Join us at the next LTRG Meeting! 

We are now meeting quarterly!  Our meetings have been virtual and in person since  the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 2 pm . This will be our annual meeting. Location TBD.   


What are LTRG Meetings?

RCDRC, Inc. is the Long-Term Recovery Organization in Robeson County, NC recognized and vetted by FEMA, NCVOAD, and NC Emergency Management.  We convene long term recovery meetings which provide an opportunity for diverse stakeholders and community members to work together, learn together, share ideas, and grow together in an environment that focuses on developing our county's and state's capacity to effectively and efficiently address immediate, short term and long-term unmet needs related to natural or man-made disasters.   The public is invited to attend our meetings. 

If your agency or organization is interested in providing an educational workshop, presentation or training session during one of our upcoming meetings, or if you are interested in serving as a volunteer on one of our LTRG Committees, Subcommittees, or Work-groups call 910-370-1648. 

What  is a LONG-TERM RECOVERY GROUP (LTRG)?  

A Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) is a cooperative body that is made up of representatives from faith-based,  non-profit, government, business and other organizations working within a community to assist individuals and families as they recover from disaster.

Source: NCVOAD Long-term Recovery Orientation


CWS Webinar:  "Long Term Recovery Basics" 

This webinar covers a wide range of topics designed to help communities rebuild and recover after a disaster. Presented by CWS Emergency Response Specialist Susanne Gilmore, it is useful for clergy, lay leaders and staff of any other organization who may provide disaster response or recovery assistance to people affected by disaster.

Long Term Recovery Group Models

Long-term Recovery Committee (LTRC) – a formal organization made up of members of the community it serves; representing business and financial leadership, local media, community and faith-based groups, non-profit/civic organizations and city and county governments. The purpose is to coordinate and communicate the individual efforts of these - by leveraging a limited supply of resources to maximize and sustain the recovery process but INDIVIDUALLY address survivor needs.


Long-term Recovery Organization (LTRO) – a coalition or organization with formal structure;  community organizations working as a single entity to bring resources to bear on the disaster-related needs.  The purpose is to coordinate and communicate the efforts of these groups by leveraging a limited supply of resources to maximize and sustain the recovery process by COLLECTIVELY addressing survivor needs.    Source: UnitedWayNC.org |  Long Term Recovery Organization 


In other words,  a LTRG is a community based organization that encourages diverse stakeholders from all sectors to come to table  in order to nurture the development of a holistic, comprehensive, humanitarian disaster recovery strategy through a "Whole Community Approach."     

Simply put and as previously discussed:   integrating  this caliber of an "All hands on deck" approach to disaster recovery develops an all inclusive  system of  shared responsibility, accountability, collaboration, cooperation, communication,  management and problem solving that is beautifully demonstrated in the "Action Cycle" and "Action Center" featured on CountyHealthRankings.org   


FEMA PrepTalks:  "Social Capital in Disaster Mitigation and Recovery"


Dr. Daniel Aldrich explains how social ties are the critical aspect of resilience in immediate survival, in mental health, and in community recovery.  Despite common assumptions that money,  governance, level of damage, and inequality are the most important determinants of recovery, Aldrich demonstrates that “disaster resilience comes from internal factors:  How connected are we?   How much trust do we have in each other?   How often do we work together?” 

“Like two individuals exposed to the same disease,  recovery may have more to do with the quality of the host than the nature of the illness.  Communities with more trust, civic engagement, and stronger networks can better bounce back after a crisis than fragmented, isolated ones”    – D. Aldrich.    “Fixing Recovery: Social Capital in Post-Crisis Resilience 

RCDRC Members, Stakeholders, Strategic Partners, & Participants

RCDRC consists of diverse members, stakeholders, and partners who work collaboratively to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and man-made disasters.

 In the wake of Hurricanes Matthew and Florence our efforts are currently focused on addressing a myriad of ongoing and emerging long-term recovery needs.

We are currently focusing on long term recovery for Hurricane Florence, Tropical Storm Debby, and Hurricane Helene. 

Our growing list of members, stakeholders, strategic partners, and  sponsors  include:  

Church World Service,  Center For Disaster Philanthropy, Good360, United Cajun Navy, Stephens Outreach, Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare, Commissioner Pauline Campbell, LOTHS, Annie Lemon, Center Missionary Baptist Church, The Rock Church in Raeford, NC, Frye Chapel, Lisa Douglas, Star of Bethlehem Church, Ted and Jean Crow, Walter Smith,  Twenty Strong Men, Inc., Greater New Bethel, St. James Missionary Baptist Church,, Buffalo Springs Missionary Baptist Church, American Indian Mothers, Inc. , Amber Locklear, Gwen Dixon-Coe, CYAA, Cromartie Temple, Representative Garland Pierce, Former Representative Charles Graham,  Matthew 25, The Anonymous Trust, Mercy Corps, NCVOAD, The American Red Cross, FEMA, NC Emergency Management, NCORR, NC Baptist Men, UMCOR, Team Rubicon,  First Baptist Church (7th & Walnut), Hyde Park Baptist Church, The Burnt Swamp Association, Chestnut St. Methodist Church,  SONRISE Outreach Ministries, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Services Carolinas,  Quilts 2 Heal, NIEHS, International Chemical Workers Union, NCDHHS, NC DPH: Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology, NC Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, UNC-Pembroke, Hurricane Matthew Disaster Recovery and Resilience Initiative (HMDRRI) - Center for Natural Hazards Resilience - UNC Chapel Hill, Apples - UNC Chapel Hill, The Public Schools of Robeson County, Robeson Community College,  UNC Health Southeastern, Suds of Love Truck, McCormick Chapel AME Church, Irma Trantham, Naketa CDC, LLC, The Robeson County Health Department,  City of Lumberton, City of Lumberton Housing Authority, City of Lumberton Parks and Recreation, Life Opportunities Therapeutic Home Services, The Robeson County Department of Social Services, Robeson County Government, Robeson County Emergency Services, Southeastern Community & Family Services, City of Lumberton; Town of Fairmont, Town of Red Springs, Town of Rowland, The Lumbee Tribe, Smithfield Foods,  Rockhill Missionary Baptist Church, Old Main Pharmacy, SEATS,  Eastpointe Behavioral Services, RHA, Riverbend Services, Robeson County Family Counseling Hope 4 NC, Rebuild NC - Robeson County Rebuild NC - Robeson County,  Lumber River Council of Governments, Hope 4 NC,  Bethany Presbyterian, Leon Burden; Christian Aid Ministries;   the community, and many other local, regional, state, and national recovery stakeholders.

CWS: Who does what in disaster recovery?

Learn about the organizations that aid in disaster relief and recovery.  The organizations shown are just a few of the hundreds of the hundreds of great agencies and their many thousands of staff and volunteers dedicated to aiding the survivors of disaster. 

Our  LTRG's Organizational  Structure

The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) highlights that every good Long Term Recovery Group [LTRG] includes the following components:

Our  LTRG includes all of the basic components recommended by NVOAD.    However, unlike other LTRG’s our Disaster Case Management Committee is made up of two distinct parts:   


The Case Review Committee & the Disaster Case Management Round Table

RCDRC’s Case Review Committee is the component of our organization that serves the function that other Long Term Recovery Groups may refer to as the Unmet Needs Committee.   In a nutshell, RCDRC's  Case Review Committee is a funding table where diverse organizations that have direct access to financial resources and other relevant assets consider well developed, vetted cases presented by Disaster Case Managers.  The Case Review Committee consists of members and non-members who focus on meeting the unmet needs of eligible disaster survivors who have been served by the Disaster Case Management process through genuine Disaster Case Management providers.  


Unlike the Disaster Case Management Round-table held during public LTRG meetings and workshops where Disaster Case Managers (DCM's) explore a range of diverse opportunities, gaps, strategies, lessons learned, and  best practices in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the services they provide, the Case Review Committee meets in a private, closed environment where DCM's individually identify the specific unmet needs of the clients that they represent while presenting a tangible, credible, eligible, verifiable, and reasonable case for funding before a review board of potential funders. 

Unmet Needs Committee & Subcommittees

Unlike other LTRG’s, our Unmet Needs Committee is not a funding table and does not review cases.   Instead, our Unmet Needs Committee consists of 3 distinct Unmet Needs Subcommittees that focus on: 



Collectively the Unmet Needs Committee, Subcommittees, and attached work-groups focus on identifying gaps, opportunities, and solutions.   Through this component our diverse members, stakeholders, strategic partners, and participants develop strategies, user-friendly consumer information,  and a menu specific referral options that can address  disaster related and recovery related unmet needs through the myriad of relevant services and resources that are available to eligible disaster survivors via our collaborative network. 


Emotional & Spiritual Care


The Emotional & Spiritual Care Unmet Needs Subcommittee focuses on "addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of individuals, families and community,  and can kindle important capacities of hope and resilience.”   Members of this Unmet Needs Subcommittee include diverse churches and faith-based organizations,  clergy and congregants, as well as other agencies, organizations, and individuals who share an interest in this focus area.    

Public Health 


Following a disaster there a variety of emerging and ongoing public health and continuity of care dimensions that should be considered and addressed in order to support and nurture both short-term long-term recovery efforts.   

Doing so is especially critical in our communities since Robeson was listed as the most unhealthy county in the state according the 2018 County Health Rankings and has traditionally received among the lowest Health Factors and Health Outcomes rankings over the last several years.   As such, the role of this sub-committee and its attached work-groups is to identify gaps, challenges, obstacles, barriers, resources and opportunities while developing Smart, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Tangible goals and objectives that can strategically and systematically address multi-dimensional disaster related public health unmet needs. 


Public Health Unmet Needs Work-groups  

Human Services

The Human Services Unmet Needs Subcommittee focuses on developing more effective and efficient ways to improve  eligible disaster survivors access to the relevant services and resources that are provided through agencies, organizations, non-profits, etc.     Collectively the members of this Unmet Needs Subcommittee provide a range of services and resources that include but is not limited to:  Transportation [ie, SEATS];   Legal Services [ ie.,  Legal Aid of North Carolina ];  Soup Kitchen & Homeless Shelter [ ie.,  Lumberton Christian Care ];  Employment [ ie, The Lumber Council of Governments - Dislocated Workers Program ];  Food Pantry, Clothing & Furniture [ ie., Robeson Church & Community Center ];  Education [ ie., The Public Schools of Robeson County ];  Energy Assistance [ ie.,  The Robeson County Department of Social Services ]; etc, 


Construction Management 

Consists of overseeing repairing or rebuilding homes to safe, sanitary, secure and functional condition.   Members, stakeholders, and participants on this Unmet Needs Subcommittee include:   NC Baptists Men; UMCOR;  Team Rubicon;  and Rebuild NC


Volunteer Management 

Volunteers are a key component to disaster response and should be managed and treated as a valuable resource throughout all the phases of disaster.


Communications 

Having a good communications strategy is essential for the success of a long term recovery group.”


Donations Management

 Responders who know how to effectively manage donated goods are more efficient at leading their community toward recovery.


Financial Controls and Reporting 

 It is the responsibility of the LTRG, along with its fiscal agent, to ensure that good financial controls are in place.