North Carolina Hurricane Florence 2018

02.10.2018

In response to Hurricane Florence in North Carolina, Humanity Road published two situation reports and deployed physically to Lumberton, NC>

  • Physical Deployment to Lumberton: Humanity Road launched a physical deployment to Lumberton NC on September 20. 2018.
  • Situation Report 2 was published on September 19, 2018 and is a special report for 25 North Carolina counties impacted by Florence. The report contains county level status on communications, health and vulnerable population information. The following is a summary of Humanity Road activities to date:
  • Situation Report 1 was published on September 15, 2018 and provided links to National, NC state and county official websites and social media accounts.
  • Search and Rescue Heat Map published on September 12, 2018. In a successful collaboration, Humanity Road working to support the U.S. Coast guard with strategic information products, provided a Strategic heat map showing the density of requests for rescue emerging on social media throughout the region affected by Hurricane Florence. The heat map was maintained live on a daily basis to provide situational awareness of emerging hot spots. The Strategic Heat map has now been retired. The heat map was developed to provide location information but the street level detail was hidden in consideration of privacy concerns.
  • Resource List for Vulnerable Population in SE Virginia was published on September 11, 2018. The report provides helpful links for people with Disabilities, Accessibility, and Functional Needs (DAFN) in southeastern Virginia. It includes statewide resources and links for the following counties and cities: Chesapeake City, Hampton City, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Newport News City, Norfolk City, Northampton County, Poquoson City, Portsmouth City, Suffolk City, Surry County, Virginia Beach City, and York County.

Online Activation Summary:

The team responded for a total of 22 days performing live data mining and monitoring of social media of approximately 700 locations across 26 NC counties to find and help solve unmet needs. Humanity Road provided the US Coast Guard with a Strategic Heat Map showing requests for rescue located in social media, it also includes rescue requests being processed and fielded by the Cajun Navy. This work was supported with surge partners from GISCorps and Montgomery County, MD CERT. US Coast Guard Heat People: For the rescue requests and heat map, crowdsourcing rescue and response teams reported that as of September 19, 2018 there are no open unresolved rescue requests pending.

Facebook Disaster Maps

In partnership with Facebook, Humanity Road provided daily updates showing population densities, network usage and network coverage for Facebook users Connectivity maps can be found in Humanity Road Situation Report and a quick link directly to the Facebook only report can be found here Facebook Disaster Maps

Strategic Heat Map

The heat map was developed to provide location information but the street level detail was hidden in consideration of privacy concerns. Volunteers representing multiple organizations are collaborating in response to Hurricane Florence. The organizations include Humanity Road, GISCorps, Montgomery County, MD CERT, Data Information from NAPSG. Tasks included identifying and mapping rescue requests, identification of urgent needs, and situational awareness. The tasks were completed through the cooperation of sharing database information, leveraging a data aggregation tool, automated and manual scanning of social media platforms, and usage of Skype for communications that provided team situational awareness throughout the period of activation dubbed.

Coordination and Collaboration:

As a member of National VOAD, FEMA Tech Sector, Virginia VOAD and South-Central Virginia VOAD, we collaborate with many organizations including NC VOAD and Private Sector partners to collect these information products. We thank them for their engagement and response. Humanity Road activated its disaster desk for Hurricane Florence on Monday, September 10, 2018 and remains actively engaged in the response.

Download the PDF version here

  • NC Hurricane Florence Situation Report 1 Sep 15 2018.pdf
  • 2018 NC Hurricane Florence Situation Report 2 Sep 19.pdf

Significant Updates

Update Sep 26 We are currently responding to Hurricane Florence and we are issuing an appeal for donations. We need your help, Please donate to help those impacted in the worst storm in the history of weather keeping. We are providing mapping products, situational reports, communications assistance and serving as a facilitator for rescue and relief. Our services are crucial and communications NGO’s are often overlooked in philanthropy circles. Please help us, help them.

Update Sep 21 As of Sep 21, 41 Volunteers contributed 1,480 hours in the past 10 days. We monitored over 45 counties & 700 towns in NC, processed over a million tweets and typed 42,816 words to each other in coordination windows.

 

Update Sep 20 Physical Deployment Humanity Road activated a physical deployment in North Carolina at the Allenton Rural Fire Department in Lumberton supporting the local community in North Carolina with information needs and communications services through our partners at ITDRC. See our Physical Deployment Summary.

18 Sep

Hurricane Florence has left record breaking rainfalls in the following areas: Emerald Isle, Jacksonville, Surf City, Wrightsville Beach totaling 118.07 inches in just those 4 areas. There have been at least 33 fatalities,more than 2,600 people and nearly 600 animals have been rescued. 342,884 people remain without power. Fayetteville and Lumberton are both at risk for flooding. The Cape Fear River is expected to crest at 61.5 feet by Wednesday. There are 1,050 road closures numerous highways & primary routes.Interstate 95 remains closed from Johnston County to the South Carolina line, and Interstate 40 remains closed from I-95 to Wilmington.DOT has cleared a route to get emergency supplies into Wilmington, which has been effectively cut off from the rest of the state by flooding. The state port at Wilmington will open Wednesday to help get supplies to the area. Source 1 Source 2

15 Sep

Rainfall amounts have totaled 15 to 30 inches in many locations in eastern North Carolina through midday Saturday. Local roadways are impassable and are closed in numerous locations, which has isolated residents and led to numerous water rescues. Florence is located about 50 miles west of Myrtle Beach, North Carolina or 40 miles south of Florence, North Carolina, as of early Saturday afternoon. It will continue to move slowly westward Saturday and a turn toward the west and northwest is anticipated on Sunday. Source

Emergency and Information Numbers

For emergencies call 911

For Info on texting 911 See below.

  • If you are in a situation where it is not safe to place a voice call to 911.
  • If you are experiencing a medical emergency that renders you incapable of speaking or hearing.
  • If you are unable to call 911 due to being in a location with sporadic cellular voice service.
  • If you are unable to speak or hear due to injury or physical restraint.

 

Information Helplines

Need assistance for Hurricane Florence? Dial 2-1-1, 888-892-1162 or text Florence to 898211 to reach a 2-1-1 call specialist 24/7. https://www.nc211.org/

Reunification Hotlines and Websites

  • American Red Cross Register safe and well or search for loved ones https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php You can also call the national helpline at 844-782-9441
  • Facebook Safety Check Link
  • Mark yourself safe on your social media accounts.

211 – Information on services, aid relief, muckout teams

511 – information on which roads are open

911 – Emergency services, police, fire and rescue

Health and Hospitals

19 Sep

  • Healthcare Ready is supporting supply chain partners in coordinating deliveries in high water. We are starting to getting additional information on accessible routes. As conditions are changing regularly, please contact us for assistance or information.
  • Health: AP reported that in Trenton NC: 3.4 million chickens and turkeys and 5,500 hogs have been killed in flooding from Hurricane Florence as rising NC rivers swamped dozens of farm buildings where the animals were being raised for market. Sewage plants and coal ash dumps also flooded. Source
  • Health: Brunswick County Public Utilities and the Division of Water Resources advises that consumers boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation) or use bottled water. http://www.brunswickcountync.gov/system-pressure-advisory-jericho-road-bethel-road/
  • Health: NC Public Health needs volunteer nurses, physicians, behavioral health professionals, and anyone else willing to contribute their time more about volunteer opportunities here: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/hurricane-florence-recovery-volunteers

17 Sep

15 Sep

  • Health: HealthCare Ready continues to provide daily situation reports and has an extensive list of Florence health and RX resource list here https://www.healthcareready.org/florence
  • Health: Call 1-800-524-7139 to find dialysis services during #FlorenceNC source

13 Sep

  • Health: Americares providing support to up to 90+ health partners in NC and VA source

Useful Links

NC DHHS Disability Services https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/disability-services

NC Childcare Aware Resources http://www.childcareaware.org/state/north-carolina/

NC HealthCare Ready RX open https://www.healthcareready.org/rxopen

Kidney Community Emergency Response https://www.kcercoalition.com/

Senior Care Givers Home Careolina http://www.homecareolina.com/

NLM Special Populations: Disaster Preparedness and Response: https://tox.nlm.nih.gov/outreach/specialpopulationsanddisasters.html

NLM Children in Disasters and Emergencies: Health Information Guide: https://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/children

NLM Pregnant Women in Disasters and Emergencies: Health Information Guide: https://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/pregnant-women

Shelters and Evacuation Centers

 

  • For open shelter locations in North Carolina visit their website https://www.ncdps.gov/florence
  • For the latest shelter capacity info, dial 2-1-1 or download the ReadyNC app
  • Download the ReadyNC app for latest traffic, shelters, flood gauge info, evacuations and more.

Communications

Wireless Services (Reported by FCC Sept 18, 2018): The following map of the disaster area illustrates which counties are most affected: Pender, Onslow and Columbus have 30% or greater impacts to cell towers. Out of 5,808 cell towers in North Carolina, 466 are impacted.

Power Outage

Power Outage map

Sep 19

  • Statewide power outage total at 11:45 am is 196,911 with the highest concentration in New Hanover, Carteret, Onslow, Pender and Robeson counties. Get updates: http://ncdps.gov/florence
  • 10:03am PT/1:03pm ET map of power outage status as reported by the utilities and consolidated (note scale is based on % of customers served in that county that are without power). Source: https://poweroutage.us/area/state/north%20carolina

 

Useful Links

  • Consolidated outage report: https://poweroutage.us/area/state/north%20carolina
  • Listing of public power utilities in North Carolina: https://www.publicpower.org/public-power-north-carolina
  • Gasbuddy: Florence Live Updates: Fuel Availability & Station Outages list: https://business.gasbuddy.com/florence-live-updates-fuel-availability-station-outages/?_ga=2.262820108.1297433169.1537039681-153552145.1537039681
  • Sep 15
    • Statewide power outage total at 4:30 pm is 741,013 with the highest concentration in New Hanover, Brunswick, Carteret, Cumberland, Onslow, Pender and Robeson counties. Get updates: http://ncdps.gov/florence
    • 11:45am Map of power outage status as reported by the utilities and consolidated. Source: https://poweroutage.us/area/state/north%20carolina
    • Eight nuclear power plants, including 13 reactors are in or near the projected path of Hurricane Florence. (Three sites in North Carolina, three sites in South Carolina, and two in Virginia.)
    • The Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant in Southport, NC and Global Nuclear Fuels plant in Wilmington, N.C. remain closed. https://bit.ly/2CY7cJW

     

    Useful Links

Roads and Bridges

NC Road Closure Information https://tims.ncdot.gov/tims/

Maps and Situational Awareness Links

Pictures and Videos

Social Media

#HurricaneFlorence, #newbernstrong, #WilmingtonNC, #evacuation, #WilmingtonStrong, #Florence, #hurricane, #TropicalStormFlorence, #FlashFlood, #swansboro, #petshelters, #NewBernNC, #NewBernRescue. #NorthCarolinaStrong, #CajunNavy, #CravenStrong, #NCWX, #jacksonville, #lumberton, #poweroutate, #florencerescue, #flooding

Animals in Disaster

Shelter locations:

https://www.bringfido.com/hurricane/#carolinas

 

Pet Friendly Shelters

Pine Forest High School

525 Andrews Rd

Fayetteville

 

South View High School

4181 Elk Rd

Hope Mills

Volunteers Reporting

Cindy, Nafisa, Michael, Crystal, Evan, Reid, Allyson, Alice, Ann Marie, John, Elizabeth, Robert, George , Brindisi, Christoph, Chimdi, Emma, Cat, Chris, Lloyd, Steve, Katelyn, Adam, Clara, Michael, Barb, Caleb, Emma, Kirk, Phil, Neha, Robert, Stacey