Welcome to RCDRC.com your 24 hour online resource for news and updates about Robeson County's official Long-term Recovery Group [LTRG} and ongoing disaster recovery efforts.
RCDRC is happy to announce that we are now able to accept donations via the web through a Secure Online gateway provided by Church World Service, Inc. CWS serves as our fiscal agent, and as such, CWS accepts contributions, gifts and grants for the Robeson County Disaster Recovery Committee. [RCDRC]
March 23, 2020
As Robeson County’s long-term disaster recovery coalition, we’re closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19. In response to those who are directly affected by the illness, and others who are dealing with loss of employment, and changes in their school, community and work environments so soon after the impacts of Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Dorian, and Hurricane Florence we stand ready to provide support during these difficult times.
We believe that our role is crucial and one that must be guided by compassion for the underserved and most vulnerable populations in Robeson County. That is why our first response was to mitigate an increase in mental health trauma due to uncertainties and rumors of misinformation regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. We continued to educate, equip, and elevate our communities amid chaos and confusion by sharing relevant and reliable information regarding COVID-19 and supplying N95 masks, gloves, and antibacterial wipes to the communities we serve regularly.
Mitigation
To prevent/reduce overcrowded hospitals/clinics in Robeson County, we distributed 3,024 N95 masks, gloves, and some antibacterial wipes to individuals and families who reside in the poorest county in North Carolina and the least healthy in the state. While many may have felt that these supplies could have been better used by healthcare staff and workers, we felt that by providing education regarding the proper use of PPE and sharing the CDC’s and WHO’s guidance on protecting ourselves from contracting the virus, we were able to do our part in helping to flatten the curve to prevent or reduce the influx of hospitalizations that we are not equipped or prepared to handle in such a poor county.
Recovery Assistance
While we are doing everything we can, to protect our communities and staff, we understand the frustration that is evident due to the slow progress on this long road to recovery. However, in accordance with our guidance from our governor, RCDRC’s office will not be open to the public due to COVID-19. We will aid our clients via telephone and electronic messaging until further notice. For those who may suffer challenges/barriers as a result of this method, we will arrange alternative methods that will not compromise safety, privacy and security.
Meetings
Our regularly scheduled long term recovery meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 2pm at 710 Town Common St. Lumberton NC and by video or telephonic conferencing moving forward. We will keep you updated regarding this.
Community Distributions
Any community distributions we host moving forward will be drive thru only until further notice.
Address
We have updates to our address. Our current physical address is still the same at 802 N. Cedar St. Lumberton, NC 28358; however, we now have a PO Box and that address is PO Box 1142 Lumberton, NC 28359.
Support
As Executive Director of RCDRC, Inc., the actions we have taken in the past have led us to where we are presently, and where we are going in the future. I am proud to say that we are the only Long-Term Disaster Recovery Organization in North Carolina that when faced with this new disaster called COVID-19 pandemic, had in stock a large supply of N95 masks, gloves, and wipes to immediately respond and provide relief as a result of our preparedness efforts. I say this not to boast, but to encourage my fellow colleagues to support your long-term recovery organizations for they serve as lifelines in the communities we serve. Specifically, we ask our coalition partners, stakeholders, and friends everywhere to make a donation to support RCDRC, Inc. online today at www.rcdrc.com. This is the only way we can continue to prepare and stand ready for what may come our way.
The plates are $8 and come with your choice of pulled pork in three flavors: Sweet Hawaiian, Spicy Korean, or Memphis Style. You can also choose a pulled barbecue chicken plate. The plates come with baked beans and coleslaw. Soft drinks or bottled water is $1.
You can pre-order and pay for quick pickup by calling 910-370-1648. Due to limited parking this will be a drive thru event!!!! Everyone come out and support long term recovery in Robeson County!!!!! If you just want to make a donation you can come by and make a donation or click here to make an online donation. Thanks in advance, and see you Friday!
Hurricane Recovery in North Carolina on the Anniversary of Hurricane Florence - Nearly a year after Hurricane Florence hit, Governor Roy Cooper has updated the state on the progress of the recovery as North Carolinians recover from three deadly storms in three years.
By Greg Barnes, NC Health News Network | 9.6.19
It’s been three years since Hurricane Matthew crashed into Robeson County, causing water to bubble up through the plumbing of Isa Alvarado’s mobile home and leaving behind a mold-infested mess.
Alvardo’s story is all too familiar in Robeson and other counties that were hardest hit by Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.
Campbell said there are thousands of others in the county who need help. Some are still living in conditions that are just as bad, or worse, than what Alvarado experienced. Some, Campbell said, are still homeless because of the hurricanes. Others have moved away.
Whether you’re preparing for the unexpected or recovering from it, your reassurance and comfort hold great power to soothe children even on the scariest, toughest days.
By Adam Wagner, Raleigh News & Observer | 8.25.19
Highlights:
“The children tend to fare better when there’s an extended support system than when they’re left alone with their parents to figure out where they’re going to get food or clothing, whether they’re going to have a bed to sleep on or a couch,” Campbell said.
“It’s hard for a parent to try to explain to (their children) what has happened,” Campbell said, “and it’s hard for children to understand how their lives have been ripped apart by a disaster. ... You don’t know what their little minds can take and what they’re feeling about that day.”
By Adam Wagner, Raleigh News & Observer | 6.21.19
The Robeson County Disaster Recovery Committee is one of the nonprofits helping residents who are continuing to struggle, offering case management for those affected by the floods. In addition to referring people to Hope 4 NC , the organization also deals with needs such as food and housing.
“When you experience a disaster, a lot of times it’s not [just] like your physical house is turned upside down, it’s like your whole life is turned upside down,” said Jay Leggette, a case manager with the organization.
Leggette said an unmet needs assessment is critical to helping him and other case managers develop long-term plans that can vary widely from person to person, allowing both the survivor and the case work to understand the entire situation and what resources may be available.
For instance, if a homeowner reports a leaking roof, Leggette will likely refer them to someone who can tarp the roof. But he would also make a referral to a mold remediation service to prevent spores from taking hold in the house.
“The value of a long-term recovery plan,” Leggette said, “is not to have a survivor [just] focus on ‘Z,’ but to have a survivor focus on ‘A to Z.’”
Photo by: NASA
As we all continue to monitor Dorian may we also continue to ensure that we are encouraging each other along the way. Like many of you we will continue to post and share updates on our official website and social media accounts.
RCDRC will host the next monthly Long-Term Recovery Group Meeting on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 from 2:00 pm to 3:00pm in the Fellowship Hall at West Lumberton Baptist Church on 2320 W 5th Street, Lumberton, NC 28358. Click here for driving directions
Please be advised that Robeson County Shelters opened at 7:00pm on Wednesday August 4, 2019 at Lumberton Senior High School and Purnell Swett. For transportation to shelters please call SEATS at 910-272-5873. For more information about the local, state, and federal response to Dorian in Robeson County please link to the key resources below:
As we have all learned from the past preparedness requires all of us to take a few basic steps to ensure that we are ready for disaster. Simple things like making sure that we have:
Mike Sprayberry [ Director of NC Emergency Management ] and Stephanie Chavis [ Director of Robeson County Emergency Management ] share why cross sector collaboration and community engagement events like the 2019 Robeson County Disaster Preparedness Expo held on Saturday August 17, 2019 are so important. Approximately 700 people were in attendance. A very special thank to all of the sponsors, vendors, panelists, volunteers, staff, and community members who worked together to make the first Disaster Preparedness Expo in Robeson County a huge success! To learn more about how you can prepare for disaster please visit https://www.rcdrc.com/resources
"Dont' be caught unprepared, Learn what our Whole Community must do TOGETHER before the Next Disaster Strikes!"
RCDRC, Robeson County Emergency Management, The City of Lumberton, Nirvana Healng Ministries, & Robeson Community College are sponsoring the 2019 Robeson County Disaster Preparedness Expo on Saturday August 17, 2019 from 9am - 2pm. This community outreach and engagement event will feature: the distribution of free school supplies [ while supplies last}; interactive games; Disaster Preparedness & Disaster Recovery Workshops & Information; a Q & A Panel Discussion with local, state, regional and federal recovery stakeholders; bouncy houses; vendors; recovery updates; food; a dynamic, inspirational message focused on teamwork, and the power of collaboration and faith by retired NFL Star Rev. Leonard Henry; and loads of fun for the whole family! American Sign Language Interpreters and Language Interpreters will be onsite. The general public and our whole community throughout the region and state is invited to attend!
Click here to download and print flier.
Click here to download image that you can share on your social media platforms and websites.
If your organization would like to be a vendor and provide relevant resources please:
1, Click here to complete the online Vendor Registration Form;
2. Download this waiver, complete it, and email it renewrobeson@rcdrc.com
Extreme heat events in the United States are already occurring and expected to become more common, more severe, and longer-lasting as our climate changes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed this booklet to identify steps that you can take now to prepare for an extreme heat event—and to help your families, friends, and neighbors, too.
Extreme heat causes more deaths than any other weather-related hazard—more than hurricanes, tornadoes, or flooding. In addition, thousands of people who are exposed to extreme heat seek medical treatment each year. In fact, each summer more than 65,000 Americans on average visit an emergency room for acute heat illness.
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 11:52 AM
Highlights:
“North Carolinians working to recover from disasters like Florence and Michael have been waiting too long for Washington to act,” Gov. Cooper said. “I’m disappointed North Carolinians continue to wait for much-needed relief, and I urge the House to swiftly pass this legislation as soon as possible.”
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019
DURHAM, N.C. – Hurricane season begins June 1. Taking steps now to prepare your family, home and business can make a big difference.
RALEIGH − The deadline to apply for Hurricane Matthew single-family housing recovery assistance through the ReBuild NC program is Friday, May 31. This is the last opportunity for eligible North Carolinians to apply for aid through the state’s Hurricane Matthew Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding. The program offers eligible homeowners funds for reimbursement of work completed and rehabilitation or reconstruction of substantially damaged homes.
NCDHHS | The best defense against arboviral infections is to avoid mosquito bites. To protect yourself and your family against mosquito bites. Click here to learn to more!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2019
NCDPS.gov | RALEIGH− The N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency has named three experts to lead the state’s initiative to help storm-impacted communities rebuild smarter and stronger in the face of future natural disasters and long-term climate change.
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019
NCDPS.gov | RALEIGH − Gov. Cooper released the following statement today on North Carolina receiving $336.5 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding to assist communities struggling to rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Florence.
Govenor.nc.gov | MONDAY, MAY 13, 2019 4:01 PM
Highlights
Eight North Carolina communities hit hard by storms will get $2.7 million in special housing infrastructure grants to help develop more affordable housing, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.
Funds will go to build infrastructure needed to develop affordable housing in Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Greenville, Havelock, Jacksonville, New Bern, Ayden and St. Pauls.
NCDHHS.gov FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019
Highlights:
“The cost of doing nothing is not nothing,” John Owen, mental health consumer, told Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D, at a roundtable to discuss the impact of untreated behavioral health on communities and the challenges of accessing care for those who need it. He called on legislators to follow the lead of 37 other states and expand Medicaid.
“We spend a lot of resources on moments of crisis and not nearly enough on prevention or supporting people in living full and productive lives,” said Kody H. Kinsley, DHHS Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health & Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. “Medicaid expansion would go a long way toward our goal of providing the right care, at the right time, in the right setting.”
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019
With multiple measles outbreaks occurring in the United States, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging preventive measures and reminding everyone that vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against measles.
WTVD-TV May 8, 2019 RALEIGH-- Hidden mold and water damage that could cost you thousands to repair may be hiding inside your home. Besides costly repairs to your home, the mold could also be a health hazard.
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019
NCDPS.gov | RALEIGH− Eligible North Carolinians whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Matthew have until May 31 to apply with ReBuild NC for help with repairs or rebuilding. The help comes from single-family housing recovery programs available through the state’s Hurricane Matthew Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding.
NCDHHS WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019 - As warmer weather arrives in North Carolina, the Division of Aging and Adult Services is partnering with the N.C. Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers to distribute fans to eligible recipients through Operation Fan Heat Relief May 1 – Oct. 31. As individuals age and develop chronic medical conditions, they are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature. They may also be taking medications that can worsen the impact of extreme heat. Operation Fan Heat Relief helps vulnerable adults at risk for heat-related illnesses stay safe during the summer.
Friday, April 26, 2019
SPRING LAKE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Regina Evans thought she could wait out the process. Not anymore. "If we continue to wait, we're going to be in debt so far we won't be able to come out of it," Evans told ABC11. "We want to come home."
Govenor.nc.gov | TUESDAY, APR 16, 2019 2:32 PM
Governor Roy Cooper today visited Rempac Foam Corporation’s manufacturing facility in Lumberton, where he announced a grant to help protect the business and its jobs from future floods and discussed ongoing efforts to rebuild from Hurricane Florence.
TUESDAY, APR 16, 2019 10:54 AM
Highlights:
More families will soon be able to return home while they work to rebuild from Hurricane Florence thanks to an extension of a program to provide partial housing repairs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.
The original STEP program provided repairs to homes with up to $17,000 in damage. The 202 homes included in the second phase of STEP applied for the original program but had slightly more damage. North Carolina Emergency Management stepped in using state funds to include these additional homes.
Work crews from Baptists on Mission, the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and four general contracting companies are currently making repairs to the 202 homes in Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender and Robeson counties.
North Carolina is waiting for notification from Washington on another major program that will help with Hurricane Florence housing recovery, the federal Community Development Block Grant−Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The American Red Cross will provide CAN Training on May 3, 2019 at the Robeson County Emergency Operation Center (EOC) on 38 Legend Rd, Lumberton, NC from 10:00AM – 12:00PM. This training is only available to Disaster Case Managers who are providing direct client assistance for Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. Registration is Required, please click here to register.
NCCommunityFoundation.org | Eligible students are attending or planning to attend an institution of higher learning in the immediately following year and resided in areas impacted by Hurricanes Florence or Matthew. Applicants will be considered based on the severity of the impact of the disaster on their lives, their financial need, and how they have demonstrated resilience in overcoming obstacles related to the disaster. Click here to Learn More!
Eastpointe.net | Dr. Jeffrey Mitchell, clinical professor of Emergency Health Services at the University of Maryland, will present “Shine A Light on Crisis Intervention,” a workshop for first responders, caregivers, and others who would like crisis intervention training (CIT). This event is sponsored by Southeastern Health, the Southeastern Health Foundation, Eastpointe and Robeson Community College.
This free workshop will be presented twice, on May 10 and 11, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the BB&T Workforce Development Center on the campus of Robeson Community College. First responders who attend will be eligible for six hours of CU credit from RCC. Registration is required prior to attendance. Click here to learn more!
CNN.com 4.9.2019 | Highlights:
The number of children and teens in the United States who visited emergency rooms for suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts doubled between 2007 and 2015, according to a new analysis.
Kids are feeling more pressure to achieve, more pressure in school, and are more worried about making a living than in previous years," he said.
Parents and caregivers are also more stressed, Beresin said, adding that rates of suicides have increased in all age groups over the past 20 years and that the stress is passed down to children and teens. [ Click here to Learn More ]
The Dialogue is a quarterly newsletter developed by SAMHSA for disaster behavioral health coordinators, local service providers, federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. The latest newsletter "Disaster Apps, Tools, and Technology " features a wealth of relevant disaster behavioral health resources like the "Help Kids Cope" app and the "Suicide Safe" app. Click here to Learn More!
Other Relevant Links:
DTAC - Disaster Technical Assistance
SAMHSA’s free mobile apps offer easy access to treatment and prevention tools for opioid use disorder, suicide, bullying, disaster response, and underage drinking. Learn how you can help spread the word about SAMHSA’s mobile apps.
NIH.gov | In March, NIEHS Worker Training Program (WTP) grantee the International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC) delivered mold remediation training in Robeson County, North Carolina. The training built on a partnership between ICWUC and the Robeson County Disaster Recovery Committee (RCDRC) that was established as part of Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts in 2016. Click here to Learn More! RCDRC in partnership with ICWUC conducted a free mold train the trainer class on July 24-28, 2023 and a free CPR/AED/First Aid and OSHA 10hr training on August 14-16, 2023 in Robeson County at Chestnut St. Methodist Church. The training is a part of RCDRC's resiliency trainings throughout Robeson and surrounding counties. RCDRC continues to maintain MERC (mold education resource center) serving as a tool lending library to disaster survivors in Robeson County in partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill.
Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) is arranging a community forum on March 16, 2019 in New Bern, NC from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The focus is on how Hurricane Florence affected people with disabilities, as well as people with access & functional needs before, during and after the disaster. Keynote speakers at the forum will be Marcie Roth, CEO, Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies and former director, Office of Disability Integration and Coordination at the US Dept. of Homeland Security/FEMA; and Sheri Badger, disability integration specialist, North Carolina Emergency Management.
RCDRC News - January 23, 2019 | Please be advised that Temporary Relocation Assistance (TRA) for eligible households that have been approved for construction projects through the Community Development Block Grant - DR [ or CDBG-DR Matthew ] is finally available. The TRA/URA SOP was posted online yesterday at 12:58 PM. To learn more contact our local Rebuild NC office.
WBTW, Jan 4, 2019
Highlights:
A seven-figure contract to help repair homes damaged by Hurricane Florence was cancelled in late December, a little more than a month after it was awarded, due to errors in the procurement process.
North Carolina Emergency Management awarded a contract to AECOM to administer a program funded by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency called the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power Program.
The program, more commonly known as STEP, was designed to make minor and temporary repairs to people’s storm-damaged homes to allow them to move back in.
The decision in the Hurricane Florence-related contract for the STEP program is the second time in 2018 questions have been raised about the way in which NCEM awarded a contract for hurricane relief.
In July, a WBTV investigation uncovered efforts by senior NCEM officials to alter bid documents for a large federal contract to fund recovery efforts for Hurricane Matthew.
An NCEM spokesman issued the following statement in response to a request for an interview for this story: “North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) continues to work with volunteer organizations currently repairing homes to ensure the NC Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) program moves forward without interruption, enabling eligible homeowners impacted by Hurricane Florence to return to their homes as quickly as possible.”
WSOC-TV : October 17, 2017 | Video: The flooding from Hurricane Matthew may be long gone, but the storm’s destruction is still felt every day. Eyewitness News reporter Ken Lemon returned to eastern North Carolina one year later and found the area is just starting to recover.
Stephanie Chavis, emergency services director for Robeson County, said there are instances in which people can't afford to rebuild. “(The) tax value on that home may have gone down over time," Chavis said. Those people who have relocated have lost almost everything in their homes, and there is a great need for new or slightly used furniture.
New local government groups are now set up to help people replace all that was washed away, but it's hard to keep up.
WBTW News 13: October 9, 2017 | On Sunday, The Robeson County Disaster Recovery Committee hosted a one-year anniversary event to remember the destruction of Hurricane Matthew. Residents and several others gathered together to sing, rejoice and remember the damage done by Hurricane Matthew. [ Learn more ]
Robesonian - August 10, 2017 | " Lumberton can expect another disaster similar to Hurricane Matthew. That was the message given to Lumberton City Council Wednesday by a consultant working on the city’s Hurricane Matthew Disaster Recovery and Resilience Initiative plan. “There will be another disaster. I bet my life on it,” said Lincoln Walther, a veteran hurricane recovery consultant from Florida. “I bet you will be hit again in 30 years.”
Ms. Cassandra Campbell [ Executive Director, RCDRC ] helped to spread the news that "Every Disaster Survivor Needs a Disaster Case Manager" on WAGR 1340 AM during an interview with Rev. Matthews and Rev. Alford.
The on air segment featured a relevant, thoughtful Q & A session on variety of disaster recovery topics including home repair and rebuild efforts, emotional distress, mold growth in homes and apartments, services for the elderly and disabled, options available to home owners and renters, volunteer opportunities, ongoing and emerging unmet needs and more! [ Learn More ]
"Libby Turner, a FEMA coordinating officer, said her agency will work closely with the tribe in developing long-term planning for hurricane recovery and bringing in the resources to meet local needs." “We work in partnerships, and that includes philanthropy, foundations and volunteers,” she said. Turner said that FEMA places an emphasis on determining and addressing the needs of individual communities. “We try to understand the needs of the community and not just provide the assistance that law requires,” she said. [ Learn More! ]
WBTW.com | "The University of North Carolina is conducting a study in Robeson and Cumberland Counties to understand how Hurricane Matthew affected residents. If you lived in either county during the hurricane, you’re 18 and older and you can speak English, you’re eligible to participate. The online survey will take less than 15 minutes and is anonymous. Information gathered will help develop resources to address future NC disasters."
Govenor.NC.gov | More than 300 FEMA employees are still in North Carolina working closely with NC Emergency Management officials and local partners to help families and communities recover from Matthew. Gov. Cooper continues to work with the state’s congressional delegation to secure more recovery help for North Carolina.
Extreme heat events in the United States are already occurring and expected to become more common, more severe, and longer-lasting as our climate changes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed this booklet to identify steps that you can take now to prepare for an extreme heat event—and to help your families, friends, and neighbors, too.
