Recovery and rebuilding efforts are underway in areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene. The wood products industry, its suppliers, as well as military and federal agencies are in response mode. 

Here are some resources

— Austin Willingham, of Willingham and Sons in Newberry, South Carolina, announced via social media that his store was open for those in the area in need of rebuilding supplies.

Willingham and Sons carries aisles and aisles of supplies including:

• Insulation
• Roofing materials
• Lumber
• Millwork
• Plywood and sheathing
• Mortar and cement
• Drywall
• Cement block

— 84 Lumber, located in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, shared on social media via their LinkedIn page: "Our hearts go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Helene. At 84 Lumber, we stand ready to support our communities during this difficult time. If you need help rebuilding, resources, or anything in between, reach out and let us know how we can assist. Together, we can rebuild stronger." 

— Another lumber company, Mentor Lumber & Supply, started Rescue Relay, stating: "As we aim to aid our neighbors in North Carolina who have faced unimaginable challenges following the recent hurricane, Mentor Lumber is proud to serve as a Lake County drop-off location for hurricane relief efforts. Help us stuff the truck!"

— Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in South Carolina following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene that began on September 25th. 

The disaster declaration covers Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Abbeville, Allendale, Calhoun, Colleton, Edgefield, Fairfield, Hampton, Laurens, McCormick, Orangeburg, Richland, Union and York in South Carolina; Burke, Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Rabun, Richmond and Stephens in Georgia; Cleveland, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania in North Carolina.

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  

To view the full SBA support release, visit sba.gov.