Partnering With Churches to Serve More Than 112,000 People After Hurricane Helene

In the United States, it is rare that we turn on the faucet and clean, safe water does not flow. Even after natural disasters, we assume our most basic needs will be met. But when Hurricane Helene struck the southeastern United States in September 2024, many families lost access to safe water and electricity.

Water Mission deployed to the hardest-hit areas of western North Carolina. Our team installed 19 emergency safe water systems at schools, churches, and community centers, providing more than 457,000 gallons of safe drinking water for people in need. We also distributed water containers, 124,000 emergency water purification packets, and 1,100 generators to power homes and wells.  

Thanks to your support, we served more than 112,000 people following Hurricane Helene. 

Evita and Fred are part of Henson Chapel United Methodist Church in Vilas, North Carolina. Evita explained that many families in their community depend on wells and springs that were unusable after the storm. So Water Mission set up an emergency water treatment system in their church parking lot to ensure residents had clean, safe water. 

“We have a lot of people in the neighborhood who [were] without power and water,” Evita told us. “So, they [came] to get water to drink, to cook with, to take a bath with, to clean up.”  

Evita and Fred were overjoyed that Water Mission was partnering with local churches to meet people’s most urgent needs. When asked how they saw the Lord answering prayers after the hurricane, Fred quickly answered, “Well, He sent you folks!”  

Your generosity helped thousands of people have safe water after their lives were uprooted by the hurricane. Thank you for giving to help individuals and families start to rebuild after disaster.