Hurricane Dorian: How To Help Ocracoke Island Residents

OCRACOKE, NC — As the center of Hurricane Dorian made landfall in North Carolina Friday morning, the barrier island of Ocracoke experienced significant flooding, prompting evacuations of residents trapped in their homes. After storm surge began to recede Friday night, ferry service opened Saturday for emergency responders delivering supplies and evacuations of residents. While assessments of damages are underway, local groups and residents stepped up to support recovery efforts.

With any disaster relief effort, donors should be aware of scams. Officials urged donors to look for reputable sources to ensure funds and items go where they're needed.

Here are some ways to help residents:

North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund: The state's disaster relief fund is accepting donations for Hurricane Dorian damage. Contributions support unmet needs of hurricane victims. Donations can also be mailed to:

• North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund 20312 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699

Outer Banks Community Foundation: Donations to support relief and recovery after Hurricane Dorian will directly support residents in Dare County and Ocracoke. Donors can specify if donations should be designated for Ocracoke.

Donations can also be mailed with "Disaster Relief" in the memo line:

• Outer Banks Community Foundation at 13 Skyline Road, Southern Shores, NC 27949

GoFundMe: The fundraising page seeks donations to help the community rebuild and repair. Donations go to The Lifesaving Church (formerly Assembly of God) and Ocracoke United Methodist Church. This page was vetted by the island's news website, Ocracoke Current.

If you do not wish to donate through GoFundMe, send a check to either church with "Hurricane Dorian Relief" in the memo line:

• Ocracoke United Methodist Church PO BOX 278 Ocracoke, NC 27960
• Ocracoke Assembly of God PO Box 68 Ocracoke, NC 27960

Facebook user Jenny Willis posted information on a couple of donation runs that are taking place throughout the day Saturday, first at the Piggly Wiggly in Beaufort (ending at 6 p.m.) and then at Chadwick Tire in Otway (ending at 7 p.m.). Donations will then be sent to the Cedar Island Fire Department so the supplies can be taken by boat to Ocracoke.

Here are some of the requested items that she listed:

• Cleaning supplies: Bleach, Clorox wipes, dish liquid, THICK trash bags, mops, brooms, large dust pans, trash cans, etc.
• Household supplies: fans, blankets, batteries, fly traps/strips, plastic storage containers, tarps of all sizes, laundry baskets, clothes lines, clothes pins, paper plates, plastic cutlery, plastic cups, toilet paper, paper towels, propane cylinders, etc.
• Personal supplies: soap, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, tooth brushes, mouth wash, hair combs/brushes, towels, wash clothes, sanitary supplies, baby diapers/wipes, etc
• Food: canned and boxed food ONLY and Water.

"Please remember these people have lost everything so, they need everything you may use in the run of day," she added. "The[y] are on an Island and can’t just run to Walmart to get what they need. Let’s help our neighbors up the sound!!!"

• Residents To Begin Returning Home To Hurricane Ravaged Ocracoke
• Hurricane Dorian Rescues Underway, Storm Heads Toward New England
• Hurricane Dorian: Ocracoke Island Hit Hard
• Hurricane Dorian: Tweets, Photos From Outer Banks

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