Disasters don’t affect every North Carolinian the same way, and that’s exactly why the NC Disaster Response & Resilience Network (NCDRRN) launched Roots & Resilience, a webinar series on equity, caregiving, and community resilience in the face of hurricanes, floods, and other emergencies.
Two sessions in, we have seen a wonderfully diverse mix of attendees – caregivers, healthcare workers, older adults, and community advocates – all looking to strengthen their own preparedness while learning how to better support the people around them. Our first session walked through a simple framework: identify barriers and risks, learn about and connect with resources, and make a plan – covering everything from building a disaster kit tailored to a care recipient’s medical needs to North Carolina’s rules on emergency prescription refills.
We examined why some neighbors are hit harder than others. Older adults made up roughly two-thirds of North Carolina deaths in Hurricane Florence, and nationally, communities with higher income inequality see a greater share of residents highly vulnerable to disaster. The sessions also covered the emotional toll disasters take –normal stress reactions, the risk of “sanctuary trauma” when safe spaces feel unsafe, and resources like the Disaster Distress Helpline for anyone struggling to cope.
Across both sessions, a few themes keep surfacing: build a support circle of 2–5 trusted people, keep an accessible emergency plan with large print and updated medication lists, and don’t wait until a storm is forecast to register for local emergency alerts.
We’re grateful to our guest speakers: Audrey Hart of Trillium Health Resources, and Rosalie Calarco of AARP, who grounded the series in the realities of preparedness for older adults, a population disproportionately affected in nearly every major disaster on record.
NCDRRN is excited to keep Roots & Resilience growing.
Our third and final installment of this series is coming up on August 25th, and you can register here.
Stay tuned for our final session, and visit ncsurvivalschool.org for resources and updates.
