NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Recovery and relief efforts are ongoing following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The hurricane made landfall in Florida's Big Bend with wind speeds reaching up to 140 miles per hour late Thursday night. It then tore through several southeastern states, including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky, which are now working to pick up the pieces after suffering significant losses. Communities, particularly in and around southern Appalachia, experienced catastrophic flooding and extensive tornado damage. As of Tuesday afternoon, Helene had claimed over 150 lives, with hundreds of people still missing. Buncombe County in western North Carolina, which includes Asheville, was one of the hardest-hit areas. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said emergency response crews are continuing to rescue people and rush aid to the mountains. Crews search for survivors in North Carolina’s mountains days after Helene’s deluge "The challenges are immense, but our joint response effort has and will continue to be massive," Cooper said. As part of these joint response efforts, hundreds of personnel have been federally deployed to assist those in need, According to Emily Mew, Director of Emergency Disaster Services for the Salvation Army, four members of the Salvation Army from Massachusetts were sent to Florida and Georgia to provide emotional and spiritual care to impacted individuals. RI Red Cross deploys more resources to communities hit by Hurricane Helene "Sometimes it's just providing a listening ear, sitting with them in their moment of need," Mew explained. "Even if it's just giving them a bottle of water or a plate of food, and a hug or a prayer.” Additionally, the Salvation Army has deployed nearly 60 mobile feeding units across the southeastern states to provide thousands of hot meals, snacks, and drinks. "Because of the amount of people that they are requesting so quickly, it does definitely speak to the trauma that people are experiencing, the destruction that we have seen, and it’s heartbreaking. So we are trying our best to fill those needs," Mew said. Those interested in helping the Salvation Army support victims of Hurricane Helene are invited to donate to the organization's Emergency Disaster Services. Support Salvation Army Hurricane Helene Relief Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW