PPM Disaster Response: Appalachian Highlands- Hurricane Helene
On Thursday September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall as a major, category 4 hurricane. Its initial impact was centered over the big bend of Florida with sustained winds of 140mph. As it moved inland, the storm dropped up to an astonishing 30 inches of rain in areas across the Appalachian Highlands (NE Tennessee/SW Virginia) and Western Kentucky.
The Appalachian Highlands were devastated by the hurricane. It caused widespread flooding, landslides, and property damage. The storm's heavy rainfall overwhelmed rivers and creeks, leading to severe flooding in many communities. The resulting floods damaged homes, businesses, roads, and bridges, leaving thousands of people without basic necessities. The storm also triggered landslides in the mountainous terrain, further exacerbating the damage. In nearly every measurable way, the impact of this hurricane has been the most catastrophic this region has experienced.
Many families have lost the entire community that they once knew and many lives were taken as a result of this disaster. Please join us in praying for the comfort and resilience of all who have been impacted.
We invite you to join us immediately in our response by donating via the links found on this page.
We are ready to welcome volunteer groups. Teams will be needed for many months to come as we encourage and assist our local church partners in the communities impacted. If you are able to bring a group to serve, please see the available trip dates listed on this page. Please “request information” for a date that best matches your team's availability and one of our staff members will reach out to you as soon as possible.
Photo credit: WMTW 8 abc
Updates From The Field
Clean up!
by Almando Jean Louis | January 3, 2025 11:19 AM

We are making good strides
by Almando Jean Louis | December 6, 2024 10:08 AM
We continue to be eyewitnesses and partakers in the recovery efforts in the Appalachian Highlands in response to Hurricane Helene. Recently, we welcomed another team of volunteers who selflessly and passionately devoted their time to serving community members who were affected by the Hurricane. Experiencing a snowfall is not a typical mission trip experience but it was the case for this team.
Vision Internal Missions had the opportunity to partner with Appalachian Christian Camp andUnicoi Christian Church during the week of December 1. Here is a snippet of their experience serving alongside those churches.
“We got to help the community by organizing the supply tent to get them ready for winter. Our hearts are broken... yet humbled to be God's hands and feet. We woke up this morning to freshly fallen snow. What a beautiful sight it was. Sometimes being the hands and feet for God's children requires you to be the hands and feet of the person who is being the hands and feet. We got to help one the locals that help everyone else”
What an amazing experience Vision International Missions had in the Appalachian Highlands! We love the opportunity to minister to the local church, especially in these times of need. Praise the Lord for those opportunities! There is still a lot of work to do in the Appalachian Highlands. You are invited to join us in our effort to encourage, assist, and build up the local church in that region. Check out the trip journal for Vision International here: “https://www.ppm.org/mission-trip-journals/20539#entry-138595”

We are grateful!
by Almando Jean Louis | October 31, 2024 2:47 PM
We are absolutely grateful for the outpouring of donations and volunteers we have received as we continue to assist in the recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. People from all over the US have been reaching out to Praying Pelican Missions, asking how they can help. It is very encouraging to see churches and communities come together to help those in need. What we have seen and experienced at Praying Pelican Missions is that years down the road, when FEMA and other government agencies will have completed their tasks, there will still be families and communities that will need a helping hand to recover. That is why we like to plug in with local churches in the affected communities that can guide us to those needs.
If you are interested in serving on a mission trip and don’t have the time to do it now, don’t worry. We have the full calendar year of 2025 open for families, youth groups, adults, and multigenerational groups to join us. Beyond hurricane relief, the work of the Lord is plentiful, but few are the laborers. (Luke 10:2)
Should you have any questions about those mission trips, please reach out to us.
Subscribe To Updates
REQUEST INFO
Disaster Response Trip Dates
In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, the cost to deploy and facilitate volunteers is often underwritten through the generous donations of others and the collaboration between various non-profit and government organizations. Because of this, we are able to provide food and lodging free of charge to all volunteers for a defined period of time.
When these resources are no longer available, we ask volunteers to assist in covering these costs so that we can keep the impact going. Volunteers often fundraise and/or contribute personally to cover this expense.
Location | Start Date | End Date | Airport | Duration | Cost | Actions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 04/05/2025 | Trip Date: 04/11/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 04/06/2025 | Trip Date: 04/11/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 04/12/2025 | Trip Date: 04/18/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 04/13/2025 | Trip Date: 04/18/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 04/19/2025 | Trip Date: 04/25/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 04/20/2025 | Trip Date: 04/25/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 04/26/2025 | Trip Date: 05/02/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 04/27/2025 | Trip Date: 05/02/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 05/03/2025 | Trip Date: 05/09/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 05/04/2025 | Trip Date: 05/09/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 05/10/2025 | Trip Date: 05/16/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 05/11/2025 | Trip Date: 05/16/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 05/17/2025 | Trip Date: 05/23/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 05/18/2025 | Trip Date: 05/23/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 05/24/2025 | Trip Date: 05/30/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 05/25/2025 | Trip Date: 05/30/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 05/31/2025 | Trip Date: 06/06/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 06/01/2025 | Trip Date: 06/06/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 06/07/2025 | Trip Date: 06/13/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 06/08/2025 | Trip Date: 06/13/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 06/14/2025 | Trip Date: 06/20/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 06/15/2025 | Trip Date: 06/20/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 06/21/2025 | Trip Date: 06/27/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 06/22/2025 | Trip Date: 06/27/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 06/28/2025 | Trip Date: 07/04/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 06/29/2025 | Trip Date: 07/04/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 07/05/2025 | Trip Date: 07/11/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 07/06/2025 | Trip Date: 07/11/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 07/12/2025 | Trip Date: 07/18/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 07/13/2025 | Trip Date: 07/18/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 07/19/2025 | Trip Date: 07/25/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 07/20/2025 | Trip Date: 07/25/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 07/26/2025 | Trip Date: 08/01/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 07/27/2025 | Trip Date: 08/01/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/02/2025 | Trip Date: 08/08/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/03/2025 | Trip Date: 08/08/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/09/2025 | Trip Date: 08/15/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/10/2025 | Trip Date: 08/15/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/16/2025 | Trip Date: 08/22/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/17/2025 | Trip Date: 08/22/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/23/2025 | Trip Date: 08/29/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/24/2025 | Trip Date: 08/29/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/30/2025 | Trip Date: 09/05/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 08/31/2025 | Trip Date: 09/05/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 09/06/2025 | Trip Date: 09/12/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 09/07/2025 | Trip Date: 09/12/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 09/13/2025 | Trip Date: 09/19/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 09/14/2025 | Trip Date: 09/19/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 09/20/2025 | Trip Date: 09/26/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 09/21/2025 | Trip Date: 09/26/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 09/27/2025 | Trip Date: 10/03/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 7D/6N | Cost: $549 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 09/28/2025 | Trip Date: 10/03/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 10/05/2025 | Trip Date: 10/10/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 10/12/2025 | Trip Date: 10/17/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 10/19/2025 | Trip Date: 10/24/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 | |
Location: Appalachian Highlands | Trip Date: 10/26/2025 | Trip Date: 10/31/2025 | Airport: TRI | Duration: 6D/5N | Cost: $499 |