Relief. Restore. Rebuild.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, the Appalachian Disaster Coalition ("ADC") emerged through the efforts of multi-generational Yancey County families to provide immediate emergency relief to their friends, family and neighbors.
ADC has since aided hundreds of families with critical supplies, heating fuel, campers, meals, navigating governmental relief programs, community events and mini-grants to restore and rebuild their homes and businesses. We collaborate with churches, non-profits & community members to successfully aide the families of Western North Carolina ("WNC").
ADC is restoring safe, secure and livable conditions for residents who are uninsured, underinsured or have been denied adequate FEMA assistance in Yancey & Mitchell Counties.
Helping Our Neighbors
Through Collaborative Sourcing of Materials, Skilled Labor and Funding, ADC Assists WNC Families Through Times of Trial.
As ADC is 100% dependent upon charitable donations and grants for our programs, availability of assistance is dependent upon funding. Currently, we are accepting inquiries for assistance and our team will get back with you upon review and program availability.
Navigating Gov't Programs
Our ADC Team has assisted over 30 families, churches and businesses navigate the complicated available governmental programs, including FEMA appeals, SBA loans, Business Grants, Hazard Mitigation Buyouts, and Unemployment Benefits.
Emergency Assistance
ADC has provided emergency assistance under $500/family for non-utility needs, including work-related fuel expenses, essential food/clothing/personal items. Emergency Assistance is a one-time award.
Utility Assistance
ADC has coordinated utility assistance for hundreds of WNC families, including propane tank swaps, vouchers, and heating & light bill assistance. The Utility Assistance program is subject to available funds.
Home Repair Mini-Grant
ADC assists WNC families with repairing or rebuilding their homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. Through partnerships with churches, nonprofits and local businesses, ADC sources materials and coordinates labor per each project's specific needs.
Business Mini-Grant
ADC assists WNC business owners get back on their feet after suffering damage from Hurricane Helene by sponsoring equipment, materials or assets lost or irreparably damaged by the storm.
Relief Community Development Initiative
ADC is committed to rebuilding the small berg of Relief, NC on the North Toe River which lost 6 of its 9 full time residents in the flood. Through strategic partnerships, we are collaborating on property repairs/rebuilds and creating new affordable life/work opportunities for those displaced by Helene.
ADC MISSION
"Only by working together can we restore this beautiful Appalachia and her resilient people."
Our mission is to restore and preserve the rich cultural heritage of our Appalachian ancestors while strengthening and sustaining the integrity of our mountain communities. Through long-term aid and relief efforts, we are dedicated to assisting families impacted by Hurricane Helen and other hardships. By addressing gaps in insurance and FEMA assistance, we aim to provide homes, essential resources, and hope for a brighter future for those in need.
We envision a thriving Appalachian region where families have the resources and support needed to rebuild their lives and communities. Through collaboration, compassion, and dedication, we strive to create a future where the history, culture, and integrity of our mountain communities are preserved and strengthened for generations to come.
ADC is restoring safe, secure and livable conditions for residents who are uninsured, underinsured or have been denied adequate FEMA assistance in Yancey & Mitchell Counties.
Helping Our Neighbors
Andy B., Micaville, North Carolina
On September 27, 2025 Andy Buchanan went through a life changing experience, losing his home and business in the absolutely devastating flooding resulting from Hurricane Helene.
The ADC Team is proud to have played a role in Andy's recovery by assisting with his FEMA appeals, SBA loans, private grant funding, disaster unemployment benefits, and sponsoring his roof, gutters and flooring for his home and business.
Please join us in supporting Andy's business www.thornbroadheads.com as he gets back on his feet and returns to glory
Restoring Appalachia and Her Families Requires Help From All of Us.
If you, your church, your nonprofit or your business has the ability to contribute to the healing of WNC, we strongly encourage you to contribute financially, sponsor materials, or volunteer skilled labor as we do our part in restoring the hundreds of families who lost their homes, landmarks and communities to a sense of normalcy.
As a federally approved 501(c)(3) charitable organization, any donations of cash, materials, supplies or even skilled labor are tax deductible and ADC will work to create a mutually beneficial relationship for your altruistic spirit. We offer donors the opportunity to directly sponsor materials and supplies for each of our restoration/rebuild projects rather than donate directly to ADC to ensure optimal transparency. Restoration and rebuilding in WNC are the goals.
TESTIMONIALS
Helping Our Neighbors
The ADC Team helped us with FEMA appeals, SBA applications, cleaned up our property and lined up a shipping container for us to store our stuff in! We are extremely grateful for ADC's help!
Perijo B.
Relief, NC
After the flood destroyed my essential equipment for my design and tattoo business, ADC was instrumental in getting my business back on track! Thank you ADC!
Jessie M.
Burnsville, NC
Our house took major damage from the Helene flooding and ADC came through big by purchasing insulation, flooring, and plywood for the repair of our home. Thank you Team ADC!
Duane P.
Burnsville, NC
RESOURCES
What Resources Are Available for Disaster Assistance?
Navigating the range of disaster assistance programs can be overwhelming and difficult. The ADC Team has assisted families, churches and businesses across WNC apply for assistance through FEMA, SBA, NC Unemployment, USDA, DSS and private grant awarding organizations, as well as, appeal FEMA decisions that were wholly inadequate. Here are some guiding answers for your recovery process questions:
How does the FEMA process work?
The deadline for submitting a FEMA claim in WNC for Helene-caused damage was April 7th, 2025. IF you submitted a claim prior to that date, you can access your file at www.disasterassistance.gov and monitor all communications from FEMA as well as upload any additional documents or appeals. Congress sets the maximum FEMA awards at $42,500 (Home Repair, Bridge/Road/Culvert Repair combined) and $42,500 (Personal Property, Moving & Storage, Transportation Assistance, Miscellaneous Assistance combined). Rental Assistance, Emergency Awards ($750), Displacement Assistance, and Medical Reimbursement do not count towards these totals.
All communications from FEMA are available through their online website, so it is important that you setup and keep your login information for their website. Often, FEMA will send you a Request for More Information letter to determine potential awards. You have 30 days from the date of that letter to submit the requested information OR FEMA will automatically deny your claim for that program. IF your claim is denied OR FEMA awards you an inadequate amount, you can submit an appeal through the online system.
FEMA awards are either mailed to your address of record OR will be direct deposited if you provided your bank account information to FEMA.
IF YOU RECEIVE FUNDS FOR HOME REPAIR OR BRIDGE/ROAD/CULVERT REPAIR, YOU MUST SPEND THOSE DOLLARS ON ACTUAL REPAIR RELATED EXPENSES AND KEEP THOSE RECEIPTS OR FEMA CAN RECLAIM THOSE FUNDS!
How do I appeal a FEMA decision?
If FEMA denies your claim or awards an amount that's wholly insufficient for the damage you sustained, you can submit a written appeal through their website. When you log in to the FEMA website, under the Uploads tab you can select a variety of document types to submit and under which program. If you are appealing a Home Repair or Personal Property award, select that tab, then under the next section select Appeal Letter (or whatever supporting documents you are uploading) and follow the instructions on the screen.
In your appeals letter, make sure and include your name, damaged address, telephone number, FEMA Claim ID, date at the top of the page. We encourage you to cover the timeline of when you sustained damage, the severity of the damage, when you filed for FEMA assistance and the timeline of FEMA requests/awards/rejections and to highlight what supporting documents you are including with your appeal.
The name of the game is DOCUMENTATION! It is up to YOU to upload sufficient photographic evidence of your damaged property and items as well as providing an inventory of lost/damaged property PLUS ownership documents, receipts or cost to replace/repair. It's best to add these supporting documents to the appeals letter OR provide to the local FEMA office for them to upload manually.
BE FOREWARNED, the FEMA appellate process is incredibly slow. Patience is critical and checking in with FEMA representatives on your claim is highly encouraged. FEMA has 90 business days to review your appeal, but they have been going well beyond that timeline since Helene.
What is the Hazard Mitigation Program?
FEMA offers a two-part Hazard Mitigation Program that is operated through the NC Dept of Public Safety. Visit the link above to determine if your property is eligible for (1) hazard mitigation improvements like retaining walls and elevating your home, or (2) the hazard mitigation buyout where flood-prone at-risk properties can be purchased somewhere around 75% of the pre-Helene appraised value and placed in a permanent conservation easement (green space). Homeowners should watch this helpful VIDEO.
Property owners must complete the application and submit the required photographs of their structures to their applicable County Emergency Management representative who then submits to the NC DPS to be included in their bulk requests to FEMA. This process can be very slow, so again, patience is necessary. However, for the most damaged, at-risk properties (especially in flood plains), this may be the best option to recoup some value for your property.
What assistance does the SBA offer?
The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers Disaster Business Loans and Disaster Home Loans at incredibly attractive rates (currently under 3% interest for 15 year terms) without the rigorous credit evaluations applied by private lenders. Depending upon your need, credit and available collateral, loans can be awarded for up to $500,000. These loans require collateral for any amount over $50,000 and you will be required to submit many documents including: tax returns, property ownership documents, personal identification documents, bank statements and more. The SBA process moves far more efficiently than FEMA and its staff are very helpful. Apply through the SBA website for either of these programs.
What assistance does the USDA offer?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that have been hit hard by natural disaster events. From rural home loans to livestock assistance programs, the USDA website has multiple programs available to assist you with your recovery.
What unemployment benefits are available?
FEMA awarded the NC Division of Employment Security funds to cover 26 weeks of Disaster Unemployment Assistance to impacted residents of NC, but those funds ended on March 29th, 2025. If you worked for an employer (not self employed) who paid in to Unemployment Insurance, you may be eligible for weekly payments of Unemployment Insurance. You are required to actively seek employment, participate in approved trainings and submit a weekly online report as part of these benefits. Visit the NCDES website to learn more and apply for benefits.
What other home repair/rebuild & assistance programs are available?
Samaritan's Purse has been a leader in WNC disaster recovery since day one. Currently, they offer 3 programs: (1) Home Rebuild/Repair, (2) Furniture Replacement, (3) Road/Bridge/Culvert Repair. You MUST be a home owner to qualify and pick up/submit the program application to their offices located at 675 West US Hwy 19, Burnsville, North Carolina.
The United Way offers a range of temporary assistance through their NC211 website, including rental assistance, food programs, microgrants and more.
Our Partners in Recovery
