With overnight temperatures starting to drop in North Carolina, an Avery County official told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the urgent needs of people still recovering from deadly Hurricane Helene change with the seasons.
Alicia Stemper, public information specialist for the Avery County Emergency Operations Center, told Fox News Digital by phone that while power has been restored to some area residents, they still do not have access to heat because HVAC units and other heating methods have been damaged or destroyed by storm floods.
“We desperately need camp heaters or partner heaters,” Stemper said, adding that gas, battery and electric heaters would work best.
But Stemper said there is one surprising item among the county's top priorities: laundry detergent.
FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON HELENE'S EYES RECOVERY AREAS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, EASTERN TENNESSEE
Alex Nelson, a retired Army noncommissioned officer, volunteers at the Elk River Airfield, a supply distribution center in Avery County, North Carolina, on Oct. 8. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
“There is not enough laundry detergent in the county to deal with all the muddy clothes,” Stemper said, adding that residents use the community laundromat to clean clothes soiled during the storm and during rescue operations.
Stemper said officials and community members are “grateful and happy that people are being so kind and generous” with donations, and added that the public has helped so much by donating water that the community's needs are changing. She said the highest priority items right now include laundry detergent, heaters and mold removal products.
Boogie volunteers leave and Andrew Buchholz loads food and supplies into a truck at the Elk River Airport, a supply distribution center in Avery County, North Carolina, on October 8. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Stemper said that as the weather gets colder, donations of warm weather-appropriate clothing, such as hats, gloves, warm socks and jackets, would also be appreciated.
PUPPIES SAVED FROM HURRICANE HELENE THAT NEED TO BE RETURNED TO MILITARY VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDENTS
Temperatures in the area dropped to 39 degrees Monday night, the Avery County Sheriff's Office chief deputy told Fox News Digital. Banner Elk, a small town in Avery County, posted online that wintry temperatures and snow showers would be possible Tuesday evening.
Those wishing to donate are asked to check the changing needs of affected communities.
“It's a marathon, not a sprint,” Stemper said. “We need people to think about us as the seasons change for a year or two.”
Stemper encouraged those wishing to donate to collectively coordinate their efforts with friends, neighbors and churches to improve the transportation of donations.
Avery County has posted how you can donate to the website at this link.
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Four storm-related fatalities were confirmed in Avery County on Tuesday, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. As of Tuesday, the storm had killed 95 people across the state.
Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
