-Helene

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!