Update on NCCF's Disaster Relief Fund allocations

Firefighters search through the rubble for tornado victims in Bertie County. (Photo by Cal Bryant and used with permission of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Ahoskie.)

The afternoon of April 16 feels like a relatively long time ago to most of us. But to the thousands of victims of the spring tornados that tore through central and eastern North Carolina, the pain is likely still with them today.

The National Weather Service has deemed the April 16 tornados the largest outbreak in North Carolina’s history, “with respect to the sheer number of storms as well as counties affected.” With 28 total counties hit by possibly 62 tornados and resulting hail, storm and flood damage, the state was declared a disaster by President Obama, with many affected counties qualifying for federal assistance.

Tales of heroes and miracles abound, from the quick-thinking Lee County Lowe’s store manager, who saved upwards of 70 people by marshalling them to safety ─ to the tiny Dunn baby ripped from his cousin’s arms yet somehow found unhurt on a nearby wood pile. Tragedy marked the end for 26 of our state’s residents, with hundreds more injured. The loss of property totals in the billions of dollars, with the final count still being assessed.

On Monday, April 18, two days after the Saturday drama unfolded, the NCCF’s statewide grants committee met by telephone and immediately activated the statewide North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund. Counties that required the most assistance were identified, and affiliate boards in Bertie, Lee, Wilson, Greene, Harnett, Johnston, Onslow and Wake were notified to start assessing local needs. Affiliate grants committees were alerted that funds were being raised for them to allocate to nonprofit organizations in their communities.

Meanwhile, NCCF staff wrote and disseminated hundreds of news releases to outlets throughout North Carolina and southeastern United States, using traditional and social media to get the word out: the NCCF Disaster Relief Fund was seeking funds to allocate in our affiliate network, which included the state’s most devastated counties.

Funds started to come in immediately, with statewide board members and staff alike modeling generosity. “I am so proud of the contributions from our board and our staff,” said NCCF CEO and President Jennifer Tolle Whiteside. “Ours is definitely a team that responds from the heart.”

Heartfelt giving came from all over the globe. One notable gift came from the Oak Foundation, based in Geneva, Switzerland, which commits its resources to address issues of global, social and environmental concerns, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged.

To date, $120,000 has been raised for tornado victims, with $105,000 in the process of being disbursed. Each of the designated affiliate counties has received two allocations. “All funds will be awarded by year’s end, in keeping with the parameters of the disaster relief fund,” according to Sally Migliore, NCCF director of community leadership and staff liaison with the statewide grants committee.

Rodney E. Martin, chair of NCCF’s grants committee, said the quick activation of the disaster relief fund and resulting publicity, fund development and local allocations combined to provide a “best practice” for disaster relief funds management. “That’s not to say there weren’t and aren’t some lessons learned, which we’re already applying to our policies and procedures,” he said. “This is a process that we will continually modify for improvement.” Martin is also a member of the statewide board, as well as the Onslow County affiliate board of advisors, where he saw firsthand the impact of local allocation.

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation determined early on that the local Salvation Army would be an effective grantee partner to help support local tornado victims. One neighborhood in Jacksonville that experienced extensive property damage was the Holiday City Mobile Home Park. The tornado tore through its middle.

“The local grant from the Onslow Caring Communities Foundation has assisted so many families affected by the tornado,” said Katie LeMaire with the Salvation Army in Jacksonville. The Onslow affiliate grant is helping 13 families pay rent, utility and other past due bills on housing that no longer exists or is currently uninhabitable. Her stories from meeting with residents included a stay-at-home military wife and mother with a special needs child who owed $1,400 in utility bills on a home too damaged for residency. The grant covered her family’s debt. A Marine who has volunteered for five tours of duty in Afghanistan arrived at his assistance meeting in full military dress, nervous about accepting help and so grateful for the support that it brought tears to Katie’s eyes. “It was a very emotional day,” she said. “I am so thankful the Salvation Army could partner with the Onslow Caring Communities Foundation to help make a difference when it was really needed,” she said. “The local group here and the North Carolina Community Foundation are great resources.”

www.nccommunityfoundation.org