On September 27, 2024, Western North Carolina was hit by Hurricane Helene. While hurricanes have come through our region before, this one was especially catastrophic, impacting an area about the size of Maryland. The aftermath is devasting. Towns have been wiped off the map, roads, homes, and businesses have been washed away, and people have been lost.
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is dedicated to supporting our communities and partners through this challenging time. We look forward with hope as we work together to restore and rebuild the natural and cultural heritage resources of Western North Carolina.
We have gathered resources for individuals, small businesses, artists, musicians, and more. The page also includes a list of places where visitors and friends of our area can contribute to help in the recovery process.
General Needs:
- WNC Disaster Recovery Newsletter from NC Department of Commerce
- FEMA Disaster Relief
- FEMA Arts & Culture Fact Sheet
- North Carolina Arts Foundation
- Arts Emergency Support Resources
- NCAPER Disaster Resources for Individuals and Arts and Cultural Organizations:
- NCAPER Rapid Damage Assessment Forms: If you were impacted or know artists and cultural institutions affected by the disaster, please fill out one of the following rapid damage assessment forms.
- Cultural Institutions: Rapid Damage Assessment Form
- Arts Organizations: Rapid Damage Assessment Form
- Individual Artists and Performing Groups: Rapid Damage Assessment Form
- More NCAPER Resources>>
- Federal Trade Commission – Avoid Recovery Scams
Craft Artist Resources:
- Arts AVL
- CERF+
- Center for Craft
- Florence Thomas Art School – artist opportunities
- Helene Relief: Aid to Artists
- Handmade for Help
- TREATS Studios—Submit yourself or other artists and galleries that need assistance. This is applicable in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.
- South Arts
- 2025 Blacksmith Exhibition (Deadline for entry March 15, 2025. Event is March 29-April 26.)
Musician Resources:
Agricultural Resources:
Heritage Resources:
- State Historic Preservation Office: Disaster Preparedness and Response
- For additional questions and information, visit the Contact Page, select Restoration, and enter your query.
Small Business
- WEBINAR: FEMA: Disaster Response: Small Business Resources, Insurance, and Claims (December 10, 2024 at 1 pm est)
- Carolina Small Business Development Fund
- McDowell Chamber of Commerce MicroGrant Program
- Mountain BizWorks Helene Business Recovery Loans
- Pisgah Legal Services
- Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative Grant
- Women Entrepreneurs Asheville Recovery Endeavor (Grant applications open November 15 – December 10.)
Food & Beverage Industry Employment Assistance
- NC Restaurant & Lodging Association
- Asheville Independent Restaurants: WNC Tip It Forward
- Southern Smoke Foundation – An organization offering emergency assistance to workers in the food and beverage industry here in North Carolina who have been affected.
For Those Able To Give or Support
- Appalachian Helene Response Fund
- Arrowhead Artists and Artisans League, Inc.
- BeLoved Asheville
- Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
- Build Avery Back
- Burke County Relief Fund
- Bounty and Soul
- Conserving Carolina
- Craft Emergency Relief Fund
- Emergency and Disaster Response Fund
- FIND Outdoors Hurricane Helene Recovery
- The Fund for Mitchell County
- G5 Trail Collective
- Helene Relief: Aid to Artists
- Hope After Helene – Artist Relief Fund, Watauga Arts Council
- Hunger and Health Coalition
- Local Cloth
- McDowell Cares
- The McDowell Endowment
- MountainTrue
- North Carolina Arts Foundation
- NC Counts Coalition
- Organizing Resilience
- Penland School of Craft Helene Recovery Fund
- ReString Appalachia
- Southern Highland Craft Guild Disaster Fund
- Spruce Pine Potters Market
- Toe River Arts Disaster Fund
- WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery
- The Yancey Fund
Online Storefronts
Heritage Hearth Charity Drive
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is collecting donations for our Heritage Hearth Charity Drive.
Learn more about this unique project.
