Virginia Tech® home

Virginia Cooperative Extension Hurricane Helene Resource Page

Virginia Cooperative Extension has developed resources to help families and communities prepare for and respond to flooding and other disasters. These resources include practical guides, emergency checklists, and educational materials designed to enhance resilience and ensure safety as well as information from government agencies.  Reach out to your County Extension Office

Hurricane Helene

The following resources will be updated as more information becomes available.

Emergency Declaration for Virginia 

USDA Disaster Assistance Programs

Extension resources

How can I help?

I need assistance

Additional resources


USDA Disaster Assistance Programs

For additional Disaster Assistance information and resources that span the full breadth of the Federal Government, we encourage you to visit FEMA.Gov.

USDA Disaster Resource Center - provides information on how to prepare, recover and build long-term resilience during disasters and emergencies.

USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool - Learn about USDA disaster assistance programs that might be right for you by completing five simple steps. USDA Disaster Assistance Programs include:

  • Tree Assistance Program (TAP), Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) help compensate producers for losses caused by natural disasters.
  • Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) help producers with restoring fences, damaged farmland, or forests.
  • Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program provides assistance to communities to address watershed impairments or hazards.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) - Disaster Assistance: USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that have been hard hit by natural disaster events.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - Disaster Recovery Assistance: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides disaster recovery assistance to farmers, ranchers, landowners and communities through a variety of USDA programs.

Rural Development (RD) - Disaster Assistance - USDA Rural Development Disaster Assistance is crucial for rural communities affected by crises and disasters. It offers essential support to homeowners, businesses, and communities to aid in their recovery and rebuilding process.

Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) – Disaster Assistance: coordinates with state, territory, tribal, and voluntary organizations to provide nutrition assistance to families and individuals affected by a disaster or emergency.


Extension Resources

Some of these resources were developed by other Cooperative Extension Systems but offer good general guidance. For further Virginia information, please contact your local and state-specific offices.

VCE offers resources to help families cope with the stress of disaster recovery:

  • Youth Strong Curriculum - Helping Youth and Families in Times of Disaster and Stress. 
    Although a disaster or other major disruptive event may last for a short period of time, its effects can last for months or even years. In the aftermath of such an event, many adults express concerns about how it might affect youth. Common questions are: “What should I tell youth?” “How can I tell if these events are bothering youth?” “What can I do to help youth cope positively?” This book is designed to help adults address these questions.
  • (4H) After The Storm: A Guide to help Children Cope with the Psychological Effects of a Hurricane.
    This curriculum is designed for agents, parents, volunteers, or teachers and with the goal that this resource can, and will, be used to help support those youth either directly, or indirectly, affected by the storm. To help strengthen the youths emotional health, and to be better prepared to cope with the continued stress of family, school, and community disruptions caused by the storm(s). After The Storm contains information, activities and coping strategies to help adults and children cope with their reactions and feelings resulting from a hurricane and its afterma

The Extension Disaster Education Network provides some informational materials on natural disasters, as well as addressing trauma with youth following a natural disaster:


How you can help

The Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center is housing around 140 linemen to help with emergency repairs in the area. As we do this, we have many opportunities for support. We are incredibly appreciative of everyone who has reached out with a willingness to help!

Volunteer opportunities that are available include the following: 

  • Breakfast Preparation | 3:00 - 5:00 AM
    • Help to prep and cook breakfast
  • Breakfast Clean Up | 5:00 - 7:00 AM
    • Help with clean up and managing breakfast
  • Lunch Packing | Anytime 
    • Prepare bagged lunches for each day, traditionally we prep the bags in the day & make the sandwiches in the evening
  • Cleaning Burley | Between 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • Wiping down tables, sweeping, mopping
  • Cleaning Lodge & Cabins | Between 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • Cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping, mopping
  • Dinner Preparation | 6:00 - 9:00 PM
    • Help prep and cook dinner
  • Dinner Cleanup | 9:00 - 10:30 PM
    • Manage meal time and clean up from dinner

Please call the 4-H Center at 276-676-6180 or email abbigail20@vt.edu about inquiries to support!

Giles County Volunteer Sign-up

 

Southwest Virginia Agriculture Relief Program


Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Cattlemen's Association, Virginia Farm Bureau, and others are here to help farmers impacted by Helene.

If you are interested in donating agricultural materials to farmers in need, please fill out this form. Donations for Farmers Affected by Helene in Virginia

Volunteer


Insert your title here

Your Text Here

Resources by Region

General Resources
Southwest Virginia Agriculture Relief Program

Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Cattlemen's Association, Virginia Farm Bureau, and others are here to help farmers impacted by Helene. Let us know what resources you need including hay, feed, and fencing materials:
Agriculture Needs for Producers Affected by Helene in Virginia

If you are interested in donating agricultural materials to farmers in need, please fill out this form. Donations for Farmers Affected by Helene in Virginia

Giles HS

Will be available from 11am-2pm at EZWay Laundry Mat, 724 Mnt. Lake Avenue to assist with laundry needs free of charge. They have all of the detergent and supplies there.

Roll off dumpsters
Available for public use at the following locations:
  • Iron Skillet
  • Grants
  • Jason Circle
  • Old BB&T in Narrows
  • Gentry’s Landing
  • Riverview Campground
  • Caboose Lane in Pembroke
  • Eggleston Springs Campground
  • Pembroke Convenience Center
  • Rt. 100 Convenience Center
  • Newport Convenience Center
Riverview Baptist Church

Riverview Baptist Church, 219 Stony Creek Road in Ripplemead is offering charging stations, bathrooms, showers, water, and food. Need help at your residence or other needs? Call (540) 922-5570.

Pearisburg Fire Department

Pearisburg Fire Department is offering showers.

The Giles County Christian Service Mission

The Giles County Christian Service Mission is already working with families who have lost their homes. If you need housing assistance, you can contact them at (540) 921-3006. They are also in need of donations, which can be sent to 516 Wenonah Avenue, Pearisburg, 24134.
https://www.facebook.com/gilesmission/

PSA convenience centers operating hours (Oct. 1–19):
  • Dublin, 5570 Utility Lane: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Saturday
  • Fairlawn, 7791 Mason St.: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Saturday
Roll-off containers:
  • Allisonia: Containers will be placed at Odell Park and Allisonia Boat Launch.
  • Delton: Containers will be placed at the Clarks Ferry Road/Shulls Lane intersection and the Clarks Ferry Road/Ledge Rock Road intersection.
  • Parrott: Containers will be placed at or near the Parrott River Road/Parrott Mountain Road intersection.
  • Belspring: Containers will be placed near the trestle on Depot Road.
Grapple boom truck

All items for pickup must be placed near the roadside and should not be placed under power lines or low tree limbs.

The truck will operate on the following dates for properties along the New River:
  • Allisonia: Oct. 1, 8 and 15
  • Delton: Oct. 2, 9 and 16
  • Parrott and Belspring: Oct. 3, 10 and 17

For more information, contact the Pulaski County Public Service Authority at 540-674-8720 or visit www.pulaskicounty.org.

General New River Valley Resources

 
NRV United Way

Can connect you with local resources based on need - 276-628-2160

Clean up support (free):
  • Crisis Clean Up (Virginia)
    1-844-965-1386
    https://www.crisiscleanup.org/
  • NRV Heating and Air
    "If you or someone you know needs assistance, we’re offering cleanup crews this week (9/30-10/4) free of charge to help during this difficult time. Please email info@newriverheatingandair.com to let us know how we can help you! You can also call our office during work hours to speak to someone directly."
    540-731-1979
  • All American Hauling LLC
    Posted on Next Door Neighbor. From Tyler Roop, Merrimac/460.
    "We are proud to dedicate our services to help with storm cleanup and freeing accessways (free of charge to those in need) once the conditions have calmed! If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please comment / call / text or email us! We are on standby to help our community!"
    540-267-6393
    aahaulingllc@outlook.com
  • Blue Ridge Green Cleaning
    "After the recent storm and flooding, Blue ridge green cleaning would like to donate some of their time and services to helping those in need! If anyone is in need of some help with any clean up projects, or knows someone who does, please reach out to us!"
    https://www.facebook.com/blueridgegreencleaning
Storage (free)
Pets
  • Humane Society of the New River Valley
    If you need dog food, call (540) 307-5658

Additional resources and information

 
Extension resources
Government resources
Additional relief resources
Online communities