The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) continues to be deeply focused on the Hurricane Helene disaster. The state is holding daily emergency management calls focused on the disability community. NCCDD has also held additional regular calls focused on the disaster and the disability community. Below are some of the critical resources and phone numbers for those experiencing the disaster.

If you are impacted by Hurricane Helene and need help, call or text The Disability and Disaster Hotline at 800-626-4959 or [email protected].

Other primary resources:

• General help/Missing persons: You can call 211 or go to https://nc211.org/
• Emergency number: As always, call 911 if you are in an emergency situation.

Most up-to-date information:

• NC Department of Public Safety - Hurriance Helene: https://www.ncdps.gov/Helene
• NCDHHS Hurricane Recovery Resources: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/hurricane-helene-recovery-resources

Links to more information

Shelters: There are shelters open in Western North Carolina. You can find them here: https://www.readync.gov/stay-informed/open-shelters 

Someone to talk to: If you are in a personal crisis and need someone to talk with, you can call the Crisis Line at 988. If you are not in an immediate crisis, but need someone to talk with, you can call the North Carolina Warm Line: 1-855-733-7762.

Steps to take if you need financial help or experienced damages:

• Take pictures to document your storm damage. Take lots of pictures to prove your need for help.
• File an application for help with FEMA. https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual or 1-800-621-3362
• Report damage to your homeowner’s insurance company.
• Request relief from the American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/get-help.html and 1 (800) 733-2767
• There may be other legitimate charities and other organizations providing support in your area.
• Do not pay any contractor ahead of time and make sure to watch out for scams.

NCWorks: Several Career Centers in western North Carolina remain closed due to the effects of Helene. Find updates on weather-related closings at nc.works/closings. When it is safe to travel, North Carolina residents can visit any NCWorks Career Center, regardless of whether it is in the same county in which they live. If you have evacuated from western North Carolina due to Helene, visit the NCWorks website at www.NCWorks.gov to find an open Career Center near where you are currently located. There is a hotline set up for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), in English call 919-629-3857, and in Spanish call 919-276-5698. For more information about unemployment benefits and other services provided by NCWorks, download their NCWorks Hurricane Helene Information sheet.

NCDHHS Side By Side Webinar Addresses Hurricane Helene Response: Watch a video recording and view the presentation slides from the webinar.

List of open pharmacies: https://www.ncbop.org/emergencyoperatingpharmacieshelene.html

Temporary flexibilities for Medicaid beneficiaries: 

Flexibilities for benefits:

• Flexibilities for EBT cards: North Carolinians Enrolled in Food and Nutrition Services Can Use Benefits to Buy Hot Food Following Hurricane Helene | NCDHHS
• Medicaid flexibilities for providers: Additional Temporary Flexibilities in Place for Medicaid Beneficiaries Due to Hurricane Helene Devastation | NCDHHS
• WIC: Important Information for People Enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Impacted by Hurricane Helene | NCDHHS

Donate to relief efforts: Dept. of Public Safety about the best ways to donate supplies. https://www.ncdps.gov/how-to-donate

Disaster Distress Helpline: The Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) provides crisis support services to anyone impacted by a natural disaster like Hurricane Helene. It is available 24/7 in English or Spanish (Español presiona “2”). You can call or text. For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL callers, please call or text using your preferred Relay provider.

Mental Health and Substance Use Services Support: DMHDDSUS is using the Connections App to make evidence-based support for mental health and substance use recovery available to anyone in Western North Carolina. It is free and confidential. Enroll to get the Connections App.

First Responders and Volunteers Support: DMHDDSUS has launched the Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463) to provide mental health support for first responders and volunteers working on our Hurricane Helene disaster response. It is help for the helpers. Hope4NC is available to any first responder or volunteer. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Video from NCDHHS: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=eBqqwY&v=453345417758412&rdid=ryx5huJnj9Dq1bna

Content of video:
While North Carolina has the experience and resources to manage disasters, it’s normal to be overwhelmed before, during or after an event.
Services are offered in ASL and in multiple languages.
-Call 1-800-985-5990 (Disaster Distress Helpline)
-Visit ReadyNC.gov
---------
La preparación y recuperación de desastres son partes de la vida en Carolina del Norte. ¡Nunca es muy temprano o tarde para pedir ayuda!
-Llama a la Línea de Ayuda para los Afectados por Catástrofes al 1-800-985-5990 y oprime 2 para español.
-Visita ReadyNC.gov

Report your status: Call 828-820-2761 to report yourself or people you know in Buncombe County and beyond who are not able to be reached. The automated system will ask you to leave your name, address, and cell phone number.

Power Outages: You can track power outages here https://www.readync.gov/stay-informed/power-outages 

Communication Tool: You can use this one page document to help someone communicate with you or to communicate with someone: https://nccdd.org/images/blog/2020/ENGLISH_EMERGENCY_COMMUNICATION_TOOL.pdf 

Show Me Communication Tool Booklet: This communication booklet can help with communications: https://www.nccdd.org/images/article/Forms-docs-brochures/2016/ShowMeBook_2015b.pdf 

Accessibility in Shelters: Here is a checklist for those in or running shelters for accessibility https://www.ncdps.gov/documents/files/shelter-worker-accessibility-checklist/download 

LME/MCOs: LME/MCOs are the key connection for most mental health and developmental disability services. You can find your LME/MCO here: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/providers/lme-mco-directory 

North Carolina Emergency Management: The North Carolina Office of Emergency Management has significant information. You can access it here https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management 

Ready.Gov for Disabilities: Here is the national site for disabilities and general emergency information: https://www.ready.gov/disability 

Functional Needs: Here is the specific site from the state emergency management for functional needs https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/access-and-functional-needs-emergency-management 

NC MedAssist: An update from from NC MedAssist about the OTC products and additional offerings to emergency response organizations. 

• If you would like to receive a shipment of priority OTC products: pain relief, digestive, allergy, first aid, masks, personal hygiene items, etc., we will send it. 
• All OTC orders received by 10/11/24 have been shipped or picked up.
• There is no limitation on the number of orders that can be placed. If you have run out of OTCs and supplies, but need more, go ahead and order again. We understand that some areas have a higher need than others.
• The Diaper Bank of NC has offered to ship adult incontinence and children's diapers to anyone in need in Western NC. The online OTC order form has been updated to include this information.
• We have received the disaster relief kits from Heart to Heart International and have begun to include the kits in the OTC orders. The kits have have toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, towels, etc. The online order form has been updated to offer more kits, as needed.
• If you are in an area that has a high need for physicians or pharmacy assistance, please contact NC MedAssist. We may have information on resources and groups that are offering this assistance in your area.
• Uninsured patients that enroll into the NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy Program for prescriptions are automatically approved and enrolled for 60-days. There is no fee to apply or receive the free prescriptions. They can enroll over the phone or online. Call 866-331-1348 or 704-536-1790.
• Current patients can continue to order or call in refills as normal.
• Check out our resources pages for more information: http://medassist.org/wnc/

• Make a Plan: https://www.readync.gov/plan-and-prepare/make-plan (ASL and Spanish videos available)
• Watch an ASL video: https://www.readync.gov/stay-informed/readync-asl-video
• Get a Kit: https://www.readync.gov/plan-and-prepare/get-kit (ASL and Spanish videos available)
• Emergency Alerts: https://www.readync.gov/stay-informed/emergency-alerts (Spanish video available)
• Hurricane Guide: The 2023 North Carolina Hurricane Guide is available in English and Spanish and contains many graphics: https://www.readync.gov/plan-and-prepare/hurricane-guide

Make an emergency kit!

It's important to have an emergency kit ready to support your needs. Some agencies and organizations give out free emergency kits. Or you might need to build your own kit. If so, find a backpack and think about what you want to have in that backpack if you must leave your home to go to an emergency shelter or to evacuate to another safe place. Do you want water? Do you want snacks? Do you need an extra phone charger and a battery pack? Do you have a piece of paper that contains important medical information about you and important phone numbers on it? Keep this and other important papers in a secure, waterproof plastic bag in case your backpack gets wet.  Do you want a book to read or a puzzle to do? You might put all of these in your kit. You might also buy items to keep in your home in case the power goes out and the grocery store is closed, such as bottled water, canned food, toilet paper, paper towels or wipes, and batteries. Read more about how to Make a Kit.

Disaster-Specific Mental Health Resources and Support Toolkit

NCDHHS’ Disaster and Behavioral Health Resources Communications Toolkit includes disaster-specific tips and resources for North Carolinians, information on how to navigate stressful events and where to find mental health support. The materials also offer disaster resources for people living with a disability or as a caregiver, and how to access care if you struggle with substance use. You can use the toolkit to learn safety guidance and help others do the same. Learn more here: Disaster and Behavioral Health Resources Communication Toolkit