Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

Luke Lights being packed by ShelterBox in North Carolina. Video courtesy ShelterBox USA. 

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought a level of devastation to western North Carolina that few anticipated. As one of the most intense storms to impact the region in recent history, Helene defied expectations by maintaining extraordinary strength over inland areas and causing unprecedented rainfall. The storm rapidly intensified, fueled by record-high ocean temperatures, and unleashed a torrent of destruction, particularly in mountainous areas like Asheville and the surrounding towns. Communities experienced over 30 inches of rain in some locations, leading to catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread infrastructure collapse.

North Carolina’s electricity infrastructure was especially hard-hit. Entire districts were left without power for extended periods, with fallen trees and landslides damaging transmission lines and access routes. Major highways were rendered impassable, complicating relief efforts, and some communities were completely cut off, forcing rescue teams to use unconventional methods such as air drops and pack animals to deliver aid. 
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In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, organizations mobilized across the country to provide medical care, food and shelter to people in need. With the help of our supporters and partners, Unite to Light was able to play a small role in the recovery efforts by providing our solar Chandler Chargers and Luke Lights. We were honored to partner with Direct Relief, World Central Kitchen, and ShelterBox to help people connect to services, power their phones and wifi hotspots, access food, and bring light to dark nights.  

Direct Relief staff delivered medical support to NC MedAssist, a charitable pharmacy in Charlotte, North Carolina as part of Hurricane Helene response efforts. NC MedAssist ships medications across the state, primarily to patients who are uninsured, and the organization recently received requested medications from Direct Relief, including tetanus vaccines to protect those involved in storm cleanup, and epinephrine injections for those allergic to bees and yellowjackets, which were a concern, post-storm. The organization also received Direct Relief field medic packs, emergency medicines and supplies, and Unite to Light solar-powered chargers to support mobile health efforts in storm-affected areas. ​

Photo by David Uttley for Direct Relief

Photo courtesy: World Central Kitchen

While focusing on their mission of providing fresh meals to people impacted by Hurricane Helene, World Central Kitchen's (WCK) Relief Team in North Carolina also helped community members with other necessities. Specifically, WCK collaborated with Unite to Light to distribute Luke Lights and Chandler Chargers to affected residents. The items were delivered by WCK’s Community Outreach team who spread out across the impacted region to provide meals and understand the scope of needs. 

Rotary Zones 33 & 34 partnered with ShelterBox USA to mobilize a response in western North Carolina. They worked to get needs assessments from the Emergency Operations Centers in the hardest-hit counties. ShelterBox USA and Rotary provided hundreds of emergency kits, which included: zero-degree sleeping bags, comforters, solar lights and battery packs, water filters, camp stoves, and ShelterBox midi tents to families recovering from the devastation left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Volunteers packed kits to help people recovering from the devastation left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Photo by ShelterBox USA.

In all, Unite to Light and our partners mobilized over 750 Chandler Chargers and 800 Luke Lights to North Carolina in the aftermath of the storm. We know that they are not a replacement for the electricity grid we all have come to rely on, but we hope that they served as useful tools and sources of comfort for people who lost so much in the floods. We are grateful to our supporters and partners for enabling these deliveries, and serving on the front lines when disasters strike. If you want to help in future times of disaster, select “Disaster Response” when you make a donation.

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