One of the many challenges that the High Country faces right now as it recovers from Hurricane Helene is managing the countless amounts of debris – whether its located on the street, on people’s properties, or other areas. I have heard from many who are looking for resources and information on debris management, and below I’ve listed some helpful and verified sources.
Crisis Cleanup (844-965-1386) offers free services such as cutting fallen trees, tarping roofs, and mitigating mold. Their hotline is open until next Friday, and by calling, you can connect with volunteers from local relief organizations, community organizations, and the faith-based organizations who may be able to assist you.
Your county’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) can also provide additional information on debris removal. For your convenience, the EMS phone numbers for each of the counties in the 5th District are listed below:
Alleghany County: 336-372-6220
Ashe County: 336-846-5521
Avery County: 828-733-8210
Caldwell County: 828-757-1419
Davie County: 336-753-6160
Forsyth County: 336-917-7070
Mitchell County: 828-688-4771
Stokes County: 336-593-5409
Surry County: 336-783-9000
Watauga County: 828-795-1970
Wilkes County: 336-651-7305
Yadkin County: 336-849-7902
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety has released information related to debris cleanup guidelines and best practices. From documenting damage to belongings to best practices during the cleanup process, this webpage offers a variety of different tips that many people need to know about.
More Helpful Resources
In addition to the disaster and recovery information that I list and regularly update on my website, below are some additional sources that I believe are helpful for people to know about:
Ashe County Information
Avery County Information
Caldwell County Information
Mitchell County Information
Watauga County Information
Wilkes County Information
Assisting Hurricane Helene Victims
Recently, I joined members of the North Carolina delegation in sending a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell requesting that the Greensboro Influx Care Facility (ICF) be used to help victims of Hurricane Helene. Here is a short excerpt from our letter:
Based on our understanding of this facility, we think that it could be incredibly useful in supporting the people of western North Carolina as the region recovers from Hurricane Helene. To the best of our knowledge, GCC has hundreds of beds, as well as extensive facilities for medical care, meals, and education. We believe that this ICF could be repurposed to support the state’s rescue and recovery efforts.
To read more about our letter, click here.
Have a blessed weekend,
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