The program provides survivors of Hurricane Florence access to crisis counseling, outreach and education, and assessments and referrals for services and further support. Disaster preparedness is also a focus of the program.

“The challenge for us now in North Carolina is no longer ‘if’ we will be impacted by the next storm event, it is ‘when,’ ” said Susan Robinson with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, who heads up the Hope 4 NC project. “Our aim is to help individuals of all ages in our communities stay resilient through trauma experienced, recover well and be prepared.”

Hope 4 NC will be providing services through September 2019, and is supported through funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.