Several NFL factions have collectively donated $8 million to support communities decimated by Hurricane Helene, the league announced Monday.
Donors include Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who donated $2 million to World Central Kitchen through his foundation for Georgians affected by the storm.
David Tepper and his wife Nicole, the billionaire owners of the Carolina Panthers, gave $3 million in hurricane relief for recovery efforts in both North and South Carolina.
Both the Houston Texans and the Glazer family, which owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United, have pledged $1 million each.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Helene, and the NFL is committed to doing our part to help affected communities recover,” said NFL Vice President of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation Alexia Gallagher in a statement.
Donors include Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who donated $2 million through his foundation
Tepper (left) and the Glazer brothers together gave $4 million in hurricane relief funds
Flood damage is spread across a road in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene
“The NFL is privileged to play a vital role in communities across the country, and we are proud to partner with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to provide critical resources and support to people in need.’
Emergency workers in North Carolina tried Monday to reach people who have been missing for three days after Hurricane Helene tore through the region, killing nearly 100 people, wiping out communications and leaving millions without power.
Cellular service remained out of service in large parts of Ohio through the Carolinas and into Florida. According to the website Poweroutage.us, about 2.1 million homes and businesses were without power at dawn on Monday.
“The lack of communication is concerning,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said in an interview with CNN on Monday. “We know there are people missing, and we know there will be significant fatalities at the end of this, and our prayers and our hearts go out to these families.”
Cooper, who said he had not heard from his son and daughter in 72 hours, added that local officials and emergency workers were conducting door-to-door welfare checks in many communities.
Paula Williams helps a friend clean up a flooded house in Steinhatchee, Florida
The National Guard is fully activated and responders from 19 states are there to assist, along with Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel. Cooper said the rugged terrain in the mountains of western North Carolina makes it nearly impossible to travel through because of landslides and flooding.
“So we rely heavily on air power, helicopters with lift capacity to get supplies in,” he said.
Helene crashed into Florida’s Gulf Coast Thursday evening, leading to days of driving rain and destroying homes that had stood for decades. As it moved north, it washed away roads, decimated neighborhoods and left many communities without water and basic necessities.
At least 30 people have been killed in Bumcombe County, North Carolina, which includes the city of Asheville, according to the county sheriff. Overall, the death toll was nearly 100 in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia, according to a Reuters review of state and local figures, and was likely to rise.
Damage estimates ranged from $15 billion to more than $100 billion, insurers and forecasters said this weekend, as water systems, communications and critical transportation routes were damaged or destroyed.
Property damage and lost economic output will become more apparent as officials assess the destruction.