CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Many people in the Carolinas and surrounding areas are stepping up to help those most impacted by Helene.
But some posts on social media say to transport items to some of the harder-hit areas, you first need to register.
OUR SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
In a Facebook post, Lenoir County Emergency Services says a sudden influx of donations directly into a disaster area can complicate and overwhelm recovery efforts.
The post says if you’re looking to transport supplies and donations to Western North Carolina, you need to request permission from the North Carolina Department of Emergency Management.
The WCNC Charlotte Verify team sent an email to the request line. It said since the State of North Carolina is advising everyone not to travel into the affected region, emergency management cannot grant permission for, or authorize access to individuals for travel.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s website also details how people can help donate supplies to the damaged areas. It states that “individuals from outside storm-damaged areas who are gathering supplies are urged to collect them but not attempt to deliver them to Western North Carolina on their own."
They say the needs vary from area to area and may change rapidly, and any uncoordinated efforts to deliver supplies can disrupt ongoing rescue efforts.
So while officials are not asking people to stop donating and collecting supplies for those affected by Helene, they are asking people to coordinate the donation of supplies with reputable organizations that can deliver those supplies quickly and safely to those who need them most.
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