Recovery from Hurricane Matthew in Eastern North Carolina:

Perspectives from Pitt and Robeson Counties, North Carolina

Prepared for 2018 Carolinas Climate Conference, Columbia, South CarolinaSession 6a: Engaging Communities for Inclusive Climate Adaptation

October 31, 2018

Introduce Panel

• Suzanne Lea, PhD, MPH – Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Department of Public

Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University

• County Commissioner Mary Perkins-Williams, District 2 – Pitt County, North Carolina

• Jasmine Hayes – ECU MPH student, recipient of the 2017 Graduate Student Research

Award, Focus Area 1. Hurricane Matthew Response and Recovery through the NC Sea Grant and Water Resources Research Institute.

How do individuals adapt after a hurricane?

Have you have experienced a hurricane?

Methods• 9 focus groups (n=53), 7 English, 2

Spanish

• 2 key informant interviews

• 4 Community partner

– Disaster Recovery Partners of Pitt County

– North Pitt Improvement Association

– Grifton Mission Ministries

– AMEXCAN

• Pitt and Robeson Counties

• November 2017 - May 2018

Demographics

Participants

• 76% female

• >60% over age 56

• 49% Black and 35% Latino

• 41% high school or less – 30% some college

• 51% live in mobile home

Participants

• 69% do not rent

• 91% experienced Matthew

• 61% experienced Floyd

• 66% use public utility water

• 33% spend >$20 per week on bottled water

Finding: Improvements in governmental response between Hurricane Floyd (1999) and Hurricane Matthew (2016)

Findings: Governmental Response Hurricane Matthew

• FEMA and State – some opportunities

– Loan forgiveness (now have 2 mortgages)

– Funds to tear down uninhabitable houses

– Funds to replace HVAC for uninsured or high deductibles

– Consistent availability of Mold testing kits and free cost of analysis with timely results

– Mental health services for adults and children

Findings: Communication• Response Phase

– Shelters – when, where, and transportation to get there

– Elderly special sub-population

• live alone in remote areas, pick up to evacuate

• limited ability to hear, see and not ambulatory

– Go road by road – use a bull horn

– People use Facebook to connect (cell phone numbers change)

– Emergency Management / Sheriffs need Spanish-language capability

Findings Communication:• Recovery

– Where and when to apply for assistance

– Inconsistent case management

– Delays in approval and buyout

– “Why do I need an SBA loan when I do not have a small business?”

– Lack of understanding for appeal process with FEMA rejection letter

– Road signage for hazardous water level

Notable

• Ditches are not maintained, contribute to flooding

• Dams in Triangle area release water to flood coastal residents

• Snakes are a concern around homes with standing water

• Residents do not trust tap water due to taste and smell

– 33% Spend on average $20+ per week on bottled water

What topics would you like to address?

Ask and Listen to those who are recovering from Natural Disasters.

Acknowledgements• Funders NC Sea Grant and Water Resources Research Institute

• Dr. Cherry Beasley, UNC-Pembroke

• Pastor Lausandra Hunt

• Pastor Billy Tarlton

• Juvencio Rocha-Peralta, AMEXCAN

• Monica Calderon, ECU Dept Sociology

• Commissioner Mary Perkins-Williams, Pitt County, NC