After Action Report

Hurricane Florence Response

This After Action Report is to review ADANC’s response to Hurricane Florence, as well as provide recommendations to local, state and federal entities to better serve the needs of those who experience a disability in the next disaster.

On September 14, 2018, Hurricane Florence made landfall just south of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane – with sustained winds of 90 mph. People with special medical needs – including individuals who would need assistance with medical or personal care during evacuations – were transported to one of three special medical shelters established by North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services. On September 15th, ADANC Executive Director Dave Wickstrom reached out to Emergency Operations Center staff at the Clayton Medical Center located at C3 Church to offer assistance to North Carolina Emergency Management and U.S. Public Health Service, after receiving their information from North Carolina’s Disability Integration staff.

The ADANC staff worked over 140 hours over 12 days to work alongside United States Public Health Service Officers to transition survivors at the Clayton Medical Shelter back to a home and not an institution. Out of the 55 survivors that came through the Clayton Medical Shelter, only 4 were transitioned to an institution from the shelter, and that was their choice.

To read the full report, click the below button to download the PDF.