A photo of a flooded area with damaged roads after Hurricane Helene.
A photo of a flooded area with damaged roads after Hurricane Helene.

Guide to Hurricane Helene Resources and Needs for Rural Communities

By now we all know that Hurricane Helene wreaked absolute havoc throughout the Southeastern United States, with the mountainous regions of North Carolina and Tennessee getting hit viciously hard. And while the true extent of the damage has yet to be fully recognized, the devastation reaches from the larger cities to AT towns like Hot Springs, to the most rural stretches where people still haven’t been reached by vehicle or helicopter.

There is also a good bit of misinformation going around regarding FEMA and other government aid, resource access, and who exactly is doing what. And even the good information can be hard to come by — phone and internet connections are still widely unreliable and even if you want to help, it can be hard to find a focal point.

Continue reading to learn more, written by Maggie Slepian.

Eksplore Plis kontni

Medya Mansyone

Why use a plastic bag when you can simply screw on this end cap, specifically designed for Sawyer water filters?

Zooe Pòtay
Editor at Backpacker

Medya Mansyone

In future, I’ll use gravity when I can, and squeeze when I have to.

Richard, aka "LowRange
montè mòn

Medya Mansyone

For longer hikes, it’s convenient to carry a small backcountry water filter, such as a Sawyer Mini or Micro, which allows you to replenish your water from natural sources like streams or ponds.

Philip Werner
Author and Backpacker