North Carolina, Raleigh- Faced with the impact of a hurricane, there are various organizations that provide assistance to the population in general and to the Latino community in particular.
One of those agencies, which is responsible for coordinating health efforts at the state level, is the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
In the midst of hurricane season, its director of Policy and Strategy for Latinos and Hispanics, Yazmín García Rico, of the preparation forums organized by Enlace Latino NC and responded to questions posed by community members.
“DHHS manages the delivery of health and human services-related services for all North Carolinians. And especially for the most vulnerable people, including children, the elderly, the disabled and low-income people,” Yazmín García Rico explained during the conversation.
Health, human services, administrations and support
As the specialist indicated, DHHS works in collaboration with health professionals, community leaders, advocacy groups, and state, local, and federal entities.
"We have 33 divisions and offices that are part of this state department. And the divisions deal with four areas: health, human services, administration, and support."
García Rico, mention that we also supervise 14 facilities, developmental centers, psychiatric hospitals, alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers, and residential programs for children.
"It's important that we take the warnings and the possibility that a disaster could happen to us seriously. If you don't want to go to a shelter, find another option," he said.
"It could be a family member or someone who can receive them to keep them safe. But our lives are worth a lot. That's why we must receive all the information, prepare, plan, and leave when we're told it's necessary," the specialist warned.
FAQ
ELNC: What is the role of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services before, during and after a hurricane hits?
YGR: Each division of our department does different jobs. For example, the Medicaid team helps implement extensions so that beneficiaries can see out-of-state providers, receive prescriptions and other necessary alternatives when there is a hurricane and they have to evacuate their homes.
Additionally, the division of social services can help if people lose their food stamps.
The Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, for its part, also works with emergency teams across the state to provide support to people who need mental health or intellectual disability assistance. And they even collaborate, if necessary, with the development of disaster resources in communities. They also implement the call center HOPE NC, which provides 24/7 support. The call center is also configured for Spanish-speaking people.
Then there is the emergency support function, which is responsible for public health and medical response. When at the local level they do not have sufficient resources, they can make a request to the state level about what their needs are and we can provide what is needed: whether it is medical equipment, personnel or communication. And if at the local level they ask for something that the state does not have, we connect with the federal government.
On the other hand, at the local level, specific shelters are often created for people who need very advanced medical services, and we can coordinate these initiatives, such as small hospitals for people who need more help than a normal shelter can provide. . And also if people have very advanced medical needs, they are sent to a hospital.
Each division of NCDHHS responds in a specific way to its work.
ELNC: Is there any particular protocol that should be shared with farm workers during hurricane times or during a natural disaster?
YGR: All sites that are affiliated with the farmworker health program follow their protocols. For example, if it is a community clinic, they follow these protocols to be able to respond to the needs of the community. It is also important to share that in 2019 a document was created that is basically recommendations that the state gave to the different entities at the local level. There was a lot of talk there about farmworkers and the importance of keeping them, as well as the broader immigrant community, top of mind in everything from preparation, planning, and response to making sure we have the necessary reach.
One of those recommendations is to work with non-profit organizations that already have the relationship and trust with the Latino community. For example, consulates, Farmworker Health Program, Farmworkers Advocacy Network, United hands and the Episcopal Ministry to Farm Workers. It is also important to know that the state has funds to provide hotels. And it is a service open to everyone regardless of immigration status.
ELNC: Do you offer specific support for Spanish speakers? If someone calls, can they request help in Spanish?
YGR: All Medicaid call centers, including the contact center and health plans, have people who speak Spanish and can assist you. It can be answered by a Hispanic person, a bilingual person, or through the language line in which there are other languages. In addition, many of the materials we have for this hurricane season are already ready and translated into Spanish. And all press conferences can be seen in Spanish. On the other hand, we also have communications personnel who join our emergency operations center when necessary to provide information in Spanish.
ELNC: Is North Carolina prepared for massive natural disasters involving large numbers of people?
YGR: The response to natural disasters begins at the local level, where there is coordination and teams involving firefighters, police and all local personnel. They are the ones who let us know if they need tents, supplies or medical equipment, and that's where the state comes in. Each county has its infrastructure. And there is currently an interest in more Latinos joining these local volunteer groups. There is also collaboration on the part of the Department of Public Safety, which is connecting with the National Guard, and also FEMA at the federal level. Together we can respond to these types of emergencies.
To give an example, Governor Cooper declared a state of emergency due to the storm and was already in communication with local people to offer this type of help. Approximately 250 public safety personnel are carrying out the rescue operations in Haywood and Transylvania counties, where we know many people have been affected. We as a state support with whatever is needed at the local level. And if the local level does not have what it needs then we ask for help at the federal level to be able to respond. It is a collaboration between different governments at different levels that come together to provide assistance.
ELNC: Do people have to be citizens to access medical services?
YGR: Below DHHS there are different divisions. For example, if you have Medicaid benefits then you already qualify. Now, if we talk about other types of resources, there are different programs and opportunities that have specific requirements. I have not seen anything that says “if you do not have documents, then you do not qualify.” And as for the shelters, no documents are needed to access them either. Something very important to emphasize is that enforcing immigration laws is not a state function but a federal one. However, we must be realistic: the situation is different in many counties. So even if there is a shelter near the mobile homes, sometimes it takes a lot of work for people to have the confidence to feel that they can ask for assistance.
Many of the entities that are part of the response are firefighters or local police personnel, so it all comes back to developing local trust between the local community and these entities so that in the face of an emergency people can feel that they are arriving somewhere without fear. .
ELNC: Is the state prepared to assist Latinos and Latinas affected by natural disasters in North Carolina?
YGR: The state is coordinating the information available in Spanish on the website of Ready NC and the communications given at press conferences. We also work to provide assistance that counties don't have. I emphasize that there is a lot of work to do and that it is very important to have these types of conversations to outline concrete ideas. As a Latin community there are still many problems. This is where all the collaborations of entities that already have the trust of the Latin community come in. I think as a state we have the information available, but what we hear is most needed is local response and outreach. And as a state entity, at least in my role, we do not have a presence in every county.
We need to continue these conversations so that at the local level all organizations understand the importance of keeping the Latino community in mind.
ELNC: What can we do as a Latino community to unite and prepare for a natural disaster or hurricane?
YGR: It is very important to plan, prepare and stay informed during these hurricane times. As a Latin community, something very warm that we have is this unity and this response of trying to help others. So I invite you to create these types of networks in your localities to be able to support each other. Communication is very important, for example sharing information on WhatsApp or Facebook. Over this past year we have learned a lot as a community about what resources are available and the organizations that provide support. It is also very important that everyone has their kit ready at home, a small package with important documents, cash and lamps. It is also essential to receive alerts on your cell phone and follow local health departments on social media for updates.
Watch the full interview with Yazmín García Rico chopping here.
PODCAST
After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
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