John,

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, our communities are facing unprecedented devastation. I extend my deepest condolences to the souls who perished, the families who lost loved ones, and countless lives displaced from their homes.

Our beautiful mountain communities are especially reeling, and in desperate need of our support as they navigate the aftermath of this tragedy.

I have lived in this state my whole life, and know what it looks like when we band together for our neighbors. Never underestimate the enduring spirit of North Carolinians. We are resilient, and we will rebuild.

With roadway infrastructures compromised, and many relying on airways or waterways as a means of transportation — there is no shortage of resources needed. There is a massive effort underway to aid the people of Western North Carolina, and every contribution makes a difference. As we embark on the mission to recover and rebuild from Hurricane Helene, will you please consider a donation to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund?

If you are unable to donate today, or in need of help yourself, I urge you to share the following state and federal government resources:

• Visit www.readync.gov for information regarding shelters, traffic, road closures, and outages.
• Visit www.ncdps.gov/helene for information and resources for those impacted by Helene.
• Visit https://www.readync.gov/stay-informed/open-shelters for information regarding open shelters.
• Call 211 to report a missing person or request a welfare check.
• Contact the American Red Cross at 800 RED CROSS or 800-733-27677. Select “Disaster,” follow the prompts for Hurricane Helene, provide your location, and share as much information as you can.

Please check in with your neighbors, and, most importantly, hold your loved ones tightly. We are North Carolina, we will get through this.

Together,

Valerie