WRAL 5 On Your Side is taking on the problems plaguing western North Carolina.

5 On Your Side visits western NC

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The team spent a week in western N.C., traveling to Buncombe, Yancy, Mitchell and McDowell counties to survey the damage done by Hurricane Helene, find out what’s being done and step in to help when possible.

WRAL 5 On Your Side reporter Keely Arthur met Helene survivors and shared their stories, including a couple facing an insurance dispute, a good Samaritan who lost $80,000 trying to help people and a woman who decided to live on a trailer on her property after she lost her home to flooding.

Only 3% of western N.C. residents had flood insurance and haven't been able to pay to rebuild or repair their homes. FEMA aid is available, but a 5 On Your Side review of Hurricane Helene-related housing funds found that the money earmarked or currently available pales in comparison to the need.

5 On Your Side also reached out to more than 20 western N.C. counties to see exactly what they needed. Around half responded. Some said they were fine, including Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay and Alexander counties, but other counties like Avery, Haywood, Madison, McDowell and Rutherford said some areas remain in dire need of assistance.

Hurricane Helene: What is most needed?

Most of the counties needing help listed temporary housing, infrastructure and bridge repairs, and debris removal as their top needs. Others cited Helene's devastating blow to tourism, like in Chimney Rock, where the primary bridge connecting Chimney Rock State Park to Chimney Rock Village is washed out.

In Rutherford County, where some areas have recovered from Helene, county manager Steve Garrison said Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village will likely take years to fully recover. Chimney Rock Village lost homes, businesses and most of its sewer and water infrastructure. Garrison said the Rocky Broad River deposited silt and mud into Lake Lure, which needs to be dredged. The economic impact of the storm in popular tourist areas like these is huge, Garrison said.

Where help is needed, how to donate

There are the counties that responded to 5 On Your Side. We asked what their biggest needs were and where people should donate.

Avery County

Phillip Barrier, county manager in Avery County, said the biggest needs are repairs to homes, buildings and infrastructure. Donations can be made to the Avery County Long Recovery Group through the AMY Wellness Foundation, which supports Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties.

Haywood County

Haywood County spokesperson Dillon Huffman said the county’s biggest needs include temporary housing and financial assistance. Roads and bridges still need extensive repairs, and work to remove debris and clean up rivers is ongoing.

Huffman added the local economy has taken a hit from a lack of tourists since the storm. People can help by supporting local businesses in the area and donating to the United Way of Haywood County.

Madison County

“The damage to our business sector is devastating,” Rodney Honeycutt, county manager of Madison County, said, adding federal and state resources are needed to rebuild the economy of Marshall and Hot Springs.

The county’s biggest needs include repairing and rebuilding utility infrastructure and local government facilities and clearing debris on land and in waterways. People can donate to general assistance here and housing-specific assistance here.

McDowell County

William Kehler, director of emergency services, said citizens in McDowell need help repairing private driveways and bridges that were damaged or destroyed during Helene. People can donate to relief efforts in McDowell County at mcdowellcares.org and graceforall.org/give.

Rutherford County

The towns of Chimney Rock Village and Lake Lure were the hardest-hit communities. People can donate to efforts to restore Chimney Rock Village and Lake Lure using these links.

Transylvania County

Jaime Laughter, county manager, said the county's biggest needs include home repairs and mobile home replacements, mitigation (homes that have to be raised to be compliant with flood ordinances), debris removal and repair of private roads and bridges.

"We could also use the support of the public to continue to advocate that we get recovery support from state and federal levels because the task of recovery is daunting," Laughter said. "We also want people to know that we still want to see our visitors because they are a vital part of the local economic stability."

Helene survivors struggling with insurance coverage

When Hurricane Helene hit western N.C. in late September, only 3% of residents had flood insurance. 5 On Your Side spoke with many families, including Bob and Edwina Tatum, who live in a small town of about 200 people in Avery County.

The now-retired educators spent the last 46 years beautifying their property, eventually turning it into a haven for rescued horses. On Sept. 27, Hurricane Helene wiped all of that away.

Like many of their neighbors, the cause of the destruction that destroyed the Tatums' land is in dispute.

The Tatums say strong wind gusts destroyed their property, citing a National Weather Service map, but their home insurance carrier, Farm Bureau Insurance, claims it was floodwater. Lke 97% of western North Carolinians, the Tatums don’t have flood insurance.

Dr. Tim Coleman, a forensic meteorologist with WeatherBELL Analytics, explained why so many Helene survivors are facing insurance disputes.

"Helene is one of the most difficult storms I have ever looked at in terms of determining flood vs. wind," Coleman said. "You have multiple things that are knocking trees over and knocking houses off their foundations, and normally you’d only have one."

WRAL 5 On Your Side helped the Tatums file for assistance with the North Carolina Insurance Commission. A little over a week after 5 On Your Side got involved, the Tatums received a letter from the Department of Insurance saying it was unable to compel an insurance company to pay the claim.

They're now considering legal action.

Hurricane Helene: More ways to help

    Donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund

    Donate at nc.gov/donate. Donations for the fund will go to nonprofits working to meet the immediate needs of people needing food and water, cleaning supplies and other emergency supplies.

    Triangle Community Foundation

    TCF is matching donations up to $25,000 to the Community Fund of Western North Carolina and the North Carolina Community Foundation.

    The United Way

    The United Way has created a fund to specifically help those affected by Helene. You may designate your donation to a local United Way or where it is needed most at the discretion of United Way of North Carolina.

    The American Red Cross

    Where does the money go?

    WRAL 5 On Your Side reached out to two major organizations, the American Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse, to learn how money collected for western NC relief is distributed and used.

    Luther Harrison, vice president of North American Ministries for Samaritan’s Purse, grew up in Boone and worked as a police officer for 14 years.

    He said Samaritan’s Purse has received $523 million total in donations for Hurricane Helene relief in several states, including North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

    Harrison explained the money will be spread out over multiple years, since Helene’s devastating impacts will linger.

    “There's a lot of grief still taking place here,” Harrison said. “We're not going to leave these folks. We're going to stay involved with them through the duration. We’re planning to try to spend around $160 million per year.”

    Every dollar donated to Samaritan’s Purse is used to provide aid to the community, Harrison said. People can make a donation online, but volunteers are also needed to help on the ground in western N.C. with jobs like building homes. No experience is needed.sam

    The North Carolina chapter of the American Red Cross is also focusing efforts on rebuilding or repairing homes, or finding new homes for victims.

    When Helene hit multiple states in September, American Red Cross aid went to pay for shelter, food, emergency supplies and services, mental health and spiritual assistance, showers and internet restoration, Mike DeSanti, communications director for American Red Cross NC, said. Volunteers walked door-to-door in destroyed neighborhoods, taking photos, making notes and ringing doorbells to talk to residents.

    DeSantis said $0.90 for every $1.00 donated is used to help people. You can make a donation here.