Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence has caused wide-ranging effects on North Carolina and the people that DMVA serves. This information will continue to be updated after the storm.

What you should know:

Turn around, don’t drown. Don’t drive through standing water.
Don’t use gas-powered generators/burners inside your house.
It’s important that you take steps to prevent illness from unsafe food and water after a storm. When in doubt, throw it out.
Looking for a shelter? An interactive map can show you where the nearest open shelter. If you are traveling, visit DriveNC.gov to ensure your route is safe.
If you are in need of dialysis and have been displaced by Hurricane Florence, call the ESRD toll-free hotline at 800-524-7139 to find care.

If you are a veteran:

DMVA operates a Veterans Crisis Line where veterans are provided assistance and connection to resources. Call 800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838255.
DMVA maintains a Resource Guide to assist and educate veterans in learning about and accessing state and federal benefits.
NC Serves is a coordinated network to help direct veterans or family members to the right service provider. Their toll-free hotline is 866-249-6656, or you can connect online.
The US Department of Veteran Affairs is maintaining a centralized list of federal resources available to veterans. Some important points of contact are:
- The veteran disaster relief hotline: 800-507-4571
- The veteran benefits administration hotline: 800-827-1000
- The pharmacy customer care number: 866-400-1243
- The vet center counseling hotline: 877-927-8387
The Veterans Administration Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network is maintaining a Hurricane Florence Operating Status page with information about which health care offices are open.
SAMHSA has a Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 that is available year-round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

If you are a Medicaid beneficiary:

If you are evacuated you can still see a doctor, even if you are out of state.
DHHS will allow early prescription drug refills by Medicaid pharmacists to make sure you have enough medications throughout the storm.
DHHS is working with federal and county partners to provide additional flexibility to people enrolled in the Medicaid program and their health care providers during and after Hurricane Florence.

If you receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS):

If you are enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Services program, you can use your benefits to buy hot food after Hurricane Florence.
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards can be used at any authorized retailer, even if you are out-of-state.
Current Food and Nutrition Services households that have a food loss may request replacement benefits through their county DSS.
Lost or damaged EBT cards can be replaced by calling the EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328.

If you are in need of, or are receiving, behavioral health care:

If you are uninsured or are a Medicaid beneficiary, you can access care by calling your regional behavioral health Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO).
Opioid Treatment Programs have been advised to provide patients with four to six days of take-home medication to treat opioid-use disorders during the storm.
The Opioid Treatment Registry Map provides locations of where those in medication assisted treatment programs can receive care if their normal provider is closed.
SAMHSA has a Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 that is available year-round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

Latest information:

Please visit the NC Department of Public Safety website and follow these accounts on Twitter for storm updates:

Call 911 in an emergency. Call 211 if you have non-emergency questions.

Relief efforts

If you are interested in contributing to Hurricane Florence relief efforts, monetary donations are currently being accepted through the NC Disaster Relief Fund. You can also text "Florence" to 20222.