Volunteers Work Tirelessly and Offer Hope in Helene-Devastated Tennessee

Civilian led efforts and non-profit organizations from multiple states work to help storm impacted residents.

Citizens in East Tennessee affected by Hurricane Helene are airlifted to safely by a Tennessee National Guard Blackhawk helicopter from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion on Sept. 28, 2024. Tennessee National Guard Public Affairs Office

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation in Southern Appalachia, support is arriving from all over the state and country for towns in ravaged Eastern Tennessee. Non-profit organizations and civilian volunteers are offering shelter, meals, bottled water, and a glimmer of hope to local residents.

Helene’s impact in nine counties near the Smoky Mountains region of the state was nothing short of catastrophic. Reports of record rain falling in a matter of hours left hundreds of people with storm-damaged property in the best-case scenario. In the worst, many lost entire homes.