Dogwood Health Trust recently announced more than $30 million in initial relief funding following the devastation across western North Carolina (WNC) from Hurricane Helene.

This funding responds to short-term, immediate needs and was approved by a unanimous vote by the full board of directors at an emergency meeting on Oct. 3.

In this initial relief funding, Dogwood is prioritizing support for local organizations that will help local people and organizations now and in the days to come, according to the press release.

Dogwood’s initial support is organized in three areas:

1. Supporting organizations that can quickly deploy resources and respond to urgent needs of people and geographic areas most affected;
2. Supporting assessment, navigation, and legal services associated with FEMA response; and
3. Maintaining critical health services across the region.

“Hurricane Helene has affected the people and communities of Western North Carolina in unimaginable ways,” said Dr. Susan Mims, CEO of Dogwood Health Trust. “Our response includes this funding for short-term relief, and we will be here for long-term recovery and rebuilding as well. We are working with our funded partners to get resources to all our neighbors in need throughout the region.”

Learn more about the funding here.

Updates from EdNC’s early reporting on the impact of Hurricane Helene:

“Hurricane Helene has left western North Carolina’s community colleges and their communities reeling,” says this press release from the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS). “Now, these colleges are stepping up to lead the recovery.”

More than 6,000 employees and nearly 74,000 students are impacted by the storm damage as colleges work to support their communities, the system currently reports, with many serving as emergency response locations while working to reestablish campus operations.

Based on EdNC’s early reporting, we are most worried about Mayland Community College — all three counties Mayland serves were particularly hard hit. We have been in touch with President John Boyd and Sen. Ralph Hise.

Read more here.

Emily Thomas visited McDowell Tech last Monday, Oct. 1, where leaders from McDowell County Schools, McDowell Technical Community College (MTCC), and Centro Unido Latino Americano were working around the clock to organize a distribution site.

Emily spoke with county leaders, including MTCC President Dr. J.W. Kelley:

MTCC President Dr. J.W. Kelley said the county is currently in phase one. Beyond search and rescue, phase one includes distributing food, water, and items for babies.

Planning for phase two is currently underway and will include what Kelley is calling comfort centers, or locations where community members can use Wi-Fi or make phone calls. Leaders have even discussed how to coordinate with the hospital to provide on-site emotional support animals.

She also spoke with community members, including two McDowell County Schools students, Lillian and Freya, who were helping out at the distribution site.

Check out her article for the incredible stories and photos as the community worked together to organize a response and help those in need.

Emily Thomas reports from Haywood Community College:

“When the flood happened three years ago, we could wrap our arms around the communities affected,” said Dr. Shelley White, president of Haywood Community College. “But now, we are all having to wrap our arms around each other.” …

In the hours after the storm, college leaders worked with county officials, using campus parking lots as hosts sites for search and rescue crews. HCC’s IT Network Administrator, Justin Stocker, activated its emergency Wi-Fi system, a redundant internet system recently acquired through the NC Rural Broadband initiative, White said.

The Wi-Fi system proved critical to county-wide operations. Widespread power outages and communication black outs across western North Carolina have made connecting for emergency and non-emergency purposes challenging at best.

The county set up a shelter in the armory on HCC’s campus for displaced residents that includes free laundry services. The college also prepared an area for the National Guard to land Chinooks, which are heavy-lift cargo helicopters used in disaster relief operations. 

Read more on Haywood Community College’s ongoing response to Hurricane Helene here.

Federal disaster unemployment benefits are available for residents of the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties, as well as the Qualla Boundary.

People in the above-listed counties who are unemployed as a direct result of Hurricane Helene may be eligible for unemployment benefits under the DUA program, according to the press release. Business owners and self-employed individuals affected by the storm may also qualify for benefits.

Applicants have 60 days from Oct. 1 to file an application for DUA here. The deadline to apply is Dec. 2, 2024.

Learn more here.

NCCCS relief fund | The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) launched a Hurricane Helene Community College Response and Recovery Fund last week. According to a release from the system, the statewide fund “aims to support both the affected colleges and their surrounding communities as they face widespread damage and disruptions. Donations to the fund will provide critical assistance for recovery efforts in the storm’s aftermath, including restoring services and resources essential to students, faculty, and staff.”

Applying for FEMA assistance | ICYMI, EdNC published a guide on how to apply for FEMA assistance. North Carolina homeowners and renters in 25 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance, which stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency.

NCCCS conference | The NCCCS’ annual conference will kick off Oct. 13 at the Raleigh Convention Center. EdNC will be at the conference throughout the three-day event. Come say hi if you’re attending.

NCCCS conference donation drive | The NCCCS is launching a special collection drive during the first two days of the conference to aid recovery efforts for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. See the recommended items for donation and where to drop off here.

Local president’s perspective | Last week, Cape Fear Community College President Jim Morton published an EdNC perspective about the importance of aligning educational programs with community needs. You can read Morton’s perspective on our website.

Enrollment funding for community colleges | As the state’s community colleges wait for $64 million in enrollment growth funding, the Assembly has reported on the financial instability colleges often face while waiting for an adjustment budget. Check out their Q&A with Beaufort County Community College President Dave Loope on the issue.

Higher ed related events and webinars:

• FAFSA webinars | The Hunt Institute is hosting a webinar examining the impacts of delayed FAFSA on students and institutions. You can register for the Oct. 10 webinar here. The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) will host a virtual coffee break on Oct. 9 focusing on Residency Determination Service (RDS) and mixed-status families.
• Dallas Herring lecture | You can now register for this year’s Dallas Herring Lecture, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19. The lecture features Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, chancellor of the Austin Community College District, as the keynote speaker. You can find more details here.
• Adult Learning Conference | The Adult Learning Conference hosted by the NCCCS will take place Nov. 21-22 in Raleigh. Click here to register, see the agenda, and submit proposals.