Disaster Response Update from NASW-NC Executive Director

I want to take a moment to reiterate our commitment to supporting the members, social workers and communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Please know that we are here for you and we will continue to support and advocate for you throughout this long recovery period.

As you all know, just over a week ago, North Carolina sustained the largest natural disaster in our history and the damage is catastrophic. In recent history, NASW-NC has been a part of and responsible for the social work profession’s response of Hurricanes Matthew in 2016, Florence in 2018, and Dorian in 2019 but nothing has impacted North Carolina the way the floods of Helene have washed away many communities.

NASW-NC has been a lead member of the North Carolina Disaster Behavioral Health Coalition for at least two decades and we meet quarterly throughout the year and have been meeting daily since September 30, 2024 to address the response, recovery and relief efforts in Western North Carolina. This group includes my colleagues at the NC Psychological Association, NC Psychiatry Association, American Red Cross, NC Emergency Management and all the Managed Care Organizations. The dedicated NASW-NC team has responded quickly and developed resources for social workers and we will update our members daily with volunteer, donation and licensure information: https://www.naswnc.org/page/helenerelief

NASW-NC Membership and Social Work Programs:

We have reached out to every single one of our 770 NASW-NC members in the affected area and the 4 social work programs (Appalachian State University in Boone, Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa and Western Carolina University in Cullowhee). I have heard from all 4 programs that the students, staff and faculty are safe, but no one is ok. All universities are closed and it is uncertain when they will be able to reopen. Our members in county DSSs are still working to find and account for hundreds of foster youth.

As I am hearing back from several hundred members, their stories are heart breaking. Homes and practices washed away, no water, power or internet. No food or medicine for the first few days. Lives lost and hundreds still unaccounted for. This is a mass casualty situation. The disease and toxins in the receding water and mud is a serious health issue. But the heartening stories I am hearing about communities coming together and caring for one another as the help and support has rolled in from the state and FEMA.

The stress on those who live in these counties is significant. Many social workers have evacuated to other states and other cities because they have lost their homes or were told it would be months before power and water are restored. The lucky ones who did not lose their homes are unable to locate and contact some of their clients. After primary needs are met, the continuity of care and financial situation are a worry for many. Then the significant loss of income for our members is very real. Unemployment insurance is available but that will take time and some of our members will not be able to pay their employees or themselves.

Additional questions and issues will arise in the coming days, months and years. Being nimble and using our efficient modes of communication, like our website which includes a news feed: https://www.naswnc.org/news/ has been essential to our work.

We shifted our priorities overnight and the staff and board of NASW-NC will be focusing on response and recovery to this disaster for years.

I would like to acknowledge the NASW-NC family: Seth Maid, Kristen Carter, Lauren Zingraff, Vanessa Hines, Mary Choe and NASW-NC intern Tara Strickland for their incredible leadership and response during this tragedy to continue to serve and support the profession of social work in North Carolina.

Thank you for your patience as we are also trying to care for ourselves and doing the best we can as we are supporting those in Western North Carolina.

NASW-NC Board of Directors member TJ Stiers who had to evacuate his home in Asheville emailed me the following this week, “Everywhere I look, I see social workers helping, assisting and leading, and I am amazed at how the best of us is being brought out by these difficult situations. Together we will come through this and build back again.”

Thank you for being a part of this amazing profession with us. We will come through this together.

Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP

NASW-NC Executive Director

director.naswnc@socialworkers.org