Hurricane Helene: Updates and Resources
Due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, SCORH employees will be working remotely today, October 1. Our staff is currently working diligently to ensure that rural health facilities across the state have the resources they need to support their communities.
Please contact SCORH if there is anything our office can assist with, particularly if a rural facility or community experienced damage. We are here to help!
Below are several resources available to make sure you are prepared!
A Medical Needs Shelter (MSN) is an emergency shelter with limited support for people with medical needs and their adult caregivers. MSNs are for people who are currently medically stable at home and not requiring hospitalization.
This includes people who:
• Have medical conditions that require electricity support and/or
• Use a hospital bed/ specialized medical bed at home
During an emergency, call the SC Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 to determine MNS eligibility. Eligible individuals will be expected to bring items needed for daily living to a designated MNS. Learn more by visiting Shelter During Disasters.
- The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) is the coordinating agency responsible for the state’s preparation for, and response to, natural disasters. SCEMD will continue to make the public aware of all state activity related to Hurricane Helene including closures, road conditions, storm conditions, or by providing other life-saving information. Follow along on their social media and check out their hurricane guide.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will continue to provide safety information throughout the storm on their social media and will engage in disaster response in the storm’s aftermath.
- SCEMD and the South Carolina Department of Commerce run the S.C. Emergency Business Resources dashboard to make sure businesses have the information they need during natural disasters.
- Traffic & Road Conditions: 511, Toll Roads, Evacuation Routes (scdot.org) Click on “Road Conditions”, Click on “Show Search Options”., Select your county. For Emergency Event, Select “Hurricane Helene”. Select other options as appropriate. Click on “Go”. Click “Show Search Results” (Bottom Left) in order to print an Excel or PDF file for you use.
- The South Carolina Business Reentry Program is a post-disaster reentry certification for businesses and organizations that assist in the restoration of utilities and other services. A business must be in good standing with the office of the South Carolina Secretary of State in order to be certified. The program is free and is administered by the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and South Carolina Department of Commerce.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster announced that South Carolina’s September 28 request for an Expedited Major Presidential Disaster Declaration to provide federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in response to Hurricane Helene has been approved. The initial list of counties approved for assistance is not final, and additional counties are likely to be added as further damage assessments are completed.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Individual Assistance program help to Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg counties.