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As Florida braces for Hurricane Milton, the second major storm in a week to put the Sunshine State in its crosshairs, communities across six states are still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Real estate professionals have rushed to help storm victims by organizing donation drives, helping displaced residents salvage their belongings and even taking part in helicopter rescue missions.
Donations for the victims have poured in nationwide: The REALTORS® Relief Foundation has raised $526,000 as of Wednesday morning for housing-related assistance for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“From the moment Hurricane Helene made landfall, REALTORS® were taking action to help,” says RRF President Mike McGew. “The response to the RRF Hurricane Helene Relief Fund has been heartwarming and impactful, as more than 1,200 donors provided help to families for recovery and rebuilding. REALTORS® not only help families find a home, but they also help them return home.”
Real estate professionals are “deeply connected to the communities they serve,” says Tennessee REALTORS® President Regina Hubbard. Communities in East Tennessee were among those ravaged by massive flooding and storm damage. “For many of our members, this devastation and damage is in their own backyards—the neighborhoods they grew up in, the churches they attend, the roadways they travel on. These are their communities that need help,” Hubbard says. “As REALTORS®, we see our communities, and especially other REALTORS®, as family. So, helping out and giving back is something we’re very passionate about, and I’m proud to see the overwhelming support from throughout our state.”
Storm Damage Mounting
Hurricane Helene ranks as one of the deadliest hurricanes to ever make landfall in the U.S., with at least 227 deaths and many still missing. The damage to homes, buildings and infrastructure has been massive, with total losses estimates between $30.5 billion and $47.5 billion, according to CoreLogic’s latest figures. (Original estimates were about $5 billion.) The real estate data firm notes the damage to residential and commercial properties from wind, storm surge and inland flooding was extensive and stretched across several states.
“When intense storm surge and flooding events, like Hurricane Helene, reach regions that are infrequently affected by natural hazards, we can expect to see damage to homes without flood insurance coverage,” says Jon Schneyer, director of catastrophe response at CoreLogic. “The fact that so much damage was concentrated outside the Special Flood Hazard Areas makes it challenging to realize the full extent of impact to uninsured homeowners.”
Real Estate Pros Rush In
Lisa Askew, GRI, a real estate professional with Askew Realty Group in Newport, Tenn., was quick to show up for her community in East Tennessee, which faced extensive flooding damage from Helene’s wrath. Her Facebook page became a triage of sorts as she coordinated donations and offered to help victims.
Askew has been juggling many hats for her community, delivering warm food to displaced residents while coordinating supply donation drives and cleanup efforts; families can apply for assistance from the REALTORS® Relief Foundation by going either to her brokerage or her website.
Local REALTOR® associations and real estate brokerages from across the state sprang into action by collecting donations—such as food, water, clothing and other goods—and bringing truckloads for Askew to then distribute within the community.
“We are a tight REALTOR® family,” Askew posted on her Facebook page. “We are here for one another, and I could never repay them enough for having our backs during this tragedy. … We have seen so much devastation in several communities, but we also see smiles. We see people helping one another, we see tears, we have heard stories you just can’t comprehend.”
