How to Help in the Hurricane Helene Relief Effort

We're closing the books in a very busy September, focusing on the states throughout the southeast impacted by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene. As of my writing this letter, more than 130 people have died from the storm, and thousands across multiple states are without power. Critical infrastructure has been washed away in the areas hardest hit, especially in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, leaving thousands more stranded without access to food or clean water.

Storms like Hurricane Helene prove that no matter how prepared we think we are, nothing can hold a candle to the awesome power of nature. Our thoughts are with the ACEC community affected by the storm - our state executives and volunteer leaders, our firm employees, and their families. Firms are already stepping in to help, and when the recovery effort turns into rebuilding, the people who will be called into service to bring their communities back from disaster will be engineers whose lives were impacted by the storm. As we honor the first responders currently putting their lives at risk to save others, let's also honor the engineers and public works officials who work alongside fire, EMS, and law enforcement in helping to determine the safety of buildings and bridges during the recovery effort.

Right now, our neighbors need our support, and you can help in multiple ways. If you are searching for a family member affected by the storm, please fill out this form prepared by the American Red Cross. If you want to donate, Send Relief organizes a region-wide relief effort. For North Carolina, you can donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, United Way of North Carolina, or the North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, which has a vetted group of organizations accepting donations. For assistance in Florida, the state also has an established disaster fund. On a national scale, you can donate directly to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Americares.