Chase Rice grew up in North Carolina, and he knew he had to help when Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina, East Tennessee and other areas in September 2024. His latest effort to give back came when he teamed up with Montana Knife Company and the non-profit We Must Protect to help one family who had lost everything in the storm.
North Carolina Family Denied Hurricane Helene Relief By FEMA
WSOC-TV Channel 9 recently shared an update on the story of the Pogalz family, whose home was in Yancey County, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene washed their home away, forcing them to hike to safety, and six months after the storm, the family received the heartbreaking news that FEMA was not going to help cover the cost to help them rebuild.
“We make too much money for help, and that’s not fair, because the hurricane didn’t ask us how much money we made before it took everything,” Ashley Pogalz told Channel 9’s Hannah Goetz. “So why? Why does it matter how much we make? We need help.”
Real-Life Hero Chase Rice Steps In To Help Rebuild
The family explained to Goetz that they had been living in trailers, campers and two-bedroom rentals and felt like they had no help when they most needed it. Now, around eight months after losing their home, the Pogalz family was surprised by We Must Protect, Montana Knife Company CEO Josh Smith and Rice, who were able to share the good news. The Pogalz’s had been able to purchase land with FEMA funds and flood insurance, and thanks to the generosity of We Must Protect, Montana Knife Company and Rice, they’ll be able to build a house on top of it.
“We raised quite a bit of money. We raised enough money to build you guys a house,” Smith shared.
We Must Protect representatives thanked both Rice and Montana Knife Company for their support, which helped the nonprofit be able to in turn help the Pogalz family. “From the first day we met you all, we knew we wanted to build you a house, but our thing is we can’t commit until we have the funding to finish the house,” one representative said. “We are so grateful for what Chase and Montana Knife Company did because now we can build you the house that you need.”
“Y’all have no idea what it’s been like,” Danny Pogalz said through tears and a state of shock. “Thank you is not enough. It’s unbelievable. It’s surreal, for sure.”
We Must Protect representatives state that the nonprofit will keep constructing homes in North Carolina until all needs are met or funds are depleted.
Rice Also Previously Gave Back As Part Of Concert For Carolina In 2024
Rice thanked divine intervention for bringing everyone together to help. “There’s so many different things that came together,” he said. “I’d say the number one thing coming together was God, putting all these people together to make this family finally have a home.”
This isn’t the first time Rice has pitched in to help out victims of Hurricane Helene — in March, he was featured in the Good Morning America special Asheville Rising, which highlighted the resilience of the city and its ongoing recovery efforts following the hurricane. Rice gave a special performance honoring Asheville’s strength.
Rice was also one of several artists who performed at North Carolina natives Eric Church and Luke Combs’ Concert for Carolina benefit in October 2024. James Taylor, Billy Strings, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow and more were also on the bill, and the show raised over $24.5 million for hurricane victims.
In acknowledgement of their efforts, Church and Combs were presented with the Country Radio Broadcasters Artist Humanitarian Award earlier this year.
