North Dakota medical personnel en route to North Carolina to help hurricane victims

BISMARCK — Five nurses and one paramedic from the North Dakota Medical Reserve Corps deployed to North Carolina on Tuesday, Oct. 1, to help communities recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

North Carolina requested help through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a mutual aid agreement that coordinates resource sharing across state lines during emergencies or disasters, a Department of Emergency Services news release said.

“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,” Gov. Doug Burgum said in the release.

This deployment marks the second time North Dakota has helped North Carolina as a result of hurricane devastation, with nurses previously traveling there in 2018 following Hurricane Florence.

“This professional team will provide health and medical assistance to North Carolina’s citizens who are currently in shelters,” said Juli Sickler, Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Requests made through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact are approved by governors, and all expenses are reimbursed by the requesting state, the news release said.

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