CCDRA—Coastal Carolina Disaster Resiliency Agency

06/12/2026

In Eastern North Carolina, one of the most dangerous parts of hurricanes is often not the wind—it's the water.

🌊 Many families impacted by Hurricane Florence and Matthew never expected to flood. Some weren't even located in designated flood zones.

Flooding can happen from heavy rain, storm surge, overwhelmed drainage systems, and in areas that have never flooded before.

Know your risk. Prepare before the water starts rising.

🚫 Never drive through flooded roads.
Turn Around, Don't Drown.

📍 Check your flood risk: fris.nc.gov
📍 Preparedness resources: ccdranc.org/preparedness

06/11/2026

🌀 Hurricane Season Is Here. Be Prepared.

One of the best things you can do before, during, and after a storm is build an emergency kit.

And no—you do not have to buy everything at once.

Preparedness can feel overwhelming and expensive, especially for families already stretching every dollar. Start small. Pick up a few extra items during each grocery trip and build your kit over time.

Consider adding:
💧 Water
🥫 Nonperishable food
🔦 Flashlights
🔋 Batteries
🔌 Portable chargers
💊 Medications
🩹 First aid supplies
🐶 Pet supplies
📄 Important documents
🧻 Hygiene items

⚠️ Important Tip: If you evacuate, take your emergency kit with you. Supplies can be difficult to find when you return home, and you may still be dealing with power outages, limited access to food and water, or closed stores.

Remember: After a storm, stores may close, supplies may run low, and power outages can last for days.

A little preparation now can reduce a lot of stress later.

📋 View CCDRA's Emergency Kit recommendations:
https://ccdranc.org/emergency-kit/

📚 More preparedness resources:
https://ccdranc.org/preparedness/

06/10/2026

Let's get back to hurricane preparedness, shall we?

Hurricane season is here, and now is the time to get ready. Forecasts are just predictions. It only takes one storm to change everything.

One of the biggest reasons disaster survivors experience delays in receiving help is because they don't have the documentation needed to apply for insurance, FEMA, or assistance from other organizations. After a disaster, agencies must verify things like homeownership, occupancy, income, insurance coverage, and eligibility for their programs.

The challenge? The places that provide those records may also be impacted by the disaster. Power outages, damaged systems, and overwhelmed offices can make getting documents difficult when you need them most.

That's why we encourage everyone to print and safely store important documents at the beginning of hurricane season. Keep recent copies of items like utility bills, insurance policies, proof of income, deeds or leases, identification, and vehicle titles in your evacuation kit or another secure location.

It's also a good idea to update dated documents throughout hurricane season. Consider printing fresh copies of utility bills and proof of income each month, or whenever a storm is forecast to impact your area. Having current documentation can make the recovery process much smoother if disaster strikes.

If a disaster impacted your home tomorrow, would you have what you need to start the recovery process?

05/06/2026

Over the next few days, CCDRA will be sharing important preparedness information with our community. These recommendations are meant to help you get started, but every home and every family is different. Do what YOU need to do to be ready. Don’t get caught unprepared when it’s too late.

Today, let’s start with the basics: Categories, forecasts, and why every storm matters.

Hurricane Season begins June 1st, and one of the biggest misconceptions we hear is: “It’s only a Category 1.”

Hurricane categories are based ONLY on wind speed. They do NOT measure:
🌧 Flooding, 🌊 Storm surge, 🌪 Tornadoes, ☔ Rainfall amounts

Learn more about Storm Categories and the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale from NOAA:
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php

Hurricane Florence made landfall as a Category 1 storm nearly two hours south of us, yet communities across Eastern North Carolina experienced catastrophic flooding and devastation — including Craven and Jones Counties.

A “lower category” storm can still completely change lives.

Another important thing to understand is the Cone of Uncertainty. The cone shows the possible path of the CENTER of the storm — not the size of the storm or exactly where impacts will occur.

Forecast tracks often shift as storms develop. Even small changes can greatly impact who sees flooding, wind, tornadoes, and storm surge.

Do not focus on one exact line or point. Impacts can occur far outside the forecast cone.

You may also hear terms like El Niño and La Niña during hurricane season forecasts:
🔵 El Niño years can sometimes reduce Atlantic hurricane activity.
🔴 La Niña years can increase the likelihood of more active hurricane seasons.

Learn more about El Niño and La Niña from NOAA:
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/weather-atmosphere/el-nino

No matter the forecast, it only takes ONE storm impacting OUR area to create a disaster.

It is also important to understand the difference between:
⚠ Hurricane Watch = Conditions are POSSIBLE
🚨 Hurricane Warning = Conditions are EXPECTED

Learn more about Hurricane Watches and Warnings from NOAA:
https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/tropical/tropical-cyclone-hazards

Preparedness should begin BEFORE watches and warnings are issued.

Learn more about preparedness and how to get started:
https://ccdranc.org/preparedness/

04/15/2026

March and early April kept us moving in the best kind of way.

We were blessed to host multiple teams from World Renew - Disaster Response Services and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, who came from across the country to serve alongside us here in Craven and Jones Counties.

What really makes it special… many of these volunteers were college students and youth who gave up their spring break to show up for our community. Instead of a vacation, they chose to be part of Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts—putting in the work, building relationships, and making a real difference for our homeowners.

We’re beyond grateful for each of them. The impact they made matters, but so do the memories, the laughter, and the time spent together.

We’ll be smiling about this March and early April for a long time. 💙

Yes, the work still continues 💙

If you would like to volunteer with CCDRA, would like to make a donation, or if you are a homeowner still living in a Hurricane Florence damaged home, please contact us at (252) 571-2976 or visit our website: https://ccdranc.org/

03/19/2026

We could not do our work without the help of our volunteers, grantors, partners, and community members. One of the big supporters that have stepped up for Craven and Jones Counties is Verizon.

Not only has Verizon stepped up with funding for CCDRA, they also helped us tell the story of two of our wonderful homeowners.

Thank you to Verizon and to our wonderful homeowners who shared their powerful stories.

When a major weather event, like a hurricane, strikes, communities often receive an immediate outpouring of help. However, the community need continues long ...

03/13/2026

If your home experienced damage in Craven or Jones County from the March 12, 2026 severe storms or from Hurricane Florence, CCDRA is asking homeowners to complete our Contact Us form to report damage.

This form helps CCDRA document and assess damage so we can better understand the needs in our community.

At this time, our current repair funding is limited to homes impacted by Hurricane Florence. However, we are gathering information about damages from the March 12 storms. If assessments show there is a significant level of need, CCDRA may pursue additional funding to help with repairs for eligible homes.

Submitting the form does not guarantee assistance, but it allows our team to evaluate needs and determine potential eligibility. A member of the CCDRA team may reach out to you for additional information or to connect you to a resource or assistance as we review reports, assess community needs, and establish resources.

Please use the link below to report damage:
🔗

We’re here to help. Thank you for reaching out to the Coastal Carolina Disaster Resiliency Agency (CCDRA). Our team works alongside volunteers, community partners, and local organizations to help households […]

03/12/2026

We are starting to receive reports of damage to homes from today’s storms.

Beginning tomorrow, CCDRA will be taking calls from homeowners who experienced storm-related damage so we can begin documenting and assessing the impact across our community.

Once we have a better understanding of the extent of the damage, we will consider pursuing funding to help with repairs for homes that meet our eligibility requirements.

We will share contact information tomorrow morning for homeowners to report damages, so please stay tuned.

Please continue to stay safe and be mindful of changing weather conditions.

02/27/2026

No one person, no one organization, no one business can fix disaster recovery alone. It takes all of us. And we truly could not do this work without our local partners standing beside us.

When we realized this homeowner needed urgent repairs and the roof had to be handled fast, we made one call to Storm Guard Roofing. They were out the same day to assess it, and by the very next morning they were on the roof getting to work. No delays, no excuses. Just action.

Nearly eight years after Hurricane Florence, too many families still feel forgotten. But this week, this homeowner was reminded that recovery is still happening and hope is still very much alive.

Thank you for going above and beyond, Storm Guard Roofing! We are grateful for partners who show up when it matters most. 💙

To support CCDRA and ongoing recovery efforts in Craven and Jones Counties, please visit our website: https://ccdranc.org or contact us at 252-571-2976.

02/01/2026

Well last night was exciting for our area. So what now?

❄️ Snow Safety Reminder for New Bern & Eastern NC ❄️

This much snow is rare for our area. Please slow down and put safety first.

🫀 Take shoveling seriously. Heavy, wet snow can trigger heart attacks. Take frequent breaks, push snow when possible instead of lifting, lift small amounts, stay hydrated, and stop immediately if you feel chest pain, tightness, dizziness, nausea, or shortness of breath. If you have heart or breathing issues, please ask for help.

🧹 Pace yourself when clearing snow. This isn’t a race and overexertion can be dangerous.

🏠 Clear snow from all vents around your home, including dryer vents, furnace vents, bathroom vents, and gas appliance vents. Blocked vents can cause carbon monoxide buildup.

⚠️ Check intake, dryer, and exhaust pipes outside of your house and keep them clear.

🚪 Keep snow cleared from doors and emergency exits in case you need to get out quickly.

🚿 Drip faucets and open sink cabinets to help prevent frozen pipes.

❄️ Clear snow away from outdoor HVAC units. Gently remove snow from the top and sides and keep airflow areas clear. Do not use sharp tools or force ice off.

🔧 If your heating system sounds unusual or stops working, turn it off and call a professional. Do not run HVAC systems with blocked vents or intakes.

🔥 Use space heaters safely. Keep them at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, never leave them unattended, and do not use them while sleeping.

🚫 Never use grills, camp stoves, or ovens to heat your home.

🔌 If using a generator, run it outdoors only and far away from windows and doors.

🚨 Make sure carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are working and have fresh batteries.

🚗 Please avoid driving if you can. Roads may look clear but are often icy underneath. Bridges and shaded areas freeze first. Local roads and crews are not equipped for ice like northern states.

🐾 Bring pets indoors and check on outdoor animals often. Ice melt and salt can hurt paws, so wipe them after walks.

🧯 If you’re able, clear snow away from nearby fire hydrants so they’re accessible in an emergency.

💙 Check on neighbors, especially older adults, people with medical needs, or anyone without reliable heat. A quick call or knock can make a big difference.

We know this weather is unusual for our area. Please take it slow, protect your health, and look out for one another. ❤️