Small Business Administration Opens Three Centers to Help Western NC
SBA Opens Three Centers in Aftermath of Helene
WASHINGTON – Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in North Carolina following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Helene that began on Sept. 25.
“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help small businesses and residents in North Carolina impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected areas,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”
The disaster declaration covers Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties and The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Cherokee, Graham, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Surry, Swain and Yadkin in North Carolina; Rabun, Towns and Union in Georgia; Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and York in South Carolina; Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Sevier, and Unicoi in Tennessee; and Grayson in Virginia.
LOCATIONS
- Asheville Business Recovery Center
Asheville Chamber of Commerce
36 Montford Ave.
Asheville, NC 2881
M-F - 9am - 6pm
Sat.- 9am - 3pm
Sun. - Closed - Boone Business Recovery Center
Appalachian Enterprise Center
130 Poplar Grove Connector
Boone, NC 288607
M-F - 8am - 6pm
Sat. - 9am - 3pm
Sun. - Closed - Charlotte Disaster Loan Outreach Center
US Small Business Administration District Office
6302 Fairview Rd., STE 300
Charlotte, NC 28210
M-F - 8am - 5pm
Sat. - Closed
Sun. - Closed
Walk-ins are welcome, but you can schedule an appointment at https://lnkd.in/gCk4SN64 .
Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.
“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”
With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 27, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.
NC HealthConnex Helps You Find Clinical Information for Displaced Patients
The NC HealthConnex team is committed to supporting those most in need in western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene. The NC HealthConnex Clinical Portal is a web-based application that allows providers to access critical clinical information such as medical history, medications and treatment plans for displaced patients.
Here are some steps you need to gain access based on your current participation status with the NC HIEA.
If you currently have a Full Participation Agreement:
- A Full Participation Agreement and login credentials are required to utilize this service.
- Current participants can request credentials by contacting the NC HealthConnex Help Desk at [email protected]. For after hours or weekend support, please call 919-531-2700 for immediate assistance.
- Providers with credentials can access the portal from any web browser by visiting https://portal.nchealthconnex.net.
- After searching for a patient, you will need to click “Declare Patient Relationship” to look up patients with whom you do not have a previous treatment relationship. This action will attest that you have a reason to be accessing this patient’s information.
- To get started using the NC HealthConnex Clinical Portal, please see this Quick Start Reference Guide or view this demonstration video.
If you have a Submission Only Participation Agreement:
- You will need a Full Participation Agreement in order to gain access to the NC HealthConnex Clinical Portal. A Submission Only agreement is not sufficient.
- In order to switch to a Full Participation Agreement, please contact the NC HIEA Provider Relations team via email at [email protected] or via phone at 919-754-6912.
- In order to facilitate timely patient care, the provider relations team is prepared to expedite requests for affected providers.
If you do not have an agreement on file with the NC HIEA:
- The NC HIEA can expedite enrollment for new providers in the western part of the state and can provide training on the use of systems, etc. Please contact the NC HIEA Provider Relations team via email at [email protected] or via phone at 919-754-6912.
If you are a user of the NC HealthConnex Clinical Portal and experience any issues over the weekend, you will need to call the Help Desk at 919-531-2700.
NCMS Working to Help You Rebuild. Please Answer a Few Questions about Helene's Impact to Your Practice
Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction across Western North Carolina and now many physicians are without the means to continue their work of healing. The North Carolina Medical Society is collecting information on the impacts of the storm so we can assess where to allocate resources.
Please take a moment and answer a few questions for us about how you are doing and what you need.
Over 150,000 Customers Remain Without Power in Western NC
Over a week after Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, over 150,000 customers remain without power as authorities also work to find missing people, restore water and continue recovery efforts in the devastated region.
In Buncombe County, which includes Asheville and Black Mountain, nearly 43% of customers are still in the dark, along with almost 57% of customers in nearby Henderson County, according to Poweroutage.com.
The small counties of Mitchell, Yancey and Avery, heavily impacted by Helene, also show high percentages of outages, with 64%, 57% and 45% of customers without power, respectively.
To donate to Hurricane Helene Relief click here.
Message from Office of Chief Medical Examiner
- Telephone
- Call NC211 (1-888-892-1162). To report a missing person or request a welfare check, press 1 once you are connected to reach an operator.
- Internet
- Visit www.nc211.org to submit a request for a person to be included in the search and rescue efforts coordinated by United Way – North Carolina.
Important Information for People Enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Impacted by Hurricane Helene
There are more than 250,000 people participating in the WIC program statewide
NCDHHS -- There is widespread damage and devastation following Hurricane Helene, and many participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) are impacted. There are more than 250,000 people participating in the WIC program statewide. WIC provides access to healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and referrals for health care and community services.
Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to have a new eWIC card issued, or to request replacement of breastfeeding supplies, breast pumps, and food purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene. A list of WIC agency closures related to Hurricane Helene can be found on the NC WIC landing page under Special Weather Announcement.
To Replace Your WIC Card:
- If your WIC card is lost, stolen or damaged, call eWIC Customer Service at 1-844-230-0813. WIC cards will be replaced by regular mail. You should receive your replacement card in five to seven days.
- Or visit any local WIC clinic to have your WIC card replaced.
To Check Your WIC Benefit Balance, Purchase History, and Account Information:
- Call eWIC Customer Service toll-free 24/7 at: 1-844-230-0813 OR
- Check your account at www.ebtEDGE.com OR
- Use the FIS ebtEDGE App
To Transfer WIC Benefits from Another State to NC:
- If your family was participating in WIC outside of NC and has relocated to NC as a result of Hurricane Helene, please visit any NC WIC agency to transfer benefits through a Verification of Certification.
Other things you can do at www.ebtEDGE.com or on the ebtEDGE App:
- Set, change or unlock your PIN
- View transaction history
- View future benefits
- Order a replacement card
- Recover password or username
- View a store location where WIC benefits can be used
The North Carolina WIC Program is available statewide through local health departments, community and rural health centers, and community action agencies that provide WIC Program services. To apply for the WIC program, participants must meet eligibility requirements and meet with a nutritionist or other health professional. If you have any questions, you can contact your local WIC clinic or visit our website at www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwic/eWIC. We also have a dedicated page of resources for people impacted by Hurricane Helene at www.ncdhhs.gov.
Replacement Benefits Available for Food and Nutrition Services Recipients Impacted by Hurricane Helene
Replacement Benefits Available for Food and Nutrition Services Recipients Impacted by Hurricane Helene
People in 23 Western North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Helene who are enrolled in Food and Nutrition Services now have access to replacement benefits on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. The United States Department of Agriculture approved North Carolina to allow current FNS participants in the 23 counties to receive 70% of their total monthly September benefit back on their EBT card. The benefit replacement is automatic and does not require action from the FNS participant. This impacts more than 200,000 people in North Carolina and more than $24 million in replacement benefits.
“We’ve worked quickly with the federal government to have $24 million in SNAP benefits restored to 200,000 individuals’ EBT cards, in light of the fact that due to power outages and worse, many families have lost their food,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “We will creatively use every tool we have to support folks impacted by Hurricane Helene now and for the long-haul.”
The approval is for FNS recipients in the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties. The replacement benefits were automatically credited to impacted FNS recipients Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards Sunday morning and are available now.
There are three ways to check your FNS balance 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
- Visit www.ebtedge.com. Click on More Information under EBT Cardholder. You will be prompted to login and/or register your account.
- Download the ebtEDGE mobile app. The app is available as a free download on the Apple Store and Google Play.
- Call 1-888-622-7328 and follow the prompts to activate your PIN.
NCDHHS recently received approval for FNS participants to temporarily use their benefits to purchase hot food, including food prepared for immediate consumption, from authorized Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) retailers using their EBT card. FNS participants statewide will be able to purchase hot food through Nov. 3, 2024, and do not have to apply for the benefit.
Additionally, NCDHHS is actively working with USDA to receive federal authority to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. D-SNAP allows more people impacted by Hurricane Helene to qualify for food assistance benefits who are not already FNS recipients. More information will be communicated once NCDHHS has approval to implement the D-SNAP program.
NCDHHS recommends people using EBT cards check their balances regularly for unauthorized charges and take the following actions to keep their EBT card and account secure:
- You can check your balance and/or replace a lost or stolen EBT card by visiting www.ebtedge.com, using the EBT Edge mobile app or contacting the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328.
- Block out-of-state and online purchases using the EBT Edge website or mobile app.
- If you suspect card skimming, freeze your EBT card when not shopping so fraudulent purchases cannot be made using your card.
- Select a “difficult” PIN (i.e., not 1234 or 1111) for the EBT card and change the PIN regularly.
For information about the FNS program, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/fns or visit epass.nc.gov.
For information regarding Hurricane Helene and additional resources and flexibilities in place, please go to www.ncdps.gov/Helene and www.ncdhhs.gov/helene.
North Carolinians Enrolled in Food and Nutrition Services Can Use Benefits to Buy Hot Food Following Hurricane Helene
Change Remains in Effect Until November 3, 2024
People and families in North Carolina who are enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program can use their benefits to purchase hot food. This temporary flexibility applies to all 100 counties in North Carolina and the nearly 700,000 households enrolled in the FNS program. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure people impacted by Hurricane Helene receive assistance as soon as possible.
"For people and families in North Carolina whose lives have been turned upside down by Hurricane Helene, a hot meal can provide a small comfort and sense of normalcy to their day," said Governor Roy Cooper. "This flexibility helps us make sure everyone has access to basic necessities while we continue to work to restore services to impacted communities."
"This benefit will support families who are reeling from the effects of Hurricane Helene with hot food they can purchase with their EBT card," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "We are 100% committed to the health and wellbeing of our friends, family, and fellow North Carolinians in every corner of western North Carolina — now and for the long haul."
North Carolinians in the FNS program can purchase hot food, including food prepared for immediate consumption, from authorized Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) retailers using their EBT card starting today. All authorized EBT vendors in the state have been notified about this change, which will remain in effect until Nov. 3, 2024.
This will ensure families who are not able to prepare food at home due to displacement or power outages still have access to warm meals. Customers do not have to apply for this benefit but should inquire first with the store to see if they can process hot food purchases with their FNS benefits. It is important to note this is for authorized retailers like gas stations or deli departments, not restaurants or other non-EBT authorized retailers. A map of retailers that accept EBT is available here.
North Carolina has been approved for a waiver that provides additional time for FNS participants residing in the affected disaster areas to report a food loss as a result of Hurricane Helene to their local Department of Social Services office due to displacement, transportation issues or other storm-related hardships through October 26, 2024.
NCDHHS has also applied for a waiver to automatically replace a portion of FNS benefits for individuals and families in the western North Carolina who have lost food purchased with their September FNS benefits. Once NCDHHS receives approval, the department will send out a notification with more details.
Additionally, NCDHHS is actively working with USDA to receive federal authority to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. D-SNAP allows more people impacted by Hurricane Helene to qualify for food assistance benefits who are not already FNS recipients. More information will be communicated once the department has approval to implement the D-SNAP program.
For information about the FNS program, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/fns or visit epass.nc.gov.
For information regarding Hurricane Helene and additional resources and flexibilities in place, please go to www.ncdps.gov/Helene and www.ncdhhs.gov/helene.
There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.
Hurricane Helene by the Numbers
Hurricane Helene Already Ranked in Top 10 Deadliest Hurricanes
(USA Today) -- Helene hit Western North Carolina on the morning of Friday, Sept. 27, dumping inches of rain on communities that had already seen multiple inches of rain that week. By the time it reached the Carolinas, Helene was a tropical storm but less than 12 hours earlier it made landfall as a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane near Perry, Florida, on Thursday, Sept. 26 around 11 p.m. ET.
As it made its way inland, the storm caused millions to lose power, hundreds of homes and scores of roads were damaged or destroyed and has now left a rising death toll.
How many people have died because of Helene?
As of Thursday, Oct. 3, more than 200 people have died due to Hurricane Helene.
In North Carolina, 115 people have died. In addition, South Carolina has reported 41 fatalities, Georgia 33, Florida 19, Tennessee 11 and Virginia two for a total of 214.
Hundreds are still missing in Western North Carolina.
How much rain fell in Western North Carolina due to Tropical Storm Helene?
While Helene dumped rain on the western portion of the Carolinas, the area had already been drenched the week before by storms. Here's how many inches of rain communities saw between Tuesday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 28, according to the National Weather Service.
- Busick in Yancey County had the most recorded rain in the period of time at 30.78 inches
- Spruce Pine: 24.12 inches
- Hendersonville: 21.96 inches
- Mountain Home: 17.09 inches
- Candler: 16.18 inches
- Tryon: 15.78 inches
- Grandfather Mountain: 15.42 inches
- Highlands: 14.86 inches
- Banner Elk: 14.85 inches
- Mills River: 13.26 inches
- Swannanoa: 13.21 inches
How high were wind gusts in Asheville, Western North Carolina from Helene?
Mt. Mitchell in Yancey County, which is around 35 miles from Black Mountain and is the highest peak in the United States east of the Mississippi River, had some of the highest gusts for wind in the Carolinas, hitting 106 mph at one point. Here are the top wind gusts in Western North Carolina, the Foothills and into the Piedmont, according to the National Weather Service.
- Frying Pan Mountain, just outside of Waynesville, saw wind gusts of 78 mph.
- Charlotte saw wind gusts of 66 mph
- Kings Mountain saw wind gusts of 56 mph
- Rutherford County, home to Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, saw gusts of 55 mph
- Spruce Pine saw wind gusts as high as 50 mph
- Asheville saw wind gusts of 46 mph
What did the rivers in Western NC crest at during Helene?
Rivers across the region still remain swollen a week after Helene first hit down on the region. On Sept. 27, rivers burst from their banks surpassing major flood stages by more than 10 feet in some areas. Rivers overtook communities across Western North Carolina, almost swallowing whole communities leaving nothing behind but mud and debris.
At its peak, the French Broad River in Fletcher crested at 30.31 feet on Sept. 27 as Helene moved through the area, according to the North Carolina State Climate Office out of North Carolina State University. In Asheville, the French Broad hit 24.67 feet, 1.5 feet above its previous highest crest. Further downstream at Blantyre, the river surpassed its 1916 crest of 27.1 feet to hit 27.38 feet before the gauge stopped reporting on Friday afternoon.
The Swannanoa River at Biltmore crested at 26.1 feet, more than five feet above what it did at its maximum in 1916 and slightly above the apparent 26-foot crest in April 1791, noted the climate office.
How many National Guard members are deployed in Western North Carolina, Asheville?
National Guard members across 16 states in the U.S. have been activated to provide assistance to areas impacted the most by Hurricane Helene. In North Carolina, the National Guard has over 1,100 soldiers and airmen on active duty and is making use of nearly 400 vehicles, including 26 aircraft, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
President Joe Biden, who visited the area on Wednesday, announced that he has dispatched 1,000 troops to reinforce the North Carolina National Guard with relief efforts.
All together around 6,700 guardsmen are providing support to these different communities, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Deadliest hurricanes in the United States
The recent death toll attributed to Hurricane Helene makes it the fifth deadliest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. mainland since 1950 and the deadliest since Katrina in 2005, according to reports from USA TODAY. Here's a look at some of the deadliest hurricanes to have hit the U.S.
The 10 deadliest hurricanes, based on National Hurricane Center information, are listed below by their rank, name, year and number of deaths.
- Katrina, 2005: 1,392
- Audrey, 1957: 416
- Camille, 1969: 256
- Sandy, 2012: 219
- Helene (preliminary), 2024: 214
- Diane, 1955: 184
- Ian, 2022: 156
- Agnes, 1972: 122
- Harvey, 2017: 103
- Hazel, 1954: 95
Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Western NC in Helene Aftermath
Harris Pledges Ongoing Federal Support
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris pledged ongoing federal support and praised the work of strangers helping strangers as she visited North Carolina on Saturday in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, her second trip in four days to the disaster zone.
Harris opened her visit by attending a briefing with state and local officials, where she thanked “those who are in the room and those who are out there right now working around the clock.”
She promised federal assistance would continue to flow and added praise for the “strangers who are helping each other out, giving people shelter and food and friendship and fellowship.”
Harris met with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles (D) and Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer (D). Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein was also present for Harris’s visit.
“The work that’s happening here that is so positively impacting so many people is really an example of the best we can do when we bring resources together at the federal, state and local level, and tap into the kind of collegiality that produces results,” Harris said during a briefing with local officials on the response to the storm.
Harris announced the Biden administration had added Mecklenburg County, the second-most populous county in North Carolina, to a major disaster declaration following the hurricane. The move will free up additional resources to help residents get assistance with home repairs, purchasing generators and more.
The vice president praised local officials and residents for “helping each other out, giving people assistance in every way that they need, including shelter, food and friendship and fellowship.”
“I think that these moments of crisis bring out some of the best of who we could be and who we are,” she said.
Cooper said during Saturday’s briefing that at least 68 people died as a result of the storm. The total death toll from Helene, which ripped through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, has surpassed 200.
(article includes information from the Associated Press and The Hill)
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Statement from Baxter International on IV Fluids
Baxter International Facility Sustains Critical Damage From Hurricane Helene
Statement from Baxter International:
As we have previously shared, Baxter International's manufacturing facility located in Marion, NC sustained critical damage from Hurricane Helene and is currently closed for production. As Baxter supplies approximately 60% of IV solutions used in North America, DUHS and hospitals across the U.S. are anticipating significant shortages of Baxter IV fluids.
Clinical and administrative leaders across the health system are working to develop a comprehensive conservation strategy. In an effort to ensure the continuity of patient care is maintained, we have consolidated our inventory of IV fluid for normal saline and lactated ringers to a central distribution point.
Important Points to Note for Duke University Hospital:
- If a patient is hemodynamically decompensating and there is a clinical emergency (including sepsis), proceed as you would normally do in ordering IV fluids to resuscitate the patient. The IV fluid supply will come from your clinical units’ supply and be replenished by restocking from the central distribution room. When a patient has stabilized, please follow previously distributed guidelines on appropriate use of IV fluids.
- If a patient does not have a clinical emergency and you are considering ordering IV fluids (bolus or continuous infusion) then you must contact your responsible covering attending for approval of that fluid order and this approval must be documented in a progress note. There will be an auditing process to confirm compliance with this process.
- Every team must review daily (starting today) their list of ongoing continuous IV fluids to confirm clinical need. We highly encourage all clinicians to add IV Fluids column to their patient lists.
- To order IV fluids, call the Fluid Distribution Center at 919-681-6851. Once confirmed, the fluids will be delivered to you.
As a reminder, the following clinical practices should be implemented immediately:
Maintenance Fluid
- When appropriate, limit maintenance fluids to a specific total volume or time frame.
- Consider oral hydration strategies when possible. We are increasing availability of electrolyte PO fluids in partnership with Food Services (ex. Gatorade and Pedialyte).
- Frequently review and consider elimination of continuous intravenous fluids (IVFs) for patients who are not NPO (or able to take an oral diet).
Procedural/OR
- Consider opportunities to reduce sterile fluid use (intravenous and irrigation) in procedural cases when appropriate.
Nursing Processes
- Extend use of IV and flush bags from 24 to 96 hours when changing tubing.
- Use small-volume bags for low infusion rates.
- Do not use 1L bags when a 100ml bag will do.
- Prime A lines with 500mL bags instead of 1L bags, changed every 4 days
- Eliminate use of Keep Vein Open (KVO) protocols.
- Limit quantities of IV bags placed in warmers to avoid early expiration.
- Verify ongoing fluid needs with providers before a new IV fluid bag is spiked.
- Finish IV bags from the OR or procedure area when going to unit from surgery rather than switching over to a new bag immediately.
Clinical Practice
- Do not empirically start IVF unless clear indications.
Our incident command center remains active and available to assist with any needs. Hours are from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. To contact the command center, call 919- 684-2222.
We will continue to provide updates as conditions unfold. Our Supply Chain colleagues are working diligently to ensure we are able continue providing quality care to those who need us. Thank you all for your partnership and collaboration, and for your dedication to provide remarkable care to our patients, their loved ones, and each other.
Vice President Kamala Harris to Visit NC After Helene Saturday
Vice President Kamala Harris in NC on Saturday to see Hurricane Helene Damage
(WRAL Staff) -- Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to North Carolina to survey the impacts of Hurricane Helene on Saturday, her office announced.
While in town, Harris will also be briefed on continued recovery efforts that are occurring in communities across the state and provide updates on federal actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in North Carolina and other states throughout the southeast.
It has not been announced what cities Harris will visit while in our state.
Hurricane Helene is now blamed for the deaths of 200 people across the south, and North Carolina has experienced a significant number of power outages, with nearly 245,000 outages reported Friday morning.
As of Thursday, North Carolina data shows at least 105 of those deaths were in North Carolina, including 72 people killed in Buncombe County alone. The ages range from 4 to 89.
NC Rep. David Rouzer gives update on Hurricane Helene
Congressman David Rouzer addresses Hurricane Helene relief efforts
Statement from Congressman David Rouzer:
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The North Carolina Medical Society is also accepting donations to our NCMS Foundation Disaster Relief Fund. Click here for your tax-deducible donation.
Western North Carolina Medical Society Announces Emergency Medical Needs Fund
Urgent Appeal: Help WCMS Support Emergency Medical Needs in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
The North Carolina Medical Society is also accepting donations for relief to the people of Western North Carolina. Click here to give your tax-deductible donation.
NCMS Member Dr. Christine Knettel Travels to Western NC to Help After Helene
NCMS wants to hear your story of helping after Helene
NCMS wants to hear your stories too! Please reach out to Randy Aldridge at [email protected] to share how you are helping the needy in North Carolina following Helene.
Storm Damage Closes N.C. Factory That Makes Vital Hospital Supplies
Listen here:
As the remnants of Hurricane Helene moved inland, the storm flooded a factory that makes intravenous fluids used in hospitals around the country.
The Baxter International factory in Marion, N.C., about 35 miles outside of Asheville, was evacuated right before the worst of the storm passed, according to social media posts from employees. It’s now shut down and covered in mud — like a lot of western North Carolina. Bridges leading to the facility were also badly damaged.
The facility is one of the largest suppliers of IV fluids in the country, the Food and Drug Administration says. Baxter says it will spare no expense to get the factory back online, but the company doesn’t “have a timeline for when operations will be back up and running.”
Continue to the full post here.
ASPCA Deploys to Assist in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
At the request of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue (BWAR), the ASPCA and the Humane Society of Charlotte (HSC) assisted with the emergency transport of 44 homeless dogs and cats from BWAR after the shelter was devastated by severe flooding due to Hurricane Helene. During Hurricane Helene’s destructive landfall on September 26, the animals were housed in temporary foster homes in the Asheville area. After the storm, emergency foster caregivers brought the animals to the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance (ASNA) for temporary sheltering before they were transported to HSC in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 2. The 14 dogs and 30 cats – all of whom are unowned – are receiving medical and behavioral care until they are made available for adoption in the coming weeks. Additional animals from BWAR will be transported to MSPCA-Angell in Boston, Massachusetts.
"Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is a long-time partner of the ASPCA, so providing our assistance with this urgent transport of 44 dogs and cats was a natural extension of that partnership, especially following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene,” said Jessica Rushin, Senior Director of Animal Placement for ASPCA Shelter Services. “This emergency transport ensures these animals continue to receive the care they need in a safe environment while freeing up resources for Brother Wolf Animal Rescue to begin to rebuild their flood-impacted facilities. We are also grateful to our longstanding partner Humane Society of Charlotte, who provided a vehicle to facilitate this transport and graciously opened their doors to these animals so they can have the best chance at finding loving homes.”
image credit: ASPCA
"As the former CEO of Asheville Humane and a resident for over 10 years, it’s deeply personal to see this community come together in a time of crisis. We’re proud to collaborate with the ASPCA and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue to ensure these animals receive the care they need after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. At the Humane Society of Charlotte, we’re committed to providing a safe haven for these cats and dogs, giving them the best chance to find their new homes,” said Shelly Moore, CAWA, Chief Executive Officer, Humane Society of Charlotte.
This transport of over four dozen dogs and cats is part of our wider disaster relief support in response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and beyond. Western North Carolina is home to the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance and the ASPCA Behavior Rehabilitation Center (BRC), which houses dogs undergoing rehabilitation for extremely fearful behavior so that they can be candidates for adoption. While the area remains an active disaster zone with ongoing resource shortages, including a lack of running water, we urgently evacuated more than 30 dogs who were in treatment at the BRC to our Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio, where they will continue to receive much-needed behavioral care.
Our disaster response team is coordinating with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to establish a statewide pet supply distribution plan to support communities impacted by the disaster. We also remain in close communication with local animal welfare partners in Western North Carolina to determine how we can best support additional needs.
To learn about ways to help the Humane Society of Charlotte, including the shelter’s urgent need for adoptions and wet/dry dog and cat food donations, please visit their website. [source]
Hurricane Helene Resources: Open Pharmacies in Western NC
UNC Health System Pharmacy has verified the following pharmacies are open and serving customers
List last updated 10/3/2024
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Sona Pharmacy in Arden
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Publix at Hendersonville Road
Sona Pharmacy in Asheville
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Warrensville Drug Store
Walmart Pharmacy at Ashe County
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Walgreen's Pharmacy at Blowing Rock Blvd
CVS Pharmacy at Blowing Rock Blvd
Walmart Pharmacy at Blowing Rock Blvd
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Boone Drug & Healthcare at Deerfield
Boone Drug at Greenway
Boone Drug at King Street
Boone Drug at New Market
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Avery Pharmacy & Health Care
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CVS Pharmacy at Hendersonville Road
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Walmart Pharmacy at Granite Falls
Granite Drug Center
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Publix at South Market Village
Sam's Club Pharmacy in Hendersonville
Whitley Drugs Hendersonville Pharmacy
Walmart Pharmacy at Hendersonville Supercenter
Blue Ridge Health Pharmacy
Pardee Rx - Fleming
Shelton Compounding Pharmacy
Ingle's Pharmacy at Spartanburg Hwy
Ingle's Pharmacy at Howard Gap
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Publix at Hickory
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East Burke Pharmacy
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CVS Pharmacy at Hudson
Walmart Pharmacy at Hudson
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Regency Village Harris Teeter Pharmacy
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Community Pharmacy at Caldwell Hospital
Medical Arts Pharmacy of Lenoir
Foothill's Pharmacy at Cross Roads
Cajah's Mountain Pharmacy
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Drexel Discount Drug
Walgreens Pharmacy at Fleming Drive
Jay's Hometown Pharmacy
Jones Drugs
Morganton Drug
Table Rock Pharmacy
Walmart Pharmacy at Morganton Heights
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Mountain City Pharmacy
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Halsey Drug Company
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Western NC Assistance for Patient Prescriptions, Vaccines, and Payer Resources
NC AHEC Releases Information on Prescriptions for Physicians in Western NC
Chris Weathington of NC AHEC has released the following information about prescriptions for you and your patients:
Assistance for Your Patients
Several emergency measures have been taken to help patients cope with the aftermath of the storm. The NC Board of Pharmacy have activated Board Rule .1815, which authorizes pharmacists to provide one-time emergency refill of up to a 90-day supply when the pharmacist is unable to obtain refill authorization from the prescriber due to a prescriber’s inability to provide medical services to the patient. This authority was specifically created for emergencies like this one. In addition, if you are trying to send your patient to a pharmacy to pick up needed medication and supplies, the Board of Pharmacy is developing a list of open pharmacies in the impacted area. You can find that list here
Vaccines for Children
If you have lost vaccine stock due to power outages in your practice, for the Vaccines for Children program, you should reach out directly to the VFC Storage and Handling Hotline at 877-873-6247. They can assist with determining viability, wasting doses, and next steps on placing replacement orders. We are in the process of working on solutions for private stock vaccines.
Payer Resources for Practices
NC Medicaid has updated its Medicaid Temporary Flexibilities Due to Hurricane Helene. You can find that information here. This includes information about the expanded ability for hospital swing beds, disaster relief applications available for health care providers, and more.
In addition, please note that many payers across the state have implemented additional flexibilities for practices in the impacted area, including in some instances waiving prior authorizations and allowing early refills, among other things.
UNC Health has released the following list of pharmacies that are open and serving customers:
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Last Update: Oct. 3, 12:30 a.m. |
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Sona Pharmacy in Arden
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Publix at Hendersonville Road
Sona Pharmacy in Asheville
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Warrensville Drug Store
Walmart Pharmacy at Ashe County
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Walgreen's Pharmacy at Blowing Rock Blvd
CVS Pharmacy at Blowing Rock Blvd
Walmart Pharmacy at Blowing Rock Blvd
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Boone Drug & Healthcare at Deerfield
Boone Drug at Greenway
Boone Drug at King Street
Boone Drug at New Market
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Avery Pharmacy & Health Care
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CVS Pharmacy at Hendersonville Road
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Walmart Pharmacy at Granite Falls
Granite Drug Center
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Publix at South Market Village
Sam's Club Pharmacy in Hendersonville
Whitley Drugs Hendersonville Pharmacy
Walmart Pharmacy at Hendersonville Supercenter
Blue Ridge Health Pharmacy
Pardee Rx - Fleming
Shelton Compounding Pharmacy
Ingle's Pharmacy at Spartanburg Hwy
Ingle's Pharmacy at Howard Gap
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Publix at Hickory
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East Burke Pharmacy
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CVS Pharmacy at Hudson
Walmart Pharmacy at Hudson
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Regency Village Harris Teeter Pharmacy
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Community Pharmacy at Caldwell Hospital
Medical Arts Pharmacy of Lenoir
Foothill's Pharmacy at Cross Roads
Cajah's Mountain Pharmacy
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Drexel Discount Drug
Walgreens Pharmacy at Fleming Drive
Jay's Hometown Pharmacy
Jones Drugs
Morganton Drug
Table Rock Pharmacy
Walmart Pharmacy at Morganton Heights
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Mountain City Pharmacy
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Halsey Drug Company
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Hurricane Disaster Relief Resources for Veterans
Veterans needing immediate housing assistance in the aftermath of a natural disaster, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (available 24/7): 1-877-424-3838.
Veterans needing help determining where to go for care or have questions about VA resources available to you, call 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411)
Check the operating status of VA facilities in the North Carolina Area.
The VA Specially Adapted Housing Program may be able to assist in funding home repairs after a disaster.
Temporary Flexibilities in Place for Medicaid Beneficiaries Due to Hurricane Helene Devastation
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working with state, federal and local partners to help North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene access needed health care. Temporary changes to NC Medicaid will allow people to more easily refill prescriptions early, get medically necessary services, be admitted to a nursing home and more.
"This storm has been catastrophic for so many people in our state. We are committed to using every tool we have to help people and communities survive and recover," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley.
Flexibilities are active from September 26, 2024, through October 15, 2024, and are intended to:
- Ensure people can get their medicine. People covered by NC Medicaid will be able to fill their prescriptions early, including people who have temporarily relocated out of state due to the emergency.
- Ensure children with complex medical needs and adults with disabilities or serious health conditions are safe. Case managers are implementing required disaster plans for Community Alternatives Program for Children and Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults.
- Make it easier for health care providers to participate in Medicaid as part of disaster relief. To ensure there are medical professionals on the ground, health care providers can apply to be a NC Medicaid provider through a temporary, expedited process.
- Ensure people get medically necessary services. NC Medicaid providers will not need to get prior authorization for medically necessary drugs, equipment and supplies provided during the Hurricane Helene emergency. People covered by NC Medicaid who have temporarily relocated out of state due to the emergency will be reimbursed for medically necessary services.
- Maintain support for people with traumatic brain injury or intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. When direct support is not available due to the emergency, relatives may provide Community Living and Supports, Supported Employment and Supported Living. People who have temporarily relocated out of state due to the emergency may receive Innovations Waiver services without prior authorization, including respite. And NC Medicaid will cover the replacement or repair of homes or vehicle modifications damaged by Hurricane Helene.
- Help hospitalized patients have continuity of care. Hospitals in affected counties that participate in Medicare and are approved to provide post-hospital skilled nursing facility care can do so for patients who no longer need acute care. They can provide this care for patients that are unable to find placement in skilled nursing facility.
- Expedite the process for someone to be admitted to a nursing home. People covered by NC Medicaid who have been displaced due to the emergency will not need to have a Preadmission Screening and Resident Review.
- Access private duty nursing. People covered by NC Medicaid will not need prior authorization for private duty nursing that is medically necessary.
Additional detail, including documentation requirements, is available in the NC Medicaid Bulletin issued on October 1, 2024.
There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.
If you would like general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene and ncdhhs.gov/helene.
If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email [email protected].
CDC Director Warns of More Dangers From Hurricane Helene
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Mandy Cohen described to “Conversations on Health Care” that their role right now is ensuring impacted residents understand the health risks that are present and could continue to grow in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Dr. Cohen says while local, state and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are in the acute response phase, CDC is doing its part by ensuring people realize there are growing risks, including from flooded roads that are not safe to drive over. The CDC says when returning to a flooded home after a natural disaster, be aware that the house may be contaminated with mold or sewage, which can make people sick.
“As a North Carolinian, my heart goes out to the people in the western part of our state. People had power outages, which means food has spoiled in the refrigerator…make sure you’re not eating spoiled food,” says Dr. Cohen, who previously served as North Carolina’s top state health official. “Our water systems have gotten hard hit, so thinking about whether if you need to be on bottled water. In the recovery phase…we’re likely to see more mosquitos because we’ll see standing water and making sure folks are doing what they need to do to protect themselves.”
Listen now to hear her interview with Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter.
Don't Have Flood Insurance? You May be Eligible for Federal Disaster Aid
Flood insurance is rare in Western North Carolina
(Axios, Zachery Eanes) -- Just 0.5% of homes in the Western North Carolina counties hit hardest by Hurricane Helene were covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, according to an analysis by Reuters.
- In comparison, more than 40% of homes in Dare County, on the Outer Banks, had flood insurance policies.
Why it matters: A lack of flood insurance will make it more expensive and complicated for many residents of the mountains to recover from the devastation that Helene's massive rainfalls brought.
State of play: Experts say that the FEMA's existing flood maps, which show where people are required to buy flood insurance, underestimate the risks that storms like Helene can bring.
- FEMA's maps, for instance, do not take into account intense rainfall events or sea level rise that is becoming more common due to climate change, according to N.C. State researcher Georgina Sanchez.
- Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications research at the First Street Foundation, told the Washington Post they also don't take into account flooding from smaller water sources, like creeks and streams.
- That leads to many people not on the coast or directly next to a river to be excluded in flood maps, even if the risk could be growing, Reuters said.
Of note: People who have been affected by Helene without flood insurance can apply for up to $30,000 in federal disaster aid, Reuters noted. That, however, is just a fraction of the $250,000 worth of coverage available in the federal flood insurance program.
Click here for more on Federal Disaster Aid
FEMA Activates Transitional Sheltering Assistance for Those Displaced by Helene
Sheltering Assistance Allows for Temporary Hotel Stays
FEMA has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for North Carolinians displaced by Tropical Storm Helene in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties and for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Residents in these counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. People do not need to request this assistance. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance.
Individuals and households may be eligible if they cannot return to their disaster-damaged home and their housing needs cannot be met by insurance, shelters or rental assistance provided by FEMA or another agency.
Under the TSA program, FEMA pays the cost of room, taxes and non-refundable pet fees directly to participating hotels and motels. Pet fees will only be paid up to the approved limit of assistance for individual rooms. Survivors are responsible for all other costs, including laundry, restaurant/room service, parking, telephone, or movie rental.
Eligible survivors may stay in participating TSA hotels in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. To locate participating hotels, visit femaemergencyhotels.com/ and enter your FEMA registration number, obtained when you applied for FEMA assistance.
An initial eligibility review will be conducted 60-days after the check-in date. When eligibility ends, survivors will be notified by FEMA seven days prior to checkout date.
TSA participants may also be eligible for other federal financial help, including Displacement Assistance, Rental Assistance, Home Repair Assistance and other aspects of the Individual Assistance program.
To apply for assistance, homeowners and renters can:
- Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Download the FEMA App for mobile devices
- Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
For the latest information on North Carolina’s’ recovery from Hurricane Helene visit fema.gov/disaster/4827. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube.
For North Carolinians seeking general information, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.
Cancel Your Plans if You Want to See Fall Folliage in NC
Governor Cooper Says Tourists Not Wanted in Western NC Right Now
(Asheville Citizen Times, Will Hofmann) -- As peak leaf season approaches in the mountains, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper told the Asheville Citizen Times that tourists are not wanted in Western North Carolina in the fallout of the historic, devastating floods that have been confirmed to have taken 97 lives in the state and devastated the region's infrastructure.
Cooper said he only wants people who are dedicated to response efforts coming to the region.
"Whenever you come to Western North Carolina you get emergency notifications that we don't want you here unless you are directly helping with the response," Cooper told the Citizen Times on Oct. 3.
"So we're continuing to ask people not to come. And that's tough for an area that was about to enter its peak season for tourism economy. But I've talked with people in the Chamber of Commerce, they understand that meeting people's immediate needs, saving lives, is first," he continued.
Visit North Carolina, the state's official destination marketing organization, has continued to issue a travel advisory warning to all who intend to visit the region typically known for its strong tourism industry as the leaves turn in the fall. Currently, the message is: Do not travel to the region as cities and towns continue to battle power and water outages.
"State and local officials strongly advise all motorists avoid travel in Western North Carolina due to the continued challenges and risks from riverine flooding, landslides, slope failures, road closures and downed trees," the Visit North Carolina advisory, updated Oct. 3, read. "Power and cell phone service outages are also widespread as are shortages of water, food and gas."
Cooper said the goal is to continue to expand rescue and recovery efforts, which would be hindered and strained by the additional resources and road space required to maintain tourists.
"We want to keep those roads open for utility trucks, for rescue personnel, for medical people, for supplies, for fuel – all of this transportation that is 10 times more than you would normally need roads just to bring in basic necessities for people who don't have them now," Cooper said.
Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority have also put out information regarding resources being provided by the industry at this time. The authority issued an update on the status of the local tourism industry.
"People have always been drawn to Asheville and the mountains of Western North Carolina. We know many people around the country care deeply and want to support our community. It’s not just about what’s happening now, but about planning for the months and years ahead," the BCTDA and Explore Asheville said in a statement to the Citizen Times on Oct. 3.
"Right now, the focus is on taking care of area residents and workers and servicing the many first responders who have answered the call from all over the country — helping those impacted and addressing the economic and emotional toll at hand," the statement said.
The city of Asheville, along with a swath of other cities and towns across WNC, are facing crises after the floods caused by Tropical Storm Helene. Water is out for most of the city, and is not expected to return for weeks. Cell service continues to be spotty, if not unreliable. Whole districts of the town, like the River Arts District — a beloved tourism district near the French Broad — remain in ruins.
Through the storm, VisitNC has been working to address visitor displacement throughout the region, fielding 7,300 calls about the topic, according to the advisory. Many regional attractions are currently closed. The entire Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina is closed. The Biltmore is closed. The WNC Nature Center is closed. The Omni Grove Park Inn is closed.
While the leaf season had been expected to be vibrant and bring in thousands to the region, boosting local business, this fall is likely going to hurt as businesses attempt to recover. [Source]
Loss of Life Hits Grim Milestone Following Helene
County Death Toll Update for Western NC
(USA Today, Jacob Wilt) -- The loss of life caused by Hurricane Helene passed a grim milestone Wednesday. Deaths caused by the hurricane nationwide surpassed 160 people, making Helene the second deadliest hurricane in the U.S. this century. That number was surpassed only by Katrina in 2005, which killed 1,392 people.
In North Carolina, officials say 73 people are confirmed dead thus far, with that number expected to rise as rescue crews search for missing persons. The vast majority of those deaths occurred in Buncombe County.
Here's the North Carolina death toll by county as of Thursday morning on Oct. 3. All data is provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, unless otherwise noted.
- Yancey: Nine
- Henderson: Six
- Avery: Three
- Madison: Three
- Cleveland: Two
- Rutherford: Two
- Watauga: Two
- Burke: One
- Catawba: One
- Gaston: One
- Macon: One
- Mecklenburg: One
- Polk: One
- Yadkin: One
The NCDHHS confirmed a range of causes of death due to Helene's excessive wind and rainfall. The following are the most common causes of death:
- Unknown circumstances: 17
- Drowning: 15
- Landslide: Ten
- Wind/tree trauma: Five
- Motor vehicle drownings: Four
- Blunt force injuries: Four
- Motor vehicle crash: Three
- Other: Two
NC Justice Center Releases New Information on Tenants Rights After Natural Disaster
Refreshed information includes FEMA benefits for immigrants
Kate Woomer-Deters of the NC Justice Center has updated the information on Tenants Rights and it includes FEMA Benefits for Immigrants and Tenants in English and Spanish at this website: https://www.ncjustice.org/publications/resources-for-natural-disasters/
These materials answer such questions as:
- Can I cancel my lease or stop paying rent if I am a tenant and my home is damaged by a natural disaster?
- Is my landlord responsible for reimbursing me for personal property damaged in a disaster?
- If I am an immigrant or members of my family are immigrants, can we qualify for monetary assistance from FEMA?
- Is it safe to share my personal information with FEMA if I am an immigrant?
- What sort of benefits does FEMA provide to tenants, homeowners and those in “rent to own” contracts?
Other resources: Resources for Natural Disasters – North Carolina Justice Center (ncjustice.org)
POSTPONED: Before Burnout: Thriving as a Clinician Without Losing Yourself
Before Burnout: Thriving as a Clinician Without Losing Yourself
October 22, 2024 | 12-1 PM EST
Presenter
Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC
Burnout is an overused word and a very real phenomenon. Please join us for a talk validating your struggles and offering potential tangible strategies to help prevent and mitigate burnout.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Amna Shabbir is a National Board-Certified Wellness and Master Certified Life Coach, and a Geriatrician - Internist. She passionately supports clinicians in navigating the challenges of life after medical training so they can excel professionally and personally. She fiercely advocates for Mental Health access for healthcare workers and is a proud Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation Ambassador and Member of the NC Clinician & Physician Retention & Well-being Consortium (NCCPRW). Dr. Shabbir is the Founder of the Early Career Physicians Institute and Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching. She is also a proud Super Mom to two young girls.
How Should You Talk to Your Children and Young Patients About What is Happening?
Elizabeth Hudgins, Executive Director of the North Carolina Pediatric Society, shares some helpful websites with advice for young people:
AAP Parenting Resources – Information providers can share with families
- Hurricanes & Floods: Taking Care of Your Children and Yourself
- AAP Tips on Talking to a Child after a Disaster (featuring NCMS Member Dr. David Hill)
- How to Support Your Child’s Resilience in a Time of Crisis
AAP Provider Resources
- Hurricanes: Disaster Management Resources
- Flash Floods and Flood Recovery: Disaster Management Resources
- Helping Children Cope and Adjust After a Disaster
- Disasters and Children
NCMS Recognizes NCMS Disaster Relief Fund Contributors
A heartfelt THANK YOU to these individuals and organizations for their contribution to the NCMS Disaster Relief Fund. Your generous donation is far more than just a financial contribution; it’s a lifeline for the many affected by Hurricane Helene, and vital in providing support to healthcare professionals and communities impacted by this disaster.
We invite you to spread the word about the NCMS Disaster Relief Fund and stay engaged with us as we work together to help restore our Western North Carolina neighbors.
We are grateful to have you in our community!
- Idil Aktan, MD
- R. D. Almkuist, II, MD
- American Board of Pediatrics Inc
- Caroline D. Ames, MD, FACS
- James H. Antoszyk, MD
- Joy Avery
- Timothy M. Beittel, MD
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Cedar Mount Behavioral Health, PA
- Center For Pain Management, PLLC
- Melissa M. Coale, MD
- Anonymous
- Kim D. Dansie, MD
- Jackie M. Davis-Jones
- Jessica F. Doerrler, PA
- Patricia Duncan
- Peter A. Eweje, MD
- Mark W. Featherston, MD
- Anonymous
- Joanne M. Fruth, MD
- Lisa M. Gangarosa, MD
- Highland Medical Associates
- Anonymous
- Joseph P. Hunstad, MD, FACS
- Kitsie Jones
- Christopher P. Jordan, MD
- Kerry Kendall
- Eugenie M. Komives, MD, FAAFP
- Ted R. Kunstling, MD, FCCP
- Andrew S. Lamb, MD
- Keith LaScalea, MD
- Anonymous
- Elizabeth G. Livingston, MD
- Anonymous
- Laura L. Martinez, MD
- Darlyne Menscer, MD
- Ashley Newton
- J. Thomas Newton, MD
- Carolyn O'Conor, MD
- Michael K. Patrick, MD
- Patricia Petrick, MD
- Emily Rayes-Prince, MD
- Anonymous
- Corianne D. Rogers, MD
- Nimesh B. Shah, MD
- Kristen M. Shipherd
- Maria J. Small, MD
- Anonymous
- Michol Stanzione, DO
- Steele Creek Dermatology
- Al Steren, MD and Diane Snyder Steren, MD
- Martha Strange, MD
- Thomas M. Swantkowski, MD, AGAF, FACG
- Marian L. Swinker, MD, MPH
- Christopher L. Tebbit, MD
- Monecia Thomas, PhD
- Dimitri G. Trembath, MD
- Michael J. Utecht, MD, FACEP
- Lynnea Villanova, MD
- Bonnie E. Wagner, PA-C
- Rebecca Y. Weinshilboum, DO
- Carl J. Westcott, MD
- Thomas R. White, MD
- Anonymous
- Women's HealthCare Consultant PC
- Nagarjuna Yerra, MD
- Michael Bartiss, MD / Family Eye Care of the Carolinas
- David Boone, MD
- Carolina Complete Health
- Karl Chiang, MD
- John Chretien, MD
- Anonymous
- Kelly Fedoriw, MD
- Carolyn Ferree, MD
- Alison Gardner, MD
- John Goldfield, MHS, PA-C
- Akilah Grimes, MD
- Sandra Jackson / Eastern Pediatrics
- Matthew Katz, MS / MCK Health Strategies
- Melissa Kenny
- Donna McGee, MD
- Larry Napolitano, Jr., MD
- Michael P. Reddy-Miller, MD
- Anonymous
- Andrew Pasternak, MD
- Antonio Ramirez, MD
- Beth Remhof
- Jennifer Root, MD
- Richard Savage, MD
- Anonymous
- Soma Sengupta, MD
- Nimesh Shah / Noble Hospitality Investment
- Amanda Trimpey, MD, MPH, FACOEM
- Yunxiang Zhu, MD
*Please note: List reflects donations received through Tuesday, October 8.
Managing Mentally After Hurricane Helene
The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina has left many across the state overwhelmed from the physical and emotional aftermath. As the community works to rebuild, learn how to manage your mental health in this WFMY 2 Your Well-Being conversation with David Gutterman, PhD, with Cone Health LeBauer Behavioral Medicine.
The storm's proximity can make the devastation particularly difficult to process. Many have family, friends, home or memories attached to the mountain area.
"We tend to project ourselves into this type of situation," says Dr. Gutterman, "and so often, these sort of tragedies feel so far away geographically, but with this being so close, many people can relate to it. They're seeing familiar places, places they've been to with their families that are just devastated. That adds to the trauma."
Witnessing the destruction of familiar places can trigger a sense of loss and powerlessness.
Coping Mechanisms and Support
- Acknowledge and express your feelings, rather than repress them. Talk to friends, family, or seek professional help.
- Stay informed while limiting your exposure to images of the devastation.
- Focusing on recovery efforts can offer a sense of purpose and connection to the community.
- Children may process the disaster differently than adults. Dr. Gutterman recommends maintaining open communication, listening to their concerns, and providing age-appropriate information about the situation. Focusing on the resilience of the community and the positive aspects of recovery can help children cope.
- Be aware of potential warning signs of mental health distress in yourself or others. Anxiety, sleep disturbances, social isolation, and persistent negative thoughts can be signs to seek professional help.
If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, call 336-832-9800. [source]
Nominating and Leadership Development Committee Issues Final Slate of Nominees
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Nominating and Leadership Development Committee (NLDC) issues the final slate of candidates. Under the NCMS’ governance structure, online voting for the candidates will begin on Monday, October 14, 2024, and continue until midnight on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Paper ballots will also be available to those who need them.
The following slate of nominees was selected by the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee:
NCMS Board of Directors
- President Elect: Carl Westcott, MD
- Region 1 Representative: Claude Jarrett, MD
- At-Large Member: Jugta Kahai, MD
- At-Large Member: C. Labron Chambers, Jr., MD
NC American Medical Association Delegation
- AMA Delegate: E. Rebecca Hayes, MD
- AMA Delegate: Karen Smith, MD
- AMA Delegate: Royce Syracuse, MD
- AMA Delegate: Arthur Apolinario, MD
Nominating and Leadership Development Committee
- NLDC Region 1: Joe Navejar, MD
- NLDC Region 1: Sherry Ikalowych, MD
- NLDC Region 2: Hans Arora, MD
- NLDC Region 3: Katie Borders, MD
- NLDC Region 3: Sankalp Puri, MD
- NLDC Region 3: Mary Knox, MD
- NLDC Region 4: Benjamin Deschner, MD
- NLDC Region 4: Shannon Dowler, MD
- NLDC Region 4: Eric Luk, MD
CMS to Provide Accelerated & Advance Payments to Providers Impacted by Helene
CMS to Provide Accelerated & Advance Payments to Providers Impacted by Helene
In response to the cashflow challenges that providers will face in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and in response to the declared Public Health Emergency, CMS will provide accelerated and advanced payments to Medicare providers and suppliers impacted by the storm, beginning October 2, 2024. Physician practices are considered “Part B suppliers.”
Medicare providers and suppliers in need of this assistance should our state’s assigned Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), which is Palmetto GBA.
The CMS press release with additional information is below.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking action to support providers and suppliers impacted by Hurricane Helene within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster zones, under the President’s major disaster declarations. These providers and suppliers may face significant cash flow issues from the unusual circumstances impacting facilities’ operations, preventing facilities from submitting claims and receiving Medicare claims payments. As a result of the presidential disaster declaration, and HHS public health emergencies declared in the wake of Hurricane Helene, CMS made available accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers and advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene beginning October 2, 2024.
Accelerated and Advance payments related to Hurricane Helene may be granted in amounts equal to a percentage of the preceding 90 days of claims payments. These payments will be repaid through automatic recoupment from Medicare claims for a period of 90 days following the issuance of the accelerated or advance payment. A demand will be issued for any remaining balance on day 91 following the issuance of the accelerated or advance payment.
In addition, CMS has made available certain flexibilities related to provider and supplier fee-for-service Medicare debt, as detailed below.
Available Assistance:
Accelerated and Advance Payments to Eligible Providers/Suppliers: Providers and suppliers located in, or furnishing services within, a FEMA designated disaster area established as a result of Hurricane Helene, and who are enrolled in Medicare with an approved provider agreement, are eligible for Hurricane Helene accelerated or advance payments. To request these payments, providers and suppliers must meet the following criteria:
- The provider/ supplier has billed Medicare for claims during the 90 days prior to the aftermath of the natural disaster.
- The provider/supplier is enrolled in the Medicare program and has not been revoked, deactivated, precluded, or excluded by CMS or the HHS Office of the Inspector General. The provider/ supplier does not have any outstanding accelerated and advance payments pending for more than 90 days.
- The provider/supplier does not have any delinquent amounts due under Medicare. Delinquent debt does not include debt that is under an approved Extended Repayment Schedule, where payments have been made in accordance with the schedule.
- The provider/supplier is not on a Medicare payment hold or payment suspension.
- The provider/ supplier must not be under investigation for fraud, waste, or abuse related issues.
- Providers receiving Periodic Interim Payments are not eligible for accelerated payments.
Please note, Hurricane related accelerated and advance payments must be requested for individual providers/suppliers – i.e. unique National Provider Identifier (NPI) and Medicare ID (PTAN) combinations.
Flexibility for Existing Extended Repayment Schedules: For providers and suppliers currently repaying debt under an Extended Repayment Schedule (ERS) established at the maximum 60-month term, the provider/ supplier may restructure their payment schedule for two consecutive monthly payments during the approved period not to exceed a total of 60 months of ERS payments in their schedule without requiring additional financial documentation. For providers/ suppliers currently repaying debt under an Extended Repayment Schedule (ERS) established at less than a 60-month term, those providers/ suppliers may request an additional two months be added to their existing ERS, subject to the 60-month maximum. The additional two months shall be interest only payments, or $0 payments, with remaining payments adjusted to account for interest that accrues during the period in which the payment schedule was modified.
Disrupted Debt Communications: For providers and suppliers that do not receive a letter requiring the repayment of an overpayment resulting from disruptions to the United States Postal Service delivery of first-class mail, providers and suppliers may request affected overpayment demand letters be rescinded and reissued at a time when the availability of mail service has been reestablished.
Medicare providers and suppliers in need of this assistance should contact their assigned Medicare Administrative Contractor.
MAC Contact Information
A list of MACs can be found at our CMS.gov website at: https://www.cms.gov/mac-info.
'The Nation Has Your Back,' President Biden Makes Pledge to NC
"The nation has your back" promises President Joe Biden
Visits hard-hit North Carolina after Hurricane Helene
(USA Today, John Bacon, Beth Warre, Jorge L. Oritz) -- President Joe Biden traveled to the Carolinas on a Wednesday tour to survey devastation from Hurricane Helene as residents across much of the Southeast press on with the arduous task of rebuilding their shattered communities, homes and lives.
Biden visited Greenville, South Carolina, and later got an aerial view of the extensive damage in Asheville, North Carolina. Vice President Kamala Harris also made a trip to a highly impacted state, meeting with local officials and first responders in Augusta, Georgia.
"I'm here to say the United States – the nation – has your back,'' Biden said at an emergency command center in Raleigh alongside North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. "We're not leaving until you're back on your feet completely."
NCDHHS Releases Printable Resource Lists for Your Patients
NCDHHS Releases Printable Resource Lists for Your Patients
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has released two printable versions of Hurricane Helene Resources for you to distribute to your patients and people in the community. Please feel free to share.
Novant Health Partners with Local Red Cross to Open Shelter in Buncombe County
Novant Health has partnered with the local Red Cross to open a shelter in Buncombe County for individuals affected by Hurricane Helene.
The shelter, located at 1815 Hendersonville Road in Asheville, will offer power, water, food, and a place to sleep.
“Novant Health is proud to partner with the local Red Cross and leaders in Buncombe County to bring this shelter online for our neighbors across Western North Carolina,” said Dr. C.J. Atkinson, system physician executive, Novant Health. “The impact here is unimaginable, and our hope is that this building can offer vital resources to the people of this region.”
For shelter details, visit RedCross.org/Shelters or download the Red Cross Emergency App.
Here’s a look at the NCMS LEAD speaker Susan Childs, FACMPE
Saturday 4:00pm-5:00pm Workshop 3 - The Emotionally Intelligent Physician Leader - Susan Fink Childs, FACMPE, Founder, Evolution Healthcare Consulting
Here’s a look at the NCMS LEAD speaker Ron Howrigon
Friday 12:00pm-1:30pm Keynote Speaker/Luncheon - Ali Ingersoll’s Prior Authorization Journey - (Moderated by Randy Aldridge, NCMS VP of Communications) Panelists: Ali Ingersoll, TEDx Speaker; Ron Howrigon, CEO, Fulcrum Strategies; John Thompson, NCMS VP of Advocacy
Here’s a look at the NCMS LEAD speaker Anthony Sorrentino, MD
Saturday 9:45am-11:00am Workshop 1 - Empower Your Practice: Unlocking AI in Healthcare - Panelists: Anthony D. Sorrentino, MD, Clinical Informatics Fellow | PGY4, Duke University; Metin Nafi Gurcan, PhD, Director, Center for Artificial Intelligence Research, WFU School of Medicine; Sofija Volertas, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine Associate, UNC
Here’s a look at the NCMS LEAD speaker Ali Ingersoll
A Message from HRSA: Responding to Hurricane Helene
We are closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Helene on health centers in the southeast. We know that in times of crisis, health centers offer a crucial lifeline to affected communities. We also know that many health centers and their staff may have been directly impacted. You are in our thoughts during this difficult time, and we deeply appreciate the vital support you are offering to your communities.
To those in the affected areas, please work with your Primary Care Association (PCAs) to report on the status of your service delivery sites. PCAs serve as essential statewide coordinators of information, data, and resources in support of health centers during response and recovery efforts.
The following resources provide useful information and guidance:
- Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resources for Health Centers webpage: A comprehensive set of resources, including CMS’ emergency preparedness rule and a full list of Federal Tort Claims Act resources.
- Emergency Information Kit – Key Resources for Health Centers: Commonly asked questions that arise during a declared dynamic event.
Deadline Extensions for Those Impacted
- We will grant a deadline extension to complete your New Access Points (NAP) application in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs), if needed. Contact [email protected] with your organization name, location (explain the impact), and EHBs tracking number or H80 grant number (if you have it). Remember to include your email and phone number so we can reach you.
- If you are an H80 with a budget period start date of March 1, 2025, or a look-alike (LAL) with a start date of January 1, 2025, we will grant an extension for your Budget Period Progress Report or LAL Renewal of Designation/Annual Certification. Contact us via the BPHC Contact Form, including an explanation of the impact.
Join NCMGMA and NCMSF for the Next Lunch & Learn Webinar
NCMGMA – NCMSF Lunch & Learn Webinar
2024 Legislative Landscape
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST | Zoom
Join us on October 8th for this Lunch & Learn Webinar in which the NC Medical Society’s Director of Legislative Affairs will be discussing the current political landscape in North Carolina in regard to the profession of medicine.
Webinar Speaker
Hannah Rice
NCMS - Director, Legislative Affairs
Hannah was born in Wilmington, North Carolina and earned her BA in History and minors in Political Science and Criminal Justice from UNC Charlotte. During her undergraduate career, Hannah worked on a Governor’s campaign, interned for a United States Congressman, and interned for a public health initiative in Cabarrus County, Smart Girls Know. Since graduating, she has worked in various fundraising roles as the Political Fundraising Manager for the North Carolina REALTORS® and Distinguished Events Coordinator for the American Cancer Society. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, watching baseball or football, and traveling with her husband and dog.
This webinar is free, but you must be registered to attend.
Space is limited so register early! After you register, you will receive an emailed confirmation with webinar and phone-in instructions. Please check your spam/junk folder if you do not see the confirmation email after you register.
Questions
Please contact [email protected]
NCDHHS Urges Safe Water Usage following Hurricane Helene
Access to safe and potable water remains a top concern in Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Currently, approximately 160 boil water advisories remain in effect and 27 water plants are closed and not producing water. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is sharing guidance on actions people can take to ensure water is safe and to prevent waterborne disease or illness after the storm.
Identify Safe Water
In disaster-impacted areas, particularly those that have experienced flooding, drinking water may not be available or safe to drink. It is critical that people do not use contaminated water to drink, wash and prepare food, make ice, prepare baby formula, wash dishes, brush teeth or wash hands.
- Do not use contaminated well water. Floods can damage drinking water wells and lead to contamination. Floodwater can contaminate well water with livestock waste, human sewage, chemicals and other contaminants that can lead to illness when used for drinking, bathing and other hygiene activities. Dug wells, bored wells and wells less than 50 feet deep are more likely to be contaminated, even if damage is not apparent.
- Do not use water from heating systems. Water from radiators or boilers that are part of a home heating system should never be used as potable water.
- Use only bottled, boiled or treated water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. For specific advisories or recommendations regarding boiling or treating water in your area, look for information from your local health department, tribal agency or local media channels.
Boil Water to Prevent Disease or Illness
If you do not have safe bottled water, boil your water to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the best way to kill germs in water. If the water is cloudy, first filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel or coffee filter. Another option is to let any particles in the water settle to the bottom, then draw off the clear water for boiling.
Next, bring the clear water to a rolling boil for one minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes). Let the boiled water cool, and then store the boiled water in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers. As a reminder, do not use gas appliances in an enclosed space to boil water as this increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
During a boil water advisory, you should use bottled water or boiled water to do the following:
- Drinking and cooking
- Brushing teeth
- Cleaning (such as washable toys and surfaces)
- Caring for pets
Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing and showering and consider giving babies and children a sponge bath to reduce the chances of them swallowing water. If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory. All infant feeding items should be sanitized by using a sanitizing cycle in the dishwasher, boiling them, using steam, or cleaning carefully with a diluted bleach solution.
Ensure Well Water is Safe
If extensive flooding has occurred, do not drink well water. Listen to your local health authorities for advice on using well water for showering and bathing. Use water reserves, bottled water or boiled water until your well water has been tested and deemed safe for use.
After a flood, the following steps can help ensure your well is safe for use:
- Do not turn on the electricity to your pump until flood waters recede.
- Contact a driller if you think your well will need service immediately after the flood. Find a list of certified well contractors.
- If you haven't already, find a nearby water testing lab to obtain sample collection bottles and instructions for bacterial contamination. You cannot see, taste or smell bacterial contamination in your well. The NC State Laboratory of Public Health provides free well water sampling kits and testing, and often, your local health department can test your water. If there is not a health department near you, your county extension agent can help you find a lab.
- If you live near animal feeding operations, agricultural fields where pesticides are applied or industrial chemical factories, you should contact your local health department for additional testing, especially if you smell fuel or chemicals in your water.
- It is strongly recommended to call your local health department or licensed well driller to shock chlorinate the well if it has been flooded. A water well driller will have access to more effective products and will have equipment and experience that a typical well owner will not have. Find more information about well water and health.
Find comprehensive information about ensuring water is safe after an emergency or natural disaster on the CDC's website.
President Joe Biden to Visit Storm Ravaged North Carolina Today
Biden Landing in Raleigh to Avoid Complicating Recovery Efforts in Asheville
President Joe Biden will survey Western North Carolina today before landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport at approximately 3:45. He will receive an Operational Briefing at the Raleigh Emergency Operations Center at 4:15 and remain in North Carolina until almost 7:00pm.
Per the New York Times, President Biden will get an aerial view of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene across the mountains of western North Carolina, where many residents are isolated by muddy debris and washed-out roads.
Six days after Helene made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the extent of the damage across the Southeast is still coming to light. Broken water systems, downed power lines and poor cellphone service are complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
“There’s so much, so much, that has to be done, beyond what we’re even thinking about now,” Mr. Biden said in a call this week to the mayor of Asheville, N.C. She shared a portion of the call on social media ahead of the president’s trip.
Mr. Biden plans to visit the emergency operations center in Raleigh, the state’s capital, and fly over the damaged region to avoid disrupting emergency efforts. He will also meet with emergency workers in South Carolina, and said he planned visits to other states, as well.
As of noon Wednesday, the death toll from Helene in North Carolina had risen to 90 people, a number expected to still climb.
The NCMS is coordinating volunteer efforts and taking tax deductible donations. Click here for how you can help.
NC Death Toll Rises to 90. Make a Tax Deductible Donation to Help Through NCMS
“One of the worst storms in modern history for parts of NC” – Gov. Roy Cooper
Hurricane Helene and its remnants continue to roll across the United States, leaving a wide swath of destruction and death. In the Southeast alone, at least 55 people are dead in five states, communities are leveled, power is out for millions, and many remain stranded by floodwaters. The NC Department of Transportation said Saturday in post on X that “all roads in Western NC should be considered closed.” So far, Buncombe County as received over 5,500 911 calls and conducted more than 130 swift water rescues. Officials are warning residents to stay away from water because of downed power lines and sewage contamination.
Per Cooper’s office, search and rescue operations remain underway as over 700,000 people across the state remain without power. More than 2 feet of rain fell in the state’s mountainous region from Wednesday morning to Friday morning, with Busick recording a total of 29.58 inches in just 48 hours. According to the Associated Press, floodwaters pushed by the remnants of Hurricane Helene left Asheville largely cut off Saturday by damaged roads and a lack of power and cellphone service, About 20 miles southwest of Asheville, overwhelming, torrential rainfall was pushing the Lake Lure Dam into “imminent failure,” according to the National Weather Service, but Rutherford County officials said early Saturday the dam is no longer at risk. Engineers controlled the flow rate, according to Rutherford County Emergency Management, but the town is still experiencing cell and internet service issues along with roadways blocked by trees and fallen power lines.
The North Carolina Medical Society is mobilizing efforts to help
- If you are in Western North Carolina and have been impacted by Hurricane Helene, the NC Department of Public Safety has set up a web page to answer your questions on everything from open shelters, closed roads, welfare checks for family, friends, and coworkers, and what you need to do next. Click here for the latest from NCDPS.
- FEMA and other federal agencies are closely working with governments and communities to respond to Hurricane Helene. Follow directions from local officials to stay safe, as rainfall and flooding continue through multiple states. Click here for the latest from FEMA.
- If you are interested in volunteering, the NCMS is helping facilitate volunteers to help. If you are a member who wants to help, please let us know by e-mail to Rokita Pitts at [email protected].
- Donate to the NCMS Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund, which will provide grants to healthcare practices damaged or destroyed by Helene. This is a tax deductible donation.
As the floodwaters subside, the North Carolina Medical Society will continue to monitor our members and the healthcare community of North Carolina for additional needs and relief efforts. Please continue to check our website for more information as it becomes available.
NC Department of Public Safety Issues List of FAQs for Hurricane Helene
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety continues to update information for people across North Carolina with the latest on Hurricane Helene disaster recovery. Included is an extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Here is a partial list of topics:
- I have an emergency or need rescue. What can I do?
- Call 911 for any emergencies. While some 911 centers are down in western NC, their calls are being routed to other counties in central and eastern NC.
- I have questions about food, shelter, roadways, or need other general non-emergency information. Who can I call?
- You may call 211 for any non-emergency related questions.
- I have a loved one in Western NC who I cannot contact. How can I get a welfare check?
- You can call 211 to report a missing person or to request a welfare check. Please note that 211 is not an emergency processing resource and any emergencies should be routed to 911.
- Can I get around in Western NC? What are road conditions?
- If you do not need to travel for an emergency reason, stay off the roadways. You can see the current roadway conditions by visiting DriveNC.Gov.
- I cannot stay at home and need shelter. Where can I find out what to do?
- Visit ReadyNC.Gov for sheltering information and follow your local government’s social media and website for more information.
- My home or community has damage. What is next?
- Damage assessments will be scheduled with impacted communities and counties where damage to homes, structures, and public infrastructure. This begins after any flood waters have receded and active response to life-safety hazards are completed.
- How does my local government know what to do in a disaster recovery situation?
- Meetings are promptly scheduled with local jurisdictions by state officials to outline the recovery process and to plan for debris management operations as soon as emergency response efforts are completed.
- What is damage assessment and why is it important to recovery?
- The results of the damage assessments will lead to what disaster recovery avenues are eligible as outlined in state and federal law. Each state and federal disaster program are structured so that certain thresholds have to be met to determine eligibility. Damage assessments determine if those thresholds are met and what the extent on the damages are from the disaster.
For more questions and answers click here.
Helene Latest and Resources For You and Your Patients
The Death Toll Continues to Rise, NC Has Largest Number of Deaths
(CNN) -- The death toll from Helene has risen to at least 166 people across six states, according to CNN’s tally, after four more deaths were announced in Henderson County, North Carolina.
Helene is the second-deadliest hurricane to strike the US mainland in the past 50 years, following Hurricane Katrina, which killed at least 1,833 people in 2005.
Here’s the breakdown of deaths from Helene by state:
- North Carolina: 77
- South Carolina: 36
- Georgia: 25
- Florida: 17
- Tennessee: 9
- Virginia: 2
Power Outages Continue to Hamper Communications in NC
It been five days since Helene roared through parts of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic and more than 1.3 million homes and businesses in the deadly storm’s path are still without power.
A majority of these outages are in the western Carolinas where Helene caused “unprecedented destruction,” according to the region’s power provider Duke Energy.
“Major portions of the power grid… were simply wiped away,” the utility wrote in a Monday statement.
It’s going to be a long road to recovery. About half of the power outages caused by Helene in upstate South Carolina and the mountains of North Carolina, will require “a significant repair or complete rebuild of the electricity infrastructure that powers this region,” a Duke Energy statement said Tuesday.
Hundreds of thousands of people are also still without power in Georgia and outages linger in Florida, Virginia and West Virginia.
Here’s where the outages stand as of 8 a.m.:
- South Carolina: 493,000+
- Georgia: 373,000+
- North Carolina: 347,000+
- Virginia: 44,000+
- Florida: 40,000+
- West Virginia: 10,000+
How Should You Talk to Your Children and Young Patients About What is Happening
Elizabeth Hudgins, Executive Director of the North Carolina Pediatric Society shares some helpful websites with advice for young people:
AAP Parenting Resources – Information providers can share with families
- Hurricanes & Floods: Taking Care of Your Children and Yourself
- AAP Tips on Talking to a Child after a Disaster (featuring NCMS Member Dr. David Hill)
- How to Support Your Child’s Resilience in a Time of Crisis
AAP Provider Resources
- Hurricanes: Disaster Management Resources
- Flash Floods and Flood Recovery: Disaster Management Resources
- Helping Children Cope and Adjust After a Disaster
- Disasters and Children
More from NCMS:
CORRECTED DATES: Disaster Relief Applications for Health Care Professionals Not Currently Enrolled as an NC Medicaid Provider
A Message from NCTracks on Behalf of N.C. Medicaid
Note: A previous version of this email listed the dates from October 1, 2024, through October 15, 2024. Please disregard the previous version and refer to the corrected dates below:
The NC Department of Health and Human Services is committed to ensuring continued access to care for NC Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as reimbursement to qualified providers for services rendered, in good faith, throughout the period of impacts from Hurricane Helene, retroactively from September 25, 2024, through October 15, 2024, (unless otherwise communicated by DHHS).
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) granted approval effective October 1, 2024, for DHHS to implement a temporary, expedited enrollment process for health care professionals to become an NC Medicaid provider due to a natural disaster. This process is not for providers who regularly see NC Medicaid beneficiaries.
Health care professionals who will be rendering services to NC Medicaid beneficiaries due to Hurricane Helene can complete and submit an application through the NCTracks Provider Portal. Please refer to the disaster provider enrollment job aid Disaster Relief Provider Enrollment Application Job Aid (PRV703) located under Quick Links on the NCTracks Provider Enrollment home page for necessary instructions to complete the temporary disaster provider enrollment application. Be sure to review the job aid before starting to complete the application, as several preliminary steps are necessary.
Providers must indicate the application is for Disaster Relief by answering “Yes” to the Disaster Relief enrollment question on the Basic Information page of the application.
Note: This is not for providers who see NC Medicaid beneficiaries on a regular basis.
Please review North Carolina Medicaid Provider Enrollment Disaster Relief and Waiver or Modification of Requirements Under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act from the Secretary of Health and Human Services for additional information.
Information about Governor Cooper’s Declaration of a State of Emergency can be found at Governor Cooper Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Hurricane Helene.
Contact
- NCTracks Call Center: 800-688-6696
Provider Ombudsman: 866-304-7062, [email protected]
Hurricane Helene and How You Can Help. A Message from CEO Chip Baggett
A Message from NCMS CEO Chip Baggett
Who would have ever thought the perfect storm would hit our mountains? Western North Carolina is reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Infrastructure is in shambles. Entire towns have been destroyed. Our physician and PA colleagues are dealing with yet another unprecedented crisis, while many are also dealing with significant damage to their own homes. NCMS has sprung into action doing what we do best; convening, coordinating, and supporting our physicians and PAs in their role as the backbone of our communities.
What is needed right away?
First, we appreciate the immediate response from those of you willing to help in the impacted areas. As NCMS physicians or PAs, you can engage in these activities through two coordinated paths with the Office of Emergency Management.
- Option 1 is working through your hospital if you are an employed physician or PA. Hospital- to-Hospital Credentialing is the most direct way for you to be deployed to an impacted facility to provide force multiplication or relief for frontline teams. The hospitals are coordinating directly on needs and assignments with the Office of Emergency Management.
- Option 2 is for North Carolina licensed physicians and PAs who would like to serve. NCMS can facilitate that process for you by emailing Rokita Pitts at [email protected] . She will respond to you with specific instructions on how to get in the queue with Emergency Management, assist you with managing expectations, and provide a point of contact if you have any questions or are not hearing back from the State.
- A final option is for out-of-state physicians and PAs who want to help but are not licensed in NC. They will first need to apply for a Limited Volunteer License through the NC Medical Board. After receiving approval from the NC Medical Board, they can then complete this document to express interest and request assignment through NC Emergency Management.
Recovery is a long road.
The level of destruction is not yet fully realized, but the NCMS Foundation has already activated its NCMS Disaster Relief Fund. This fund is dedicated to helping community practices recover and remain in place for their communities. We provided direct funding assistance during Hurricane Florence, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and other episodic disasters. We are currently setting up a process for requests that will be published soon. We are actively seeking additional funding for what expect to be significant needs across WNC. Donate today by clicking here.
Finally, NCMS is providing ongoing coordination with our County and Specialty Society partners to assure that we are all informed and coordinated in our response to this disaster. NCMS staff are taking part in daily briefings with the State Operations Center. Volunteer leaders are stepping up to engage in recruitment and fundraising.
We are strongest when we work together in organized medicine. Thank you for trusting us to work along side you through this challenge. NCMS will be with you every step of the way.
Sincerely,
Chip