INDIANAPOLIS — Helene knocked out power to tens of thousands of Hoosiers, but the impacts were much more severe in other states. Indiana has answered the call and stepped up to help other communities in need:
- On Sept. 30, Gov. Eric Holcomb activated the Indiana National Guard to help with search and rescue efforts in North Carolina. They will be based out of the community of Hickory.
- Indiana Task Force 1 is on the ground in North Carolina, where flooding caused by Helene has caused devastating flooding. They are helping with evacuations and search and rescue operations.
- The Red Cross Indiana Region has sent team members to help distribute supplies. They were prepositioned in Alabama and have been supporting operations in Florida and other areas hit hard by Helene.
- Gleaners Food Bank has sent multiple truck loads of food to the Atlanta Food Bank and to Second Harvest of East Tennessee. Gleaners is part of the Feeding America network. The relief has included shelf-stable items and prebuilt disaster boxes.
- Midwest Food Bank has sent food, water and hygiene kits to Georgia and Tennessee. Aid is also being distributed to people in need here in central Indiana.
- Lineman from Indiana power companies have deployed to help restore power to the millions of people who lost electricity because of Hurricane Helene.
- The Civilian Crisis Response Team is encouraging Indiana pilots to offer flights to North Carolina, to help ferry supplies and refugees around the state.
How you can help
- You can donate to the American Red Cross. You can donate money to help pay for supplies, but there is also a critical need for blood products. You can give $10 to the Red Cross by texting HELENE to 90999.
- The United Way has also created a special Helene Recovery donation page you can find here.
- Midwest Foodbank is encouraging donations to help provide supplies to people suffering across the southeastern United States.
FEMA has a list of the relief agencies working in all the affected states: