Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Water By Women, a nonprofit focused on water purification, is providing assistance to communities in Tennessee affected by Hurricane Helene. Ursuline Sister of Mount St. Joseph Larraine Lauter, co-founder and executive director of the organization, has traveled to Erwin, Tennessee. There she collaborates with St. Michael the Archangel Church and the Glenmary Home Missioners.

Hurricane Helene hit the Florida panhandle on September 27 as a category four storm with winds reaching 140 miles per hour. The storm's destruction extended nearly 800 miles from south Florida into Appalachia.

“One of their greatest needs is safe water to drink. We are providing them with filters that will provide months and even years of clean water,” said Sister Lauter. “Many of these areas where we are working, their water systems are devastated and it’ll be many months, estimated, before they have drinking water.”

The organization has delivered 450 filters to the parish in Erwin. These are being distributed with help from the Tennessee Army National Guard and Veterans Without Orders, according to Sister Lauter.

Sister Lauter traveled to Erwin on October 1 with Ursuline Sister of Louisville Carol Curtis. She noted that parts of Interstate I-26 in Erwin and other roads have collapsed due to floodwaters.

Three parishioners at St. Michael Church lost their lives because of the storm. The faith community is arranging funerals and offering grief counseling.

The parish has received various donations for immediate needs such as diapers and baby wipes from the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and Epiphany Church parishioners, along with food and bottled water.

“Immediate need supplies are flowing in,” said Sister Lauter, highlighting that the community is now focusing on rebuilding efforts.

“We’re going to try to help them think about long-term,” she said. “As they clean out they’ll need linens, blankets and household items.”

There is also a current demand for two to three-gallon buckets needed for Sawyer PointOne water filtration systems provided by Water By Women. These buckets can sometimes be obtained at bakeries either for free or at a low cost.

Buckets can be dropped off at Water By Women’s office located at 1902 Campus Place, Suite 11 or left outside if no one is present there.

The nonprofit is accepting donations for purchasing additional filters costing $45 each. Donations can be made through their website at waterbywomen.org.