(WGHP) — Western North Carolina was brutalized by Helene as the powerful storm system passed over the state on Friday. Here is the latest information on the storm's trail of destruction in western North Carolina and efforts to get critical supplies to those in need. LAKE LURE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately six feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Heavy rains from Hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend on Thursday night with winds up to 140 mph and storm surges that killed at least 42 people in several states. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Heavy rains from hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend on Thursday night with winds up to 140 mph and storm surges that killed at least 42 people in several states. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Heavy rains from hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend on Thursday night with winds up to 140 mph and storm surges that killed at least 42 people in several states. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 27: An athletic field is flooded after heavy rain and filling with debris on September 27, 2024 in Boone, North Carolina. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 27: The New River is seen on both sides of Highway 221 as its banks flooded after heat rainfall on September 27, 2024 in Ashe County, North Carolina. Rains from what was Hurricane Helene have dropped more than a foot of rain across much of the region. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)es)BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 27: Flood damage is seen on Highway 321 on September 27, 2024 outside of Boone, North Carolina. Rains from what was Hurricane Helene has dropped more than a foot of rain across much of the region. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 27: Portions of land are flooded near a road in West Jefferson, North Carolina on September 27, 2024. Heavy rains brought uncharacteristic flooding to many parts of the North Carolina mountains. Rains from what was Hurricane Helene have dropped more than a foot of rain across much of the region. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)es)BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 27: Vehicles drive through high water on NC highway 321 on September 27, 2024 in Boone, North Carolina. Rains from what was Hurricane Helene have dropped more than a foot of rain across much of the region. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Men inspect the damage from flooding in the Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night in Florida's Big Bend with winds up to 140 mph. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Heavy rains from Hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend on Thursday night with winds up to 140 mph and storm surges that killed at least 42 people in several states. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: People in the Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night in Florida's Big Bend with winds up to 140 mph. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Here to help FOX8 is partnering with The Salvation Army for Hurricane Helene relief. According to the Salvation Army's website, the organization is ready to provide "emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and long-term recovery services to survivors and rescue workers." You can donate using the blue button below. 100% of your donation will go towards Hurricane Helene relief. Donate to support Hurricane Helene relief here Samaritan's Purse The Boone headquarters of the international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse suffered roof damage and minor flooding due to Helene, but that has not stopped the organization from stepping up to help others. The organization has deployed multiple disaster relief teams to western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. In North Carolina, it has crews in Ashe, Watauga, Avery and Buncombe counties.  Samaritan's Purse invites any homeowners in need of assistance across all states to call 1-833-747-1234 to speak with a representative. Homeowners can also visit the organization's Disaster Relief Unit at Alliance Bible Fellowship in Boone. Crews hope to soon open another response center at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, 1 Porters Cove Road, in Asheville. Anyone interested in volunteering can sign up at SPvolunteer.org or call 828-386-8667.  Greensboro The YCMA of Greensboro and multiple Greensboro-area groups are working together to gather items for people in need in western North Carolina. Donations can be dropped off at YMCA of Greensboro branch locations and Camp Weaver. They'll be accepting donation "until further notice to support our community during this challenging time." The City of Greensboro added that collection bins will be at the GuilfordWorks career centers in Greensboro and High Point for the YMCA of Greensboro to collect. The city says donated items can be dropped off at the following GuilfordWorks career center locations: 301 S. Greene St., Suite 200, Greensboro, NC 27401 2301 W. Meadowview Rd., Greensboro, NC 27407 607 Idol St., High Point, NC 27262 To help those most affected, the YMCA of Greensboro is collaborating with New Garden Landscaping, Buds and Blooms Nursery, and Gossett's Nursery. Donations will be taken to South Valley Gardens in Newland, N.C., for distribution. High Point The United Way of North Carolina and the American Red Cross are working together to provide relief to those affected by Helene. The United Way of Greater High Point is calling on the community to join in supportingdisaster recovery efforts by donating. "Our first priority is to provide shelter and support to those affected ... Financial donations are the quickest and best way to help those who need it most," Executive Director serving the Piedmont Triad Chapter of the ARC Heather Frazee said. The ARC and the UWoGHP have set up donation pages. Forsyth County Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools stepped up to provide aid to school districts in western North Carolina. Four WS/FCS staff members volunteered to deploy, bringing heavy equipment and machinery, loaded up by the district's facilities department, to support Buncombe County Schools. WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus and Watauga County Superintendent Leslie Alexander, who previously worked for WS/FCS, put together a plan to collect donations of water on Oct. 1 in a special event they're calling "Water for Watauga." They'll be collecting cases of bottled water, and anyone can donate at 475 Corporate Square Drive between 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. “Watauga and Buncombe County and other schools throughout the region face a long recovery," McManus said in a statement. "Let’s show them they are not alone. Thanks for your kindness and support!” Help is also coming from Forsyth County first responders and community groups. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Winston-Salem Police Department, Winston-Salem Fire Department, Winston-Salem Forsyth County Branch of the NAACP and other local faith and political leaders teamed up to collect donations. They'll be accepting donations from noon to 7 p.m. each day until Wednesday outside of the Forsyth County Public Safety Center, located at 301 North Church Street. The organizations are specifically asking for non-perishable foods, bottled water, diapers, formula, baby wipes, hygiene products, first-aid kits and packaged socks. Burlington To help people and pets, the Burlington Animal Services team took to western North Carolina. BAS plans to deploy another team member Tuesday to bring supplies west, and they're asking for the public's help to get critical items. BAS invites anyone to drop off items to donate between now and early Tuesday morning. Members of the team emphasized that there is "a large need for drinking water and warm blankets, as some individuals are camping outdoors, and the mountain nights are very chilly." The items most needed include cases of water, blankets for people and pets, pet food (especially wet or dry cat food), cat litter and pet crates of all sizes and types. "Let's fill our truck and support our WNC neighbors in need," BAS said in Facebook post. Rockingham County The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office and Floyd Missionary Baptist Church of Stoneville will be collecting supplies over the next two weeks. The sheriff's office says donations can be dropped off at the lobby of the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, located at 130 Justice Center Drive in Reidsville, any hour any day through Oct. 13. They will accept donations of bottled water, flashlights, batteries and non-perishable food items. Floyd Missionary Baptist Church will be delivering the items to western North Carolina. Lives lost In North Carolina, 46 people, ranging in age from 4 to 75, were killed, according to CBS News. 30 people lost their lives in Buncombe County alone. In total, at least 120 people were killed across six states, according to the Associated Press. Two of those deaths were deputies were with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, killed in "raging flood waters," according to the N.C. Sheriff’s Association. "We ask that you keep the families, friends, and colleagues of these deputies as well as the entirety of Western North Carolina in your thoughts and prayers during this unfathomable and difficult time," the sheriff's association said in a statement. Gov. Roy Cooper said, during a Sunday afternoon news conference, "Our prayers and condolences go out to those families in this terrible time." Disaster in western North Carolina Helene brought 10-29 inches of rain across the North Carolina mountains, causing "life-threatening floods and landslides," according to the governor. In addition to hundreds of local first responders, more than 45 search-and-rescue teams are responding in western North Carolina, including teams from Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Delaware, Michigan, Alabama, Connecticut and Wisconsin as well as federal search-and-rescue assets, according to North Carolina Emergency Management Director William Ray. More than 500 North Carolina National Guard members with close to 200 vehicles have been deployed. These teams together have rescued hundreds of people. The NCNG has also delivered 306 pallets of water and 230 pallets of food since the storm started. More than 1,000 people have taken refuge in 24 shelters, the governor said. Anyone who needs help is encouraged to call 211 or visit ReadyNC.gov. Over 500 people have been rescued, according to a statement released by Cooper's office. Of those 500, 42 were critically injured, and four were infants. 4 animals have also been rescued. President Biden approved Cooper’s expedited request declaring a major disaster for 25 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Over 5,000 households have contacted FEMA to apply for assistance by phone and online.  The state's top priority is getting drinkable water to people in affected areas. Close to 70,000 households have been impacted by the closure of seven water plants across Avery, Burke, Haywood, Jackson, Rutherford, Watauga and Yancey counties. 17 water plants have no power, and 23 are on backup power. "North Carolina DHHS is also reminding North Carolinians in western North Carolina that drinking water may not be safe to drink from municipal sources or well water," Ray said. "Flooding damages infrastructure and wells with contaminants. Only use bottled, boiled or treated water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene in impacted areas." Boil water advisories have been issued for 50 communities across western North Carolina. The CDC has a guide on how to render water safe. Due to the difficulty traveling through much of western North Carolina by land due extensive road closures, officials are airlifting food and water to affected areas. Mass feeding sites have opened. Western North Carolina is struggling with communications problems, and, while service is returning in some others, others may be without for multiple days. Cellphone providers are working to repair damaged equipment and implement stopgap measures. At peak, more than a million North Carolinians were without power. As of Monday afternoon, Duke Energy was reporting about 312,000 customers without power. Emergency officials are asking the public to only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations.   If you would like general information, access to resources or answers to frequently asked questions, go to the NC Department of Public Safety's website. Travel warning Officials warn the public not to travel to western North Carolina. "Please stay off western North Carolina roads so that emergency responders, utility crews and desperately needed supplies can get through," Cooper said. "We don't need people visiting western North Carolina viewing the damage." As of Saturday, there were about 390 roads and dozens of main highways closed due to flooding, downed trees, landslides and storm damage. Interstate 26, south of Asheville, is open, but it was the only major thoroughfare open as of Saturday evening. Emergency management and transportation workers are working to reopen roads as soon as possible and rush in emergency supplies. The N.C. Department of Transportation is prioritizing work to reopen interstates, U.S. and state highways before getting to secondary routes, but the department also is working with utility companies and local emergency officials to find alternative routes and to assist in maintaining access to shelters and restoring power.  Contacting loved ones Anyone trying to connect with family members can call NC 211 (or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from outside the state) to report missing loved ones. People in the impacted areas can indicate they are safe by checking in on Facebook crisis response or reporting themselves safe through Red Cross Reunification by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). First responders have received hundreds of calls for rescue and more than 1,000 requests for welfare checks.