Highlands, NC: Open for Business
UPDATED 10/15/24
Highlands area businesses, shops, and restaurants are OPEN and eager to welcome you. All roads up the mountain are open. Highlands was fortunate to fare reasonably well from Hurricane Helene, especially compared to some of our neighbors here in Western North Carolina. Thank you for your caring and support.
The Nantahala National Forest (all developed recreation sites, trials and roads) is open. Check https://www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc for specifics.
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust's public access trails are open, other than Brushy Face Preserve (all trails closed due to severe tree damage) and Dixon Woods Park (*Main trails open* Lower Dixon Loop trail closed due to major tree damage). For updates or to contribute to aid and relief efforts, visit: www.hcltnc.org.
HOW TO HELP
Support Highlands Area Organizations
Here is a list of local needs:
A central donation site has been set up in the old Bank of America building at Carolina Way and Fourth Street, drive thru lane and is being staffed by the Rotary Club of Highlands and Mountaintop Rotary. Open daily 2-4pm for donations. The needs across the region change rapidly. To see the list of most needed items please go to https://mtrgives.org/disaster-relief-donation. For more information contact Cath Connolly Hudson at 919-259-1027.
Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation
If you are looking for a way to support those affected by this disaster, consider making a donation to the Health Foundation’s Hurricane Relief Fund. Every dollar you contribute will play a crucial role in rebuilding our communities and providing essential aid to those who have been impacted. Donate: https://highlandscashiershealthfoundation.org/helenedisasterresponse/
Highlands Food Pantry (10am-3pm, 350 Spring Street, Highlands)
https://internationalfriendshipcenter.org
The Manna warehouse where they purchase food was completely destroyed by the hurricane and they have no idea when we will be able to order from them again. Please consider helping out with the following items as the need is great in our area even though we were not nearly as impacted as other places.
Items needed:
- Bread
- Cereal and oatmeal
- Snacks
- Soups and canned meats
- Canned fruit and veggies
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- Hygiene items: razors, soap, small bottles of shampoo and conditioner etc.
- Pasta and sauce
- Mac and cheese
- Laundry Detergent
- Maseca tamales
- Tortillas
- Cooking oil
- Diapers
- Baby Formula
- Financial Contributions
Highlands Emergency Council (71 Poplar Street, Highlands)
Items in need:
- Diapers
- Pet food
- 13-gallon garbage bags
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Feminine hygiene products
- Laundry detergent
- Hand soap
- Non-perishable food items
- Financial contributions
Pisgah Legal
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, countless families are left vulnerable, facing urgent needs in securing housing, accessing benefits, and rebuilding their lives. Pisgah Legal is stepping in to provide critical, free legal support to those most affected. Thousands of people will again be depending on Pisgah Legal for essential aid that includes, but is not limited to:
- housing assistance (for both renters and homeowners)
- health insurance and Medicaid
- disaster employment benefits
- consumer scams
- and applying for FEMA assistance and other local and/or state aid.
A donation will directly fund essential services for displaced and struggling community members. Donate: https://www.pisgahlegal.org/?form=FUNGNWWDVDN
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SPECIAL OFFERS FROM HIGHLANDS BUSINESSES AND/OR PROCEEDS BENEFITTING RELIEF EFFORTS
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Art Highlands Gallery - All artists are giving percentages of their sales to the recovery efforts. The local artists in the group were all touched in some way. In honor of these artists, The Stubborn Bull restaurant will have their art on display for diners to enjoy and consider purchasing.
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Brookings: Sent a truckload of waders and boots to the Swannanoa / Bakersville communities. If you would like to "sponsor" a pair of these waders, please call the shop and make a donation at (828) 743-3768.
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High Country Wine + Provisions: A portion of ALL October and November sales at both High Country Wines and Davis Family Vineyards will be donated to disaster relief efforts in Western North Carolina.
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One Wicker Cheese Company: A Taste of NC event 10/24. 25% of all ticket proceeds and 10% of in store sales will go directly towards WNC cheesemakers impacted by Hurricane Helene. To purchase tickets www.onewickercheesecompany.com.
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Highlands Food & Wine
Starting October 10 through November 7, $125 from every ticket sold for Sunday November 10th's, 'Shot at Redemption' goes to these relief organizations: Highlands Emergency Council, Highlands Food Pantry, BeLoved Asheville, Equal Plates Project, Southern Smoke Foundation. Click here to purchase tickets: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/58136456/shot-at-redemption-november-10th123pm-highlands-highlands-food-wine
RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES, EMPLOYEES AND INDIVIDUALS
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance staff will be at the Highlands Police Department Conference Room at 372 Oak Street starting Tuesday, Oct. 15 through Friday Oct. 18 from 10am to 4pm. They will be assisting those impacted by the disaster in registering for FEMA assistance or inquires on existing applications.
Through support from the Golden LEAF Foundation, Mountain BizWorks has launched the WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund. This rapid recovery loan program will provide loans to eligible businesses for up to $100,000, with very low interest (1%), and payments (interest only) for the first year, helping to close the gap between when the disaster strikes and when federal loans, insurance payouts, and other disaster relief funds are approved.
FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of North Carolina to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene. Federal funding is available to affected individuals, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
FEMA Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Businesses: Grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621- 3362, or by using the FEMA App.
US Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance: Loans for homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits affected by the disaster. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance/hurricane-helene
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To learn more, please CLICK HERE to read the U.S. Small Business Administration Fact Sheet on Disaster Loans. It is also available in Spanish HERE.
NC Department of Commerce
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
Following a federal disaster declaration because of Hurricane Helene, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are now available in 25 counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. People in these counties have 60 days from October 1 to file an application for Disaster Unemployment Assistance at des.nc.gov. The deadline to apply is December 2. Go to https://www.des.nc.gov/dua for more information.
Storm Debris
- You may take your debris to the Transfer Center, 10 Rich Gap Road. Hours: Monday- Friday 8am-4pm and Saturday 8am-1:30pm.
- If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.
Legal Assistance
- Legal Aid of North Carolina stands ready to provide free advice and legal counsel regarding natural disaster needs, including legal representation if necessary, including for civil legal issues involving:
- Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome)
- Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards
- Medical and insurance claims
- Home repair contracts
- Utility disputes related to restoration of services
- Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft
- Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures
- Bankruptcy
- Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title
- Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster)
- If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline:
- (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262
- The hotline is available from:
- 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays.
- Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
- The hotline is available from:
- (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262
United States Postal Service
- Mail delivery operations in the following three-digit ZIP code areas (any ZIP code beginning with these numbers) may experience interruptions:
- 287 - USPS is attempting to resume delivery operations in the 287 ZIP code area.
Veterans
- Legionnaires, Sons of the American Legion members and Legion Posts that have been displaced from their primary residence due to damage sustained during Hurricane Helene may be eligible for financial assistance through the American Legion.
- Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000.
- Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000.
- To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link.
- Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024.
We are proud to serve the Highlands area community. Thank you for your patience, kindness, and unwavering support. Together, we will overcome this.
