The staff of the Virginia Folklife Program, as well as our colleagues at Virginia Humanities, hope you and your loved ones are managing to stay safe from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, which has carved a 500-mile path of destruction across multiple Southeastern states.
We are sharing resources for recovery for the heritage and cultural sector from the Virginia Funders Network and Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a public-private partnership between FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution.
Please help us spread the word among impacted communities in Southwest VA. Reports of unmet needs may be sent to folklife@virginiahumanities.org.
Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) Resources
An Emergency Declaration was approved in Virginia for Public Assistance, Category B (Emergency Protective Measures) in the following areas:
- Bedford
- Bland
- Bristol
- Buchanan
- Carroll
- Covington
- Craig
- Danville
- Dickenson
- Galax
- Giles
- Grayson
- Montgomery
- Norton
- Pittsylvania
- Pulaski
- Radford
- Russell
- Scott
- Smyth
- Tazewell
- Washington
- Wise
- Wythe
If you are part of a cultural institution or arts organization that was impacted, please fill out one of the following Rapid Damage Assessment Forms:
Cultural institutions, arts organizations, and artists and performing groups can call the National Heritage Responders hotline: 202.661.8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.
Members of the public and individual artists who have questions about saving family heirlooms and personal collections can email the National Heritage Responders at NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org.
HENTF’s Save Your Family Treasures guidance is available. Here you can find the downloadable FEMA fact sheets “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms,” available in multiple languages.
Ways to Support Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
- Appalachia Funders Network has created the Appalachian Helene Response Fund.
- American Red Cross Virginia is collecting funds to support displaced persons in Virginia.
- Community Foundation of Western North Carolina has opened their disaster relief fund.
- Philanthropy Southeast and NC Network of Grantmakers have set up resource pages on their websites with multiple organizations to support.
- United Way of Southwest Virginia has set up a Southwest Virginia Disaster Relief Fund.
- Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters’ website has information about volunteer opportunities.
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