Helene Ravaged Communities and Rivers
Need Help

French Broad River, North Carolina | Jack Henderson

The rivers of Southern Appalachia — rivers like the French Broad in North Carolina and Tennessee, to the Catawba and Broad in the Carolinas, and many more — weave a rich tapestry of ecosystems and geographies. They are vital to the region’s culture and economy and support an abundance of life. But Hurricane Helene devastated these rivers and communities with record flooding and landslides. The largest flood in the region’s history claimed more than 100 lives, destroyed drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, sent debris and pollution into waterways, reshaped river valleys, breached dams, and obliterated sensitive fish and wildlife habitat.

The challenges with getting access to federal funds created unnecessary chaos in the immediate response to this disaster. Federal natural resource agencies should prioritize the restoration and protection of the region’s rivers so that they are resilient to future storms. Now is not the time for these agencies to be hamstrung.

Funding must be used to implement projects on the ground including debris cleanup, floodplain buyouts, infrastructure improvements, streambank stabilization, dam removals, floodplain protections, and stormwater mitigation.

Congress must provide oversight of the federal agencies including the land management and regulatory agencies to ensure that work is being efficiently and effectively implemented as directed and funded by Congress to respond to the needs of the communities and protect and restore our rivers.

About You

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Mobile Phone (optional)

By entering my mobile number and checking this box, I agree to receive recurring text messages from American Rivers. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel.

Address

City

State

Zip Code

Personalize Your Letter

Dear {contact_data~salutation}.

Hurricane Helene washed away houses and habitat as it drenched southern Appalachia.
 
This region of the country is still reeling from those impacts and relies on visitors from all over to sustain its businesses and communities. Having resilient and healthy natural areas and rivers are critical to the long term success of the region.
 
Congress must step up and ensure that the funding appropriated to address these issues is having an actual impact on the ground. Congress must provide adequate oversight of the federal agencies to ensure recovery and resilience for when the next storm arrives.
 
Federal natural resource agencies should prioritize the restoration and protection of the region’s rivers so that they are resilient to future storms. Funding must be released to implement projects on the ground including debris cleanup, floodplain buyouts, infrastructure improvements, streambank stabilization, dam removals, floodplain protections, and stormwater mitigation.
 
Congress must provide oversight of the federal land management and regulatory agencies to ensure that work is efficiently and effectively done to respond to the needs of the communities to have restored and protected river systems that will improve their long term resilience.
 
Thank you,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}
{user_data~Address}
{user_data~City}, {user_data~State}
{user_data~Zip Code}
{user_data~Email Address}

Helene Ravaged Communities and Rivers Need Help

Helene Ravaged Communities and Rivers
Need Help