Looking for Internet After Hurricane Helene? Get a Free Connection From These Providers

When Hurricane Helene hit Appalachia on Sept. 26, it devastated entire towns with flooding and widespread structural damage. Regular cell phone and internet systems are still slowly getting back online. As of Oct. 6, Mitchell County, North Carolina, still has 50% of cell sites out of service, while Yancey County has 72% of cell sites out of service, according to the US Federal Communications Commission.

People in the path of the storm can get free Wi-Fi and internet usage from six top internet service providers throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida.

The FCC has also expanded the Lifeline discount to victims of Hurricane Helene. Whether or not you were previously eligible for the $9.25 discount, you can enroll in the Lifeline program if you're receiving aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Individuals and Households Program.

Scroll down for the ISPs providing free service.

Optimum

Optimum is offering all current customers in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene one month of free internet service.

Optimum is waiving all charges for lost or damaged equipment and extending the free month of service to TV and Optimum Mobile packages as well.

Additionally, Optimum is offering free Wi-Fi and charging stations in Hendersonville and Franklin, North Carolina, at the following locations:

• Optimum Retail Store, 451 N. Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
• Optimum Office, 717 S. Grove Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
• Blue Ridge Mall, 1800 Four Seasons Boulevard, Hendersonville, NC 28792
• Optimum Retail Store, 247 Sloan Road, Franklin, NC 28734

Starlink

Starlink, one of the first major ISPs to respond and the only ISP to partner with the US government, offers 30 days of free Starlink internet service to both current and new customers. In partnership with FEMA, Starlink plans to send as many as 500 Starlink kits across all affected areas, including parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

You can check your eligibility on the Starlink site. If you think your address is eligible but you don't have a "Helene Relief" option, you can create a customer support ticket.

Spectrum

Spectrum has opened 90,000 free Wi-Fi access points. Originally, the access points were slated to close on Oct. 7, but according to a spokesperson from Spectrum, the access points will remain available through Oct. 13. The access points are mainly located in public areas, either indoors or outdoors, across North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

You can find an access point via the Spectrum Out-of-Home Wi-Fi map.

Xfinity

Xfinity is also offering a number of free Wi-Fi access points, but only through Georgia, South Carolina and parts of Eastern Tennessee. There are more than 250,000 Wi-Fi hotspots located in public spaces and free to noncustomers. To find a hotspot near you, you can navigate to Xfinity's map.

Verizon

Verizon is offering 24/7 free power and Wi-Fi stations in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. You can find a location on Verizon's update page.

Verizon suffered severe network outages following Hurricane Helene and says it's restored more than 78% of the sites that were affected by the storm. Verizon offers free domestic calling, texting and data usage for all postpaid customers from Sept. 28 to Oct. 27.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is offering charging stations and free Wi-Fi hotspots in North and South Carolina. The stations are located in Asheville, Black Mountain, Fletcher, Weaverville (all in North Carolina) and Greenwood, South Carolina.