WNC Tourism Response Resources

Find this article at:
go.ncsu.edu/readext?1030228
— Written By
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.

Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.

English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

Resources put together 10/1 by the NC Inclusive Disaster Network. Will update as needed. 

WHAT’S GOING ON – Headlines.

  1. “Montreat has no water nor a timeline for repairs … Duke Energy hopes to restore most power by Friday … Those 36+ weeks pregnant, families with newborns urged to evacuate WNC … Yancey County and Burnsville Update: Specialized rescue teams arriving … UNCA closing immediately. Students will be relocated … McDowell County: Food distribution, meals available … 400 incarcerated people evacuated … Haywood County announces 4 deaths, says fuel and food on its way for those without power … Woodfin has no water, power or trash services” (Source: Blue Ridge Public Radio)
  2. “Blue Ridge Energy Monday 6 p.m. Outage Update: Extended Outages for Hardest Hit Areas” (Source: High Country Press))
  3. “The effects of Helene on the Latino community in the mountains are still unknown.” (Source: Enlace Latino NC)
  4. “A level-1 trauma storm: Mental health effects from Hurricane Helene could be drastic, experts say.” (Source: Watauga Democrat)
  5. “In the wake of deadly Helene, western NC thirsts for water” (Source: NC Health News)
  6. Official state response and recovery information about Tropical Storm Helene can be found at https://www.ncdps.gov/helene.

WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD I BE SHARING?

NC State Extension has a Disaster Center with a variety of resources. 

  1. FEMA has begun taking applications for the Individual Assistance Program, which includes money for emergency housing at hotels, immediate recovery needs and more. Call 800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov for more information or to get started on an application.
    1. Encourage survivors should take pictures or videos of everything.
    2. Share these tips to navigate the application in a pre-written Facebook post.
    3. Legal Aid of NC and Pisgah Legal are ramping up their disaster legal services programs to assist with applications and appeals to FEMA, for homeowners and rentals dealing with damage and displacement, and for fraud support.
  2. The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program helps people in a federally identified disaster area who do not have health insurance to access prescription drugs, vaccinations, medical supplies, and equipment. Find out which pharmacy near you is open online with this map.
  3. Immigration and Undocumented Persons
    1. FEMA: “All individuals, regardless of citizenship and immigration status, affected by a major disaster may be eligible for crisis counseling assistance, disaster legal services, disaster case management, disaster supplemental nutrition assistance program and other non-monetary, in-kind emergency disaster-relief programs. These include medical care, shelter, food and water.”
    2. FEMA: “Households who don’t meet citizenship or immigration status at the time of a FEMA application can still apply if: The parent or legal guardian of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified non-citizen applies for assistance on behalf of the minor child, so long as they live in the same household. The parent or legal guardian must apply as the co-applicant, and the minor child must be under age 18 at the time the disaster occurred.
  4. Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH)
    1. Crisis Text Line if you need free mental health support, text TOUGH to 741741, 24/7.
    2. Vibrant Emotional Health: For more info about the DDH 1-800-985-5990 (press “2” for Spanish). 24/7 crisis and emotional support for survivors & responders of natural and human-caused disasters go to samhsa.gov/DDH. For any additional coordination / resources needs in disaster emotional care, please email DDH@vibrant.org.
  5. Noticias en Espanol
    1. Enlace Latino
    3. ReadyNC.gov (“Select Language”)
    4. FEMA
  6. Blue Ridge Public Radio: Live Updates [Ed. Note: Please support your local public radio station. -Andy]

HOW CAN I GET HELP FOR SURIVORS?

  1. Call 9-1-1 for rescue or other life-threatening situations. Call 2-1-1 for shelter and supplies. (Editors Note: Both should have interpreter services, but if they do not, please let me know so I can escalate this issue. -Andy)
  2. Call American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) if you need assistance, including shelters.
  3. Call Crisis Cleanup at 844-965-1386 to be connected with volunteer organizations who can assist with issues like trees, debris, tarps, and mucking out. Note: Crisis Cleanup cannot assist with social services such as food, clothing, shelter, insurance, or FEMA registration. Artwork to advertise the hotline is available at https://www.crisiscleanup.org/disasters.
  1. The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies – Disability & Disaster Hotline: Call/Text: +1 (800) 626-4959, Email: hotline@disasterstrategies.org.
  2. Locating loved ones:
    1. Call 2-1-1 for their reunification service.
    2. Red Cross has this form: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/contact-and-locate-loved-ones/hurricane-helene-reunification.html
    3. In Buncombe County: Call 828-820-2761 (Buncombe County Register of Deeds). More information at BuncombeReady.gov.
  4.  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation:
    1. … is working cooperatively with all the state and federal banking agencies and other organizations to determine the status of financial institutions located in the affected areas. Natural Disaster Impact on Bank Customers and Operations | FDIC.
    2. … If you have questions concerning the operations of your financial institution, please call your financial institution or visit your financial institution’s web site. Natural Disaster Impact: Advice for Consumers and Business Owners | FDIC.
    3. … FDIC’s Money Smart for Adults – PDF “Disaster-Financial Preparation and Recovery” module offers tips and tools on how to financially prepare for and recover from disasters.

HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER?

  1. Do NOT self-deploy! Do not travel to impacted areas without coordinating with local and state officials. Over 400 roads are blocked or broken. You will likely run out of gas, and gas stations are empty in western NC. Learn about blocked roads at DriveNC.gov.
     
  2. Sign up as a volunteer.
    1. VolunteerNC: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DBF2JM9

United Way NC: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiHB4DfLD4kaO8GvfCZBpLo8BspfjC-22azGlZjRyLNbIfUw/viewform

  1. Sign up to answer calls to Crisis Cleanup hotline. “English and Spanish volunteers ARE DESPERATELY needed for our hotline. Info is located here: https://tinyurl.com/ms3nmw53. You must be affiliated with an organization to volunteer. If you don’t have an organization contact Laura.Block@teamrubiconusa.org.
  2. For organizations with large numbers of volunteers or supplies, such as feeding 1,000+ people daily, contact NC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster at sert@ncvoad.org or make an offer on https://volunteernc.app.needslist.co/.
  3. Other volunteer sites will be posted to this website https://www.ncvoad.org/volunteer/ as they become available.

HOW CAN I JOIN COORINDATION CALLS?

  1. Join volunteer and donations response coordination calls daily at 12:30 p.m. (time may change) hosted by NC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Simultaneous Spanish-English interpretation is available. On Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/96954774349?pwd=b4HofOoZZ8NekO7dVsLRb8kp4Ye4pz.1, or call 646-931-3860, Meeting ID: 96954774349, Password: 744752.
  2. NCVOAD is establishing committees for action-oriented calls. Sign up at https://www.ncvoad.org/join-a-committee/.

HOW CAN I DONATE?

  1. Do NOT collect donations of clothes or furnture. There’s nowhere to process or manage those donations and sending them now could interrupt critical response efforts. Learn more from FEMA and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and Arizona VOAD.
  2. Cash donations are best. Look for local mutual aid, voluntary organizations, or philanthropies who are setting up disaster relief funds both for immediate needs and for medium/long-term recovery.
  3. If you do want to collect supplies: Make cleanup kits (“flood buckets”), with these items: https://umcmission.org/umcor-cleaning-kit/.
    2. Contact Hispanic Federation to support Latino-led and Latino-serving organizations. Contact Lariza Garzon lgarzon@hispanicfederation.org.
    3. Contact NC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster at sert@ncvoad.org.
    4. Make an offer on https://volunteernc.app.needslist.co/.
  4. Farmers
    1. Crops for mass feeding should contact sert@ncvoad.org.
    2. “Disaster hay” and other needs/offers can be coordinated through https://www.ncagr.gov/emergency-programs/disaster-information or call 1-866-645-9403.
  5. Coordinate movement of supplies with the state Business Emergency Operations Center to ensure you have access. You can email your supply logistics or movement requests to BEOC@ncdps.gov, Begin Subject Line with Logistics Support. Please include the following info: What are you moving? Why you need special access. When do you plan to move and from where? Where are you going? When will they arrive at the “border to Western NC” and where?

TOP ISSUES AND NEEDS

  1. Agricultural Supply Chain:
    1. “Disaster hay” is needed to feed livestock: https://go.ncsu.edu/livestockdisasterhelp.
    2. We are at the beginning of leaf season, pumpkin patches, Christmas trees; disruptions to row crop ag in SC are also being reported; many small NC dairies may not make it to the other side of recovery (my assumption given what I know)
  2. Cash: Credit card systems and ATMs are down. Vendors, including landlords, are demanding payment in cash
  3. Cell phone coverage: Wireless providers are standing up new towers and enabling “disaster roaming” so phones in western NC can connect to any available network. Restart your phone if you lose service.
  4. Commercial kitchens: Contact ncvoad@sert.org if you have access to commercial kitchens in western NC.
  5. Housing: Evictions: Contact Legal Aid at 866-219-5262., Mucking and tarping: Contact Crisis Cleanup at 8449651386.
  6. Fuel: Gas is in low supply across the region.
  7. Fears of immigration enforcement actions at disaster relief sites: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/09/25/dhs-statement-safety-and-enforcement-during-hurricane-helen
  8. Volunteers
    1. Crisis Cleanup hotline operators: Sign up with your organization at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pOon5kUvhV34nbuueOSc-AnQ-yAktxm2/
    2. Medical Staff: Contact Carlotta.dixon@dhhs.nc.gov
    3. Points of Distribution (PODs): Fill out this form https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DBF2JM9
    4. Shelters: Fill out this form https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DBF2JM9
Programming Notes: 
  1. Please feel free to forward/copy, no credit needed. You can access past messages here.
  2. Information and resources are flowing a lot faster now than a few days ago, so we are also in the process of revamping our Living Resource Guide. That means in the coming days we may take a break or lessen the frequency for this message.
  3. If this message was forwarded to you and you want to receive it directly, fill out this short form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCIDR-Membership.

I am supposed to travel to Western NC what should I do? 

  1. Visit NC will keep updates on the latest travel information.
share Share This Article