Posted October 1, 2024
Granville County government and community organizations local and across the state are assisting with the response to Hurricane Helene, which has created a catastrophic situation in western North Carolina. A major disaster declaration has been enacted for 25 western NC counties plus the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian, which allows resources to flow to this region much more quickly and providing reimbursements to local governments for disaster response costs.
Listed below are ways that local community groups and Granville County government are assisting our neighbors in western NC, as well as ways the community can be involved with donations and volunteer opportunities:
– The morning of September 27, Granville County 911 Emergency Communications Center was notified that emergency calls from western North Carolina were being routed to 911 centers across the state due to the significant damage these counties were experiencing. Granville County 911 has been receiving all 911 calls from Mitchell County and has been dispatching critical life-saving emergency response to Mitchell’s 15,000 residents. On that first day, approximately 25% percent of calls fielded by Granville County 911 were from Mitchell County. In the following days, the calls have slightly decreased to approximately 15% of incoming calls for Granville 911. Mitchell County is still waiting for power restoration, so their calls will continue to be routed to our 911 center.
– On September 29, the Granville County Sheriff’s Office began collecting supplies requested by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. The GCSO was able to fill a large vehicle full of needed supplies and began the journey west the morning of September 30.
– On September 30, the Granville County Fire Chief’s Association and the Granville County Firemen’s Association began collecting supplies in large trailers at the EmergeOrtho parking lot at 107 East McClanahan Street in Oxford, across from the Oxford Fire Department. Volunteers are collecting supplies until each trailer is full, which will then be transported to wherever it is most needed by emergency responders. The items of greatest need include bottled water, prepackaged food, baby food, baby formula, pet food (dog and cat), diapers, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hand sanitizer.
– North Carolina Emergency Management issued a call for qualified emergency responders to take volunteer shifts in the disaster areas. Granville County Emergency Management Director Jason Reavis travelled to McDowell County on September 30 as part of an Incident Management Team composed of emergency responders from Granville, Alamance, Currituck, and Johnston counties along with staff from the City of Wilmington and the Town of Oak Island. Deputy Animal Management Director Carlos Landreau will travel with a group of animal rescue staff from Person County to be deployed where they are needed the most.
– Governor Roy Cooper has activated the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund in conjunction with North Carolina United Way. Funds will only be used for disaster response and recovery in North Carolina. Visit the United Way website to securely donate to the rescue and relief operations. Funds can be targeted to a specific county or used wherever they are needed the most.
-The State of North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is also accepting donations at this link.
– VolunteerNC is looking for volunteers to serve North Carolina in the disaster areas. Those interested in volunteering at shelters, home repair/rebuilding, receiving and organizing donations, and/or registering volunteers can supply their information to the NC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NCVOAD) registry at this link.
– To donate funds to the NCVOAD, visit their website.
– To donate food or volunteer at a food bank in the disaster areas (or locally), visit the volunteer opportunities for feeding assistance website from the State of North Carolina.