In late September and early October of 2024, two hurricanes made landfall on the east coast of the U.S., causing devastation across several states. Local Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units were at work in their communities both before and after the storms made landfall to help with response and recovery efforts. This month we profile several of the units active in response.

Hurricane Helene: Damage and loss of life from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall September 26, 2024, impacted Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. The hurricane’s high winds and flooding killed more than 230 people. 
 
Hurricane Milton: Hurricane Milton, which made landfall October 9, 2024, produced tornadoes, hurricane-force wind gusts, and torrential rainfall that led to localized flooding. Its worst impacts were felt across central Florida.

Appalachian MRC (NC) Responds to Hurricane Helene 
In September of 2024, the Appalachian MRC in North Carolina, which received its MRC designation last summer, had 50 volunteers. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, unit volunteers actively deployed and the unit’s ranks swelled to 950.  

The unit supports a 25-county region of western North Carolina—a coverage area which takes six hours to travel across. Volunteers served many roles in response to Hurricane Helene.

Volunteers staffed a non-emergency number 24/7 for the first week following the hurricane, receiving more than 400 calls in the first 24 hours. For an additional four and a half weeks, volunteers staffed the non-emergency call line from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. One phone number with voicemail capability was established for use by the volunteers, who actively monitored the voicemail and returned calls. A range of call types were fielded including wellness checks in coordination with local sheriffs, resource coordination with local officials, storm reports, and referrals to services. Those staffing the line included EMTs who picked up a phone shift following their workday and university student volunteers who had evacuated the area but were able to support remotely.

Volunteers also deployed to unload trucks of supplies for hospitals and clinics in the region and supported more than six shelters in the area with MRC clinical providers as needed.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, Appalachian MRC is working intentionally from a public health perspective to support the community in recovery.

“We’re showing up to community meetings and providing help where we can,” said Unit Leader Jennifer Schroeder Tyson. 
 
When one community hosted a night parade to bolster morale, MRC volunteers assisted with security. A fellowship is also launching this summer to try to collect stories from community members.

Central Carolina MRC (NC) Responds to Hurricane Helene 
Housed under the Central Carolina Healthcare Preparedness Coalition, the Central Carolina MRC serves 12 counties in central North Carolina. The unit’s central location has meant that volunteers have responded to emergencies in both the eastern and western regions of the state.

During Hurricane Helene, Central Carolina MRC volunteers supported the state medical assistance team at a shelter in Shelby, NC. The shelter operated for three weeks, providing 24/7 assistance to residents with complex medical needs that were displaced from their homes or other facilities by landslides and flooding. This shelter offered a safe space where individuals could find immediate relief, specialized healthcare services, and assess to needed resources.

About 30 unit volunteers assisted with medical, transportation, and logistics needs at the shelter. This helped to reduce the strain on local healthcare facilities by allowing hospitals to focus on acute emergency cases.

Hillsborough MRC (FL) Responds to Hurricanes Helene and Milton 
Located in west-central Florida, Hillsborough MRC serves both rural and urban areas, including the city of Tampa. Unit volunteers are experienced in responding to hurricanes, most recently supporting their communities during hurricanes Helene and Milton.

In response to Hurricane Helene, more than 30 licensed medical volunteers deployed to support three special needs shelters. Volunteers assisted with setup and intake at the shelters, helped to evaluate clients and connect them to resources, and assisted with client day-to-day needs to help ensure local residents could maintain a level of stability.

Even as response efforts to Hurricane Helene were winding down, Unit Leader Angela Baird was watching a developing storm that would become Hurricane Milton. Baird alerted volunteers to a potential need and kept them updated on storm development. Although some volunteers were themselves recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, 50 were on standby, ready to deploy for Hurricane Milton.

Tampa was just 70 miles north of direct impact from Hurricane Milton, which came to shore as a category 3 storm. Volunteers again deployed to special needs shelters, assisting clients who experience respiratory, mobility, and other challenges.

One challenge the Hillsborough MRC faces during state emergencies like those declared for hurricanes is that schools shut down, limiting the unit’s ability to deploy student volunteers. Without clinical advisors on hand, students can only volunteer if they are LPNs or CNAs. Baird is working to bring more awareness to local colleges, universities, and allied health training centers to help bridge this gap.

The fall hurricanes provide just one example of how unit volunteers have supported their community during an emergency. Another is that, during Hurricane Irma, volunteers supported a DMAT field hospital. Volunteers supported activities like intake and patient transport, which allowed medical staff to focus on patient care.

Medical Association of Georgia MRC Responds to Hurricane Milton 
As it had for Hurricane Debby in August of 2024, volunteers of the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) MRC supported response to Hurricane Milton. The unit’s 105 active volunteers serve the state of Georgia.

In response to Hurricane Milton, a team of 17 physicians on the unit’s Shelter Team provided 24/7 coverage of a physician call line. At the request of the state department of health, these physicians were available for four days to provide telehealth services to shelters. During each 12-hour shift, two physicians were on call with an additional three-to-four specialists in pediatrics, neurology, or orthopedics available in case a specialist was needed.

This support was similar to that provided by MAG MRC volunteers during Hurricane Debby earlier in 2024 and Hurricane Dorian in 2019.