Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY — North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley will travel to Buncombe and Henderson counties tomorrow with Senator Jim Burgin to survey damage and meet with people impacted by Hurricane Helene in these counties. They will first stop in Henderson County at the Disaster-SNAP (D-SNAP) Assistance Center in Hendersonville and then travel to the Henderson County Health Department to discuss recovery efforts and hold a brief media availability. Later, they will travel to Buncombe County with stops at the General Public Shelter at the Western NC Agricultural Center and BeLoved Asheville, where there will be a brief media availability.

PRESS RELEASE — As cooler weather arrives in western North Carolina, the NC Department of Health and Human Services urges individuals, families and communities impacted by Hurricane Helene to take safety precautions when heating homes, buildings or other enclosed spaces.

PRESS RELEASE — Residents in 25 western counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians households who reside in the 28719 zip code impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for help buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) which will begin on Oct. 18, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today. D-SNAP is open to individuals and households not currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services benefits who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. NCDHHS estimates more than 150,000 people will apply for up to $120 million in D-SNAP benefits.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and local health departments are working with restaurants and food establishments impacted by Hurricane Helene to help them reopen and feed their communities.

READOUT — NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley traveled with Governor Roy Cooper Friday to Transylvania and Henderson Counties. He first stopped at Pisgah Fish Camp in Pisgah Forest, a family-owned restaurant and landmark in Transylvania County badly damaged by Hurricane Helene. Secretary Kinsley spoke to the owner Mike Hawkins and visited with elected officials including Jaime Laughter, the Transylvania County Manager and Lisa Fletcher, the Superintendent of Schools. Transylvania Schools and Blue Ridge Community College will resume classes and reopen on Monday, Oct. 14. Secretary Kinsley concluded his visit in Transylvania County with a stop at pharmaceutical company Pisgah Labs, a major employer in the area. In Henderson County, the Secretary first stopped at the NC National Guard Warehouse and Operations Center and then toured the damage in Henderson County with Fletcher Mayor, Preston Blakely.

PRESS RELEASE — Whether directly or indirectly, millions of people in North Carolina have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Natural disasters are traumatic for individuals, families and communities, and there is no right or wrong way to feel. After a hurricane, it’s even more important to get mental health support if you believe you or a loved one may need help, and to stay in contact with family and friends as soon as your access to communications is restored.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging western North Carolinians who rely on a private well for their drinking water and were impacted by Hurricane Helene to continue to use bottled, boiled or treated water until private wells can be disinfected and tested for dangerous bacteria. Safety measures and precautions are also needed for septic systems that have been impacted by the storm before returning to use.

READOUT — NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley toured Mitchell and Yancey counties with Governor Roy Cooper on Tuesday, surveying storm damage, meeting with community members and thanking first responders at the Burnsville and Spruce Pine fire departments. The trip concluded with a visit to Sibelco Quartz Mine, a top employer of Mitchell County with about 500 employees. While speaking with members of the media, the Secretary shared updates from the department’s work in collaboration with local, state and federal partners to get the needed care and resources to the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Press Release — People in 23 Western North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Helene who are enrolled in Food and Nutrition Services now have access to replacement benefits on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. The United States Department of Agriculture approved North Carolina to allow current FNS participants in the 23 counties to receive 70% of their total monthly September benefit back on their EBT card. The benefit replacement is automatic and does not require action from the FNS participant. This impacts more than 200,000 people in North Carolina and more than $24 million in replacement benefits.

Media Advisory — As part of efforts to help people and communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is sharing opportunities for people to contribute to relief efforts, including donating blood. NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley will participate in a blood drive at the American Red Cross in Raleigh on Monday afternoon to encourage other North Carolinians across the state who are eligible to consider donating blood in support of people and communities impacted by the storm.

PRESS RELEASE — Starting today, people and families in North Carolina who are enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program can use their benefits to purchase hot food. This temporary flexibility applies to all 100 counties in North Carolina and the nearly 700,000 households enrolled in the FNS program. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure people impacted by Hurricane Helene receive assistance as soon as possible.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working with state, federal and local partners to help North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene access needed health care. NC Medicaid has been granted additional temporary changes to help with continued care during recovery efforts.

STATEMENT — There is widespread damage and devastation following Hurricane Helene, and many participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) are impacted. There are more than 250,000 people participating in the WIC program statewide. WIC provides access to healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and referrals for health care and community services.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working with state, federal and local partners to help North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene access needed health care. Temporary changes to NC Medicaid will allow people to more easily refill prescriptions early, get medically necessary services, be admitted to a nursing home and more.

PRESS RELEASE — Access to safe and potable water remains a top concern in Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Currently, approximately 160 boil water advisories remain in effect and 27 water plants are closed and not producing water. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is sharing guidance on actions people can take to ensure water is safe and to prevent waterborne disease or illness after the storm.

PRESS RELEASE — On Sept. 26, 2024, Congress extended the deadline allowing victims of recent Food and Nutrition Service benefits theft to apply for replacement benefits. The deadline for requesting replacement of stolen benefits is now Dec. 20, 2024. The federal provision allowing for replacement of stolen benefits was previously set to expire Sept. 30, 2024.

STATEMENT - The NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: Understanding Seasonal Vaccines and Respiratory Health In North Carolina scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, has been postponed due to impacts of Hurricane Helene across the state, especially the severe impacts in western North Carolina.

PRESS RELEASE — **This project is postponed until Spring 2025** The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to prevent and eliminate the spread of rabies. Beginning next week, Wildlife Services will be distributing the annual oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons in Western North Carolina.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how seasonal vaccines, including flu, COVID-19 and RSV, help protect communities against severe illness, hospitalization and long-term health complications. The event will be moderated by Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., NCDHHS’ State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service’s kick off event to announce the unveiling of the All Ages, All Stages NC – A Roadmap for Aging and Living Well Plan. This multisector plan for aging is designed to help enhance the quality of life for all North Carolinians as we get older. The plan comes at a time when the number of older North Carolinians is growing rapidly. Today, nearly two million North Carolina residents are age 65 or older — that number is expected to rise to three million by 2050.