WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – The City of Wilmington is working with the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management to study how residents are affected by flooding, storms, and sea-level rise as part of the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP).

The city is inviting residents to attend an in-person event to learn more about RCCP on Wednesday, March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Skyline Center in Wilmington.

At the meeting, residents can:

• Learn what disaster resilience means for the City of Wilmington
• Learn about the Resilient Coastal Communities Program
• Share ideas, concerns, and local knowledge by taking the survey
• Find out how to continue making their voice heard during the project

For those unable to attend the in-person event, an online survey is currently available and accepting submissions.

To learn more about RCCP, click here.

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Eastern North Carolina could see multiple rounds of storms through Monday, including the potential for severe weather with damaging winds, tornadoes and hail.

The National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City says rain and thunderstorms will increase Sunday afternoon and evening as a warm front lifts north across the region. Some storms could become strong, with the greatest chance for severe weather near the Crystal Coast and Outer Banks.

The weather service expects a more significant threat on Monday as a strong cold front moves across the Carolinas. Multiple rounds of storms are possible throughout the day, with the greatest risk during the afternoon and evening.

Meteorologists say conditions Monday could support widespread severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes.

Many ENC schools are closing or releasing early on Monday due to the severe weather threat.

A line of storms is expected to move west to east across eastern North Carolina Monday evening ahead of the cold front. Forecasters say isolated supercell thunderstorms may also develop ahead of the line earlier in the day.

The NWS has placed eastern North Carolina under an enhanced risk of severe weather Monday, indicating numerous severe storms are possible.

Outside of thunderstorms, strong winds are also expected ahead of the front. Inland areas could see the strongest non-thunderstorm winds between 2 and 7 p.m. Monday, while the coast and Outer Banks could experience peak winds between 6 p.m. and midnight.

Wind advisories have been issued for parts of the Outer Banks and Down East Carteret County. Hazardous marine conditions and high surf are also expected along the coast.

Behind the cold front, temperatures are forecast to drop sharply. Overnight lows could approach freezing across the Coastal Plain early Tuesday, with another round of colder air potentially bringing temperatures into the upper 20s inland Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

Forecasters advise residents to monitor the latest weather updates and have multiple ways to receive warnings as the storms move through the area.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has announced a statewide online mental health bed registry aiming to reduce wait times and ensure people in crisis receive care as soon as possible.

According to a news release, the Behavioral Health Statewide Central Availability Navigator (BH SCAN) is now updated hourly instead of once per day and has been integrated with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The hotline 988 will now be able to connect mobile crisis teams when they are dispatched to someone in crisis, letting them know the available mental health beds in their area.

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This allows for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center dispatchers to connect to BH SCAN for mental health bed availability in the caller’s area, making sure there are no disruptions, the release says.

“Making BH SCAN available to 988 counselors and improving its accuracy with automated updates will make it easier for people in North Carolina to receive the care they need and deserve in a more coordinated effort,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai, in a news release. “This innovative partnership between providers and facilities across the state is one of the ways we are working to support a mental health care system that works for everyone, ensuring a healthier North Carolina.”

According to the release, the Automated Bed Availability (ABA) function of the BH SCAN will provide real-time data to providers and hospitals across the state who are searching for an available mental health care bed.

Previously, the SCAN relied on manual daily updates by hospital staff, which reduced the accuracy of the system and could result in delays in finding an available bed.

Now the new automated bed feature ensures that providers can quickly and accurately find a placement for patients across the state and at all levels of care.

The release says that North Carolina is the first state in the country to have the hourly ABA function.

Since the launch of the BH SCAN in 2023, it has grown to provide up-to-date information to more than 3,500 mental health care beds in 112 facilities across the state.

These facilities include the following:

• Inpatient psychiatric beds
• Alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers
• Substance use disorder care
• Behavioral health urgent care
• Pediatric residential care
• Facility-based care and state hospitals

NCDHHS says BH SCAN is a secure portal that allows referring facilities to search for an appropriate and available inpatient bed based on multiple search criteria, including demographics, acuity, commitment status and location.

BH SCAN now provides visibility into 80% of the state’s total inpatient psychiatric bed capacity, with more beds expected to be added, according to the release. There are approximately 3,200 inpatient psychiatric beds statewide.

NCDHHS’ goal is to have all providers on the ABA enhancement to the BH SCAN by early 2027.

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According to the release, when the ABA expansion went live, North Carolina experienced a 1,400% increase in bed updates per day, meaning providers were easily able to see current information about available beds.

“BH SCAN is one of many investments made by NCDHHS to build resilience and strengthen our system of care to ensure everyone gets the care they need in the place that is convenient to them,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director, NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Disorders. “Finding an appropriate bed based on someone’s medical needs can be a time-intensive process. BH SCAN is helping simplify this so people receive help quicker.”

For more information on NCDHHS’ efforts to increase mental health care in North Carolina, visit here.