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Hurricane Helene: Real Disaster, Real Relief — GFHA Final Impact Report

Hurricane Helene: Real Disaster, Real Relief — GFHA Final Impact Report

When Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26, 2024, its destructive force carved a path from Florida’s Gulf Coast to the mountains of North Carolina — displacing thousands and devastating rural communities with limited access to emergency services.

But in the face of chaos, Ground Force Humanitarian Aid (GFHA) showed up with one mission: deliver real relief and restore hope.

Over an 8-week deployment, our team — powered by donors, volunteers, and community partners — brought food, fuel, medical care and dignity to some of the hardest-hit and most underserved survivors of Hurricane Helene.

Phase 1: Immediate Relief in Perry, Florida

Just hours after landfall, GFHA was operational on the ground in Perry, FL. In partnership with Walmart Mobile Disaster Kitchen, we launched a full-scale response:

  • SAFE Camp deployed to provide coordinated shelter, resources, and volunteer support
  • A high-capacity drive-thru distribution site served hundreds of families
  • Over 2,500 hot meals served in 3 days, thanks to our Walmart partnership

When the flooding moved north, we did too.

Phase 2: Long-Term Recovery in Western North Carolina

In the rural mountain communities of Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey Counties, floodwaters destroyed homes and infrastructure. GFHA responded with critical aid and long-term recovery efforts — reaching areas many relief agencies simply couldn’t.

Our North Carolina Impact:

  • $800,000+ in essential supplies delivered: generators, propane heaters, camp stoves, water filtration systems, hygiene kits, and more
  • Medical support provided to 125 survivors at SAFE Camp, and in partnership with local clinics
  • Life-saving medications such as insulin, EpiPens, and emergency oxygen reached those with chronic conditions
  • 7,345 families stabilized with food, fuel, and shelter
  • 1,344 propane tanks distributed before winter, ensuring families had heat and cooking fuel
  • 21,630 volunteer hours logged — the equivalent of 10 full-time responders for 3 months
  • $100,000 in tools donated to help families rebuild
  • $5,000 in tools given to Mitchell High School to relaunch its woodworking program

These numbers reflect more than just aid — they reflect lives supported, communities restored, and futures reignited.

Collaboration That Multiplied Impact

We believe disaster response is strongest when it’s community-led and partnership-driven. Hurricane Helene’s response was made possible through deep collaboration with local and national allies:

  • Walmart Foundation
  • Walmart Mobile Relief Kitchen
  • Little Switzerland Relief
  • Little Switzerland Inn
  • First Baptist Church & Local VOADs
  • Mountain Community Health Partnership & Dr. Steve North, MD, MPH
  • Jamesin Clinic
  • Operation AirDrop & Avery County Airfield
  • Lowe’s Home Improvement
  • Good 360°

Technology That Stabilizes: Stability.org

In the wake of the storm, power and communication lines failed — but access to help didn’t. Our proprietary disaster response platform, Stability.org, served as a digital lifeline:

  • Over 50,000 residents accessed real-time updates, resource maps, and trusted local information
  • Survivors could locate meals, medical help, shelter, and fuel — all from their phones

Stability.org is transforming how disaster response is coordinated in real time — especially in underserved, rural regions.

What’s Next: Preparing Before the Next Storm

Recovery doesn’t stop when the cameras leave. GFHA is committed to long-term rebuilding and disaster preparedness — and we need your help to stay ready.

Here’s how you can take action:

💙 Donate — $100,000 pre-positions emergency supplies for 1,000 families
📡 Support Stability.org — $250,000 helps us expand access to 100,000 more people
📣 Share Our Mission — Spread the word and help grow our network

Why It Matters

Every statistic in this report represents a person — like 78-year-old Hayden Duncan and his wife Debra, who fled barefoot into the night after a tree crashed through their living room. They walked miles down a dirt road, surrounded by falling trees, until our team cleared a path back to their home.

Their story, and thousands like it, remind us why this work matters.

$1 = $12 in aid delivered
85% of every dollar goes to direct programs
Audited annually | Gold-rated on Guidestar

We’re not just responding to disasters — we’re rebuilding lives.

Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for showing up when it mattered most.



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