Since Hurricane Helene barreled into western North Carolina, Catholic Charities Charlotte has served more than 10,000 survivors, many of whom lost their homes, cars and places of business. The region’s mountainous terrain and rivers amplified the storm’s dangerous rains, leading to catastrophic flooding and 106 deaths. For the first five weeks after Helene’s landfall,  staff made daily and sometimes twice-daily trips to Hendersonville and Asheville with box trucks of emergency supplies, financed by CCUSA.

“Remediation and mitigation are words that really weren’t in the lexicon,” said Jesse Boeckermann, Western Region Director, whose agency has historically specialized in case management. “We’ve never dealt with a disaster of this magnitude.” Boeckermann was one of several staffers who were displaced from their flooded homes.

After responding to immediate humanitarian needs, Catholic Charities Charlotte has transitioned to providing financial assistance for housing, guiding clients through FEMA and insurance paperwork, and connecting them to home and car repair and mental health services.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh has been a critical partner, deploying seasoned disaster case management teams and a laundry trailer, while Catholic Charities of South Carolina deployed a shower trailer for use by those who had lost their lost homes.

Expanded Perspective: Jesse Boeckermann, Western Region Director, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte

A hurricane settling over the Appalachian Mountains and dumping torrents of rain — cutting off remote towns when roads and bridges washed out — was unprecedented in eastern Tennessee. Communities inundated by Helene lost power, water and cell service. A low-lying textile mill, a major area employer, has remained shuttered. Nearly 800 rental homes and 1,050 owner-occupied homes were either destroyed or badly damaged.

Water, food and humanitarian aid were the priorities for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. The agency lacked a sufficiently large vehicle to move pallets of supplies into the mountains until Catholic Charities Raleigh loaned their 16-foot box truck. Case managers from Raleigh deployed to Tennessee for several months, joined by others from Catholic Charities of Sacramento. Additional agencies offered expertise. “As a relatively new diocesan director,” said Deacon Dave Duhamel, Executive Director, “it was very heartening to see how our agencies just come together to help each other out.”

The agency has since hired three case managers and purchased its own box truck with funds provided by CCUSA. They are stabilizing clients through assistance with housing, utilities, gas and other basic needs. Duhamel has worked closely with the Knights of Columbus and Society of St. Vincent de Paul to provide ongoing services, including paying for several funerals and moving an elderly storm victim with dementia into a comfortable, safe apartment.      

Expanded Perspective: Deacon Dave Duhamel, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee

Hurricane Helene brought deadly floodwaters to Florida’s Big Bend area, followed by Milton’s ferocious winds, which took out electricity for weeks. Between the two storms, 35 people died in Florida and more than 12,000 homes were destroyed.

Catholic Charities St. Petersburg quickly opened two disaster recovery shelters that will eventually transition to homeless shelters. They provided food and water, cleaning supplies, rent and utility assistance, hotel nights, moving and relocation costs, furniture, tents and vehicle and fence repair. The agency has served some 13,000 people and distributed more than $420,000 worth of humanitarian supplies. Catholic Charities of Acadiana sent three semi-trucks of supplies and its laundry truck, while Catholic Charities of Miami sent staff to manage the laundry facilities, which are still in use.   

“They say it’s an anomaly,” to have two storms in 13 days, said St. Petersburg Executive Director Maggie Rogers. “I’m hoping that we don’t ever have to go through that again. That’s what we’re praying for this year.”

Expanded Perspective: Maggie Rogers, Executive Director, Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg