Nebraska woman worries for family, friends amid Helene devastation

ARAPAHOE, Neb. (WOWT) - Having family far away can be challenging, especially in a natural disaster.

"I'm kind of up here a little worried. I can't really help out or be there to help them," said Dalis Strickland of Arapahoe, Neb.

Strickland's daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren are without power and running water in Georgia.

"They've had to go to other communities to look for food and water. It's trying."

Thankfully, her daughter was raised with Nebraska grit.

"They've been through blizzards and thunderstorms before. They know what happens when electricity goes out."

Located hundreds of miles away she's staying connected on many social media pages – like Nebraska-based nonprofit: ALERT , created by Patti Barnt.

"We're basically doing a lot of the logistics online for the boots on the ground...We're not sending people on wild goose chases," said Barnt.

Barnt's built an online network of about 50,000 people across disaster relief pages dedicated for different states. With service sparse in affected areas, these groups try to make the distance smaller.

"He said they're fine. They're all good. I trust them and their instincts," said Strickland.

While her family is safe, her friend's home in Tennessee is gone.

"We used to live there for a brief period of time in the early 1990s when I was in college. It's just devastating to see an area you love, you hope to return one day to live just be completely decimated."

ALERT also has an "Adopt a Family" page on social media for people looking to offer financial support.