In the wake of a disaster, the people of North Carolina have always come together with compassion and courage to ask how they can help survivors.
After a disaster, because people in various communities come forward to assist family, friends and neighbors in need, there may be a belief that survivor needs are being met everywhere in the state. However, there is a shortage of volunteers particularly in the hardest-hit counties in North Carolina. Your help is needed.
There are many ways to volunteer. You can find a list of the various groups and agencies who are currently assisting survivors on the North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website at https://www.ncvoad.org. Look under Volunteer Now to find a way you can be part of the ongoing recovery effort. NC VOAD member agencies welcome the efforts of volunteers. Contact the group’s members now. Or sign up to work with our active members in disaster recovery; it lists the voluntary opportunities by county and by agency.
“North Carolinians have always gone above and beyond to help each other in times of crises,” said Mike Sprayberry, director of North Carolina Emergency Management. “Already numerous people have come forward to help those in need, but we need more. Whether it is volunteering your time or making a donation, you can make a difference in someone’s life and help our state recover.”
FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Libby Turner agreed.
“North Carolinians have a strong sense of community,” she said. “They look after one another and they certainly have demonstrated that instinct after Hurricane Matthew. However, much remains to be done; in some ways we are just getting started. Voluntary organizations are providing vital assistance to those affected by the flooding, meeting needs that are beyond what government agencies can provide, but those organizations really need more help.”
If you are unable to volunteer your time or skills, recovery officials suggest making a monetary donation to an organization involved in disaster recovery as an effective and efficient way of contributing.
Cash contributions to voluntary organizations make good sense for a number of reasons:
- Financial contributions help ensure a steady flow of important services to survivors.
- Local organizations spend the money in the local affected community, accelerating its economic recovery.
- Cash donations, rather than unsolicited donated goods, avoid the complicated, costly and time-consuming process of collecting, transporting and distributing these goods.
- Cash donations to recognized relief organizations are tax-deductible.
Gov. Pat McCrory has activated the NC Disaster Relief Fund to which monetary contributions may be made. To make a donation, visit http://ncdisasterrelief.org/.
You also may text NCRECOVERS to 30306. All donations will support Hurricane Matthew’s long-term recovery efforts in North Carolina.
Information is available under the “Hurricane Matthew – Donate Now” on the North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NCVOAD) website at https://www.ncvoad.org.
You can learn more about volunteering and its benefits by viewing a video at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/112533.
Volunteering and donating through existing channels, and making responsible decisions that do not hinder the recovery, is the best way to be of service.
For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.
###
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.
Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.