Earth Guardians: Hurricane Helene Relief Fund

Earth Guardians is reaching out on behalf of our Global Programs Director, Kellie Berns, a resident of Weaverville, North Carolina. Thankfully, she is safe, and is reporting to us from Western North Carolina where Hurricane Helene has wrought catastrophic destruction. Please read on to learn how you can provide desperately needed help.

While Kellie is safe, she, like most people in the region, was cut off from travel and all communications in the days after the storm. Now, she is witnessing firsthand Helene’s overwhelming impact. Disaster response efforts are still very much in search and rescue mode in attempts to reach those who have been stranded with no help since the storm arrived. Words aren’t adequate to describe the utter devastation throughout Western North Carolina, where entire communities are struggling to survive amid the lack of access to water, power, food, shelter, and communication. The water delivery system in Asheville was severely damaged and will take weeks or more to repair, leaving 70% of residents with no water in their homes. Kellie personally knows many people who have lost their homes and are in dire situations, and as hundreds are still missing and the death toll rises daily, the unbelievable magnitude of this tragedy has yet to be realized.

The storm's destruction is unprecedented and will certainly be one of the most costly and deadly natural disasters in US history. Our hearts go out to those affected by this tragedy and of course, we are compelled to help. The need for immediate resources is desperate. Clean water, power, food, clothing, diapers, and supplies such as fuel, generators, chainsaws, etc. are the most pressing necessities, but as recovery efforts unfold, the longer-term challenges and needs will only continue to grow. It is time to come together and support those who have been devastated by Hurricane Helene.

Kellie was already working closely with grassroots organizations ahead of the crisis, and is now organizing to deploy mutual aid to those most in need. At Earth Guardians, along with other local groups, we are working hard, but we need more support to sustain our efforts to ensure that resources are distributed where they are needed most—and we’re asking for your help to keep these efforts going.

Please donate to this campaign. Earth Guardians will distribute the funds directly to local organizations and mutual aid efforts in Buncombe County such as BELOVED ASHEVILLE and HOOD HUGGERS. If you are able to provide in-kind donations, please contact meg @ earthguardians . org for an up-to-date list of the most pressing needs and for instructions about how to donate.

Many people lost EVERYTHING, so anything helps. If you have connections to other organizations working on the ground, we’d love to collaborate and expand the support network. Please reach out.

Hurricane Helene is more than a local crisis; it’s a climate-driven disaster that requires a united response. To the extent that this is a tragedy, it is also an opportunity to meaningfully act. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those most affected.

W/ gratitude,

The Earth Guardians team