Community Health Centers and Hurricane Helene

NACHC is tracking the rapidly evolving situation in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. In Western North Carolina, catastrophic conditions are being reported and federal officials have declared a Public Health Emergency. The Department of Health and Human Services said its Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) was moving equipment and deploying rough 200 personnel to North Carolina to help address the impact on the ground, according to a press release.

The North Carolina Community Health Center Association (NCCHCA) is among the first responders and is coordinating outreach to the 13 health centers located across the 25 disaster counties.

On their webpage documenting Helene Recovery Resources, NCCHCA also posted this message:

"As reports come in from our Community Health Center organizations and NCCHCA staff, we are devastated by the destruction left by Helene throughout Western NC. Many are left without water, power, cell service, passable roads, or the medications or oxygen you may need. We're holding you in our thoughts and beginning to coordinate with partners on recovery support for our members."

North Carolina Community Health Center Association

Health centers that are in a position to help are already doing so.

Wilkes Hill Health Center, located in Wilkesboro, NC, near Boone, has opened a shelter where evacuees from surrounding counties and Wilkes County are staying. "Many residents have lost their homes, their power, or their car - it difficult to assess at this stage all they have lost. We are distributing baby items, hygiene kits, bottled water, whatever they need," Rachel Willard, CEO and Health Director. "Anyone can come to the shelter to take a shower, charge their phones, grab a bite to eat, whatever they need we are here to help them."

"Our goal is to reach out and mitigate impact and effects of this natural disaster on health centers and the population they serve to ensure essential continuity of care," says Taina Lopez, Director of Emergency Management, NACHC. "NACHC has communicated with our primary care association partners in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina and we are coordinating with federal and NGO partners to advance resources and assistance where they are needed.

The biggest needs identified on the ground are:

• Water
• Oxygen
• Baby Formula
• Financial assistance for response/ recovery and rebuilding
• Transportation
• Medications
• Power Sources
• Restoration of cellular service or satellite phones for critical communications.

In Tennessee NACHC learned that Rural Medical Services, which has multiple facilities, has been affected, including at one site that does not have water.

Despite severe flooding and roadway damage, the central operations of Cherokee Health Systems (CHS), remain intact and able to help. CHS, a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves more than 65,900 patients a year, is dispatching mobile units to affected communities in Cocke County. They are also planning to send units to other surrounding rural areas to reach people who have limited access to health services and medicine. The health center is also coordinating with FEMA/TEMA and several relief agencies to bring as many resources as possible, including hygiene kits, food, water, and medical supplies, to impacted communities.

"Cherokee Health Systems is privileged to be able to be part of the response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene," said Parinda Khatri, PhD, CEO of CHS . "Our mobile clinics are going to remote communities of the affected areas to bring water, food, supplies, medicines, and healthcare where we are needed the most. Like all health centers, we are here for the immediate needs now and for ongoing needs in the future. We are part of this community and are committed to its long-term wellbeing and growth."

The Health Resources and Services Administration issued information and guidance to health centers impacted by the disaster. They are also granting a deadline extension for New Access Point applications for organizations unable to submit an application. Health centers must contact [email protected] with the 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 they can reach you.

NACHC will continue to update this developing story.

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