The NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC) is launching a series of national calls – starting on October 24 at 3 pm ET – to share critical information about the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Advocates nationwide are invited to join the national calls to learn more about the immediate response to the disaster, hear directly from advocates and community-based organizations on the ground, and find out how to help the lowest-income and most marginalized disaster survivors receive the assistance they need to fully and equitably recover. Register here!
Background
After making landfall on September 26, Hurricane Helene severely impacted the Southeast region, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia. Historic rain fell in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, leading to a “14,000-year flood” in Asheville, North Carolina. Multiple smaller towns in western North Carolina have been severely impacted, and portions of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee remain inaccessible. Search and Rescue personnel attempted to reach stranded survivors using mule trains, as many roads in the area no longer exist and the steep terrain prevented evacuation by air. Other communities, including northern Tampa Bay, Florida, and coastal towns, including Cedar Key and Perry, were directly impacted, and parts of Georgia – including southern and coastal Georgia and the Augusta area – suffered from hurricane force winds that felled trees, damaged roofs, and brought down powerlines. Throughout Atlanta and upstate South Carolina, torrential rains caused catastrophic flooding.
Shortly after the arrival of Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, a historically powerful hurricane, flooded Florida communities and spawned a barrage of deadly tornadoes, killing at least eight people. While the storm did lessen in intensity prior to landfall, damage has been widespread in impacted areas.
As part of its Disaster Housing Recovery, Research, and Resilience initiative (DHR), NLIHC leads the Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition of more than 900 national, state, and local organizations, including many working directly with disaster-impacted communities and with first-hand experience recovering after disasters. The DHRC works to ensure that federal disaster recovery efforts reach all impacted households, including disaster survivors with the lowest incomes and those who are most marginalized. Learn more about the NLIHC’s DHR initiative here.