People from all over the country are responding to pleas for help from western North Carolina as relief efforts continue in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Crews continue to work to restore power, clear roads of mud, fallen trees and debris and take care of so many whose homes have been rendered uninhabitable.
Residents of Henderson and Vance County are stepping up to the plate to fill trucks and trailers with cleaning supplies, drinking water, food and more, which is being delivered to hard-hit areas to our west.
The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce has passed along information from state officials that bears repeating as relief efforts continue.
NCDOT has declared all roads in western North Carolina “closed to non-emergency vehicles,” so it’s important to coordinate plans with state agencies like Emergency Management and Business Emergency Operations Center.
“Do not self-deploy resources or supply logistics unless you are attached to an existing NCVOAD organization. Until further notice, roads in Western NC (generally anywhere west of Hickory, NC) are closed to all traffic other than emergency services and pre-approved shipments coordinated through the BEOC,” according to information sent from the Henderson-Vancd County Chamber of Commerce.
Get updates at https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management.
In the meantime, here’s a list of donation drop-off centers in Henderson and Vance County that the Chamber provided, along with times that donations will be accepted:
- Rebuilding Hope, Inc. 414 Raleigh Rd. – weekdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- City of Henderson – City Hall , 134 Rose Ave. weekdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Henderson Police Department, corner of Breckenridge and Chestnut streets
- Henderson Fruit & Produce, 1215 Old Norlina Rd. – during business hours
- Mast Family Drug Center, 418 Dabney Dr. – during business hours
- Zeb Vance Elementary, 4800 Raleigh Rd., Kittrell, Oct. 1-4
- Vance Charter School, 2090 Ross Mill Rd., Oct. 1-4
- Aycock Elementary, 305 Carey Chapel Rd., Oct. 1-4
- Fred’s Towing & Transport, 340 Industry Dr., Oct. 1-4
- Chick-fil-A – go to Chick-fil-A app and donate. Chick-fil-A is partnering with the American Red Cross. Every dollar that’s donated will be matched up to $500,000.
Here’s a list of needed items at this time:
- non-perishable food
- bottled water
- toiletries
- pillows and blankets
- paper products/plastic forks and spoons
- hand sanitizer/personal hygiene products
- wet wipes/baby wipes
- diapers – kids and adults
- Clorox wipes/cleaning supplies
- large trash bags/zip lock bags
- work gloves
- flashlights and batteries
- first aid supplies
- travel size shampoo, body wash and deodorant
- manual can openers
- baby formula
- bug spray
- cat and dog food
- laundry detergent