Hurricane Helene is a significant human tragedy with more than 200 deaths reported as of Oct. 4. Thousands more have been left homeless, with North Carolina hit particularly hard. And the property damage will be difficult for the thousands of homeowners to manage without adequate flood insurance.

The damage wrought by Hurricane Helene was especially extensive in Western North Carolina, a region far from the Florida coast where the system made landfall as a Category 4 storm. Social media users both inside and outside the communities affected by Helene are leveraging follower counts and shares to help connect missing family and friends and offer support in any way they can.