Five nurses and one paramedic from the North Dakota Medical Reserve Corps deployed to North Carolina today to help individuals and communities recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
North Carolina requested help through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a state-to-state mutual aid compact that facilitates the sharing of resources across state lines during times of emergency or disaster.
“North Dakota stands with those impacted by the devastating forces of Hurricane Helene, just as other states have helped our state during past floods and other crises,” said Gov. Doug Burgum, who approved the EMAC request. “Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones, and we pray for the safety of the individuals who are still missing and those struggling to recover from this deadly storm. We are deeply grateful to those deploying to help these storm victims in their time of need.”
This is the second time North Dakota nurses have deployed to help North Carolina as a result of hurricane devastation. The state previously assisted North Carolina in 2018 following Hurricane Florence.
“We are incredibly proud of these members of the Medical Reserve Corps in North Dakota. Their assistance allows us to send top healthcare professionals to a state so desperately in need,” says Juli Sickler, Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response for the Department of Health and Human Services. “This professional team will provide health and medical assistance to North Carolina’s citizens who are currently in shelters.”
The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services is the lead coordinating agency for all EMAC requests. EMAC requests are approved by both parties’ governors, and all expenses are reimbursed by the requesting state.
Image: Four of six of the North Dakota Medical Reserve Corps members deploying from Bismarck, ND. Three of these pictured also deployed to North Carolina in 2018.