Hurricane Helene Recovery Resources

Natural disasters can be traumatic for individuals, families and communities. There is no right or wrong way to feel during or after a hurricane. After a hurricane, it’s even more important to get mental health support if you believe you or a loved one may need help, and stay in contact with family and friends.

• • CredibleMind: CredibleMind is a free online platform available 24/7 and completely confidential. Learn more about resources specific to natural disasters including podcasts, articles, breathing exercises and more. 
  • Disaster Distress Hotline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990
  • NCDHHS Hurricanes and Mental Health Resources

• During response efforts, AppHealthCare Environmental Health staff are prioritizing work to focus on:
  • Private wells and springs that flooded to assist with disinfection and testing,
  • Community members have access to safe drinking water, and
  • Homeowners and businesses have the information to get flooded septic systems working properly again.

   

• Flooded/Submerged Private Wells and Springs
• If your private well or spring flooded from the impacts of Helene, follow these steps to ensure your water is safe to use:
  • Check your well/spring for damages – Reach out to a certified well contractor so they can make repairs. Also, please complete the AppHealthCare Septic or Well Repair Application for Hurricane Helene Damages Form to document your well repair need. This form needs to be completed in addition to contacting a certified well contractor. The information from the form helps our team know how best to meet your specific repair needs. The actual repair work will be conducted by a certified well contractor.
  • Disinfect your well/spring – The disinfection process helps to eliminate any potential bacterial contamination that may have entered your well/spring from flooding. We have “do it yourself” disinfection kits available at no cost – pick one up at any of our Environmental Health Offices. If you need assistance with disinfection, please complete this form. Once you complete the form, an AppHealthCare staff member will call you to gather additional information.
  • Test your well/spring – Once repairs and disinfection have been completed, you can proceed with testing. Test kits can be picked up from any of our Environmental Health Offices and are available at no cost. Water sampling should occur in the morning no earlier than 5:00am with the sample needing to be dropped off at one of the AppHealthCare Environmental Health Offices the same day by the following times – 10:00am for Watauga, 10:30am for Ashe and 11:00am for Alleghany. This timing is important to ensure the samples can be delivered to the NC State Laboratory for Public Health within the required timeframe to be tested.

  Note: In order to complete disinfection and testing, you must have a power source or a hand pump.

   

• Wells/Springs that Were Not Flooded
• If your well/spring did not flood but you are concerned about bacterial contamination, you can get a test kit from us at no cost. Test kits are available at any of our Environmental Health Offices.

• AppHealthCare Environmental Health Offices Open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:45pm
  • Watauga Environmental Health Office, 126 Poplar Grove Connector in Boone (second floor)
  • Ashe Environmental Health Office: 626 Ashe Central School Road in Jefferson
  • Alleghany Environmental Health Office: 157 Health Services Road in Sparta

   

• Check out these “how to” videos for step-by-step information on wells following flooding:
  • How to start using your well after a hurricane
  • How to disinfect your private well with Calcium Hypochlorite before testing
  • How to disinfect your private well with bleach before testing
  • How to collect a well water sample

   

  FAQs for Private Wells and Springs Impacted by Hurricane Helene

   

  FEMA Assistance for Damaged Wells and Septic Systems

  North Carolinians who lost access to water through a private well or damaged septic system as a result of Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA assistance. Additional information provided on FEMA’s website.

   

  Additional resources:

  • How to Disinfect Your Well After a Flood, step-by-step instructions
  • How to Disinfect Your Well after a Flood, step-bystep instructions (Spanish)
  • Safe Water
  • Safe Water (Spanish)

Floodwater can contain harmful bacteria that if exposed to an open wound or rash may become infected. Take steps to prevent infection and get a tetanus vaccine if you have an open wound/rash and have been exposed to floodwater. Call AppHealthCare at (828) 795-1970 to make an appointment.

• • Getting Back Into Your Home Safely
  • Cleaning Up and Preventing Mold
  • Volver a tu casa de forma segura: consejos rápidos
  • Limpieza y Prevención del Moho
  • Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup after Disasters

• • Town of Boone
  • Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Ashe County Government
  • Ashe Chamber of Commerce
  • Alleghany County Government

You can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App or call FEMA Assistance at 800-621-3362.

• • NCDHHS Hurricane Helene Recovery Resources – disaster recovery, list of operating pharmacies, list of open medical practices, NC Medicaid temporary flexibilities and resources and more.
  • North Carolina Department of Public Safety – resources for impacted communities, safety, executive orders, storm support numbers.