KINSTON, N.C. – After a few days' wait, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are in eastern North Carolina today, assessing the damage done by Hurricane Florence and creating the infrastructure to address the need. But local community groups are already several steps ahead of them.

They include the North Carolina Hurricane Relief Effort and Community Rapid Response Network. The collective is made up of organizations that are no strangers to the people most in need of help. Courtney Patterson is an organizer there, helping to coordinate their effort.

"The reason we're able to reach these people is because we were already in touch with them, prior to this storm,” says Patterson. “And we realized that we needed to come together in solidarity with the people who are affected, and to try and provide and meet their needs."

The Network is made up of people from Eastern NC Triangle, the Environmental Justice Network and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, along with other grassroots groups.

According to Patterson, they began preparing early last week, speaking with community groups from Hurricane Harvey about best practices for helping people. They're seeking financial support, as well as donations of toiletries, household cleaning supplies and roof-patching materials.

Eastern North Carolina is home to some of the highest poverty rates in the state, up to 35 percent, with many minority communities confronting generational poverty. The state average is around 16 percent.

Patterson says he and others were struck by what was missing in the images of President Donald Trump's visit to the coast on Thursday.

"Discrimination is still a factor in what we do,” he notes. “You might have seen one or two black faces there – but see, the people that I know that have been inundated by this storm are black faces, and there was no focus put on any of that."

The risk management agency Moody's Analytics estimates the damage from Hurricane Florence could be as much as $22 billion. Hurricane Matthew cost roughly $6 billion.


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The baby boomer generation is getting older and the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including regular access to nutritious meals, can present some challenges.

American Health Rankings reports nearly 14% of Illinoisans aged 60 and above were food insecure in the last 12 months.

In 2023, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Illinois Grocery Initiative into law to offer incentives for grocers to open shop in neighborhoods with food deserts.

Christiana Williams, a registered dietitian, explained the lack of food access is also affected or caused by psychological and mobility factors.

"Many of them are living alone and/or can't drive anymore," Williams observed. "There's that potential of them feeling lonely or isolated, which can really impact their motivation to want to actually go out and choose healthy options. From that mental aspect, it can be super frustrating to lose that sense of independence, that they can't just go out on their own like they are used to."

Arthritis in the hands, difficulties with chewing or a lack of having all of their teeth, Williams noted, are additional barriers, which can prevent achieving a balanced diet. She pointed out standing for long periods to prep and cook meals can also create more limitations.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Illinoisans aged 65 and older comprise 11% of the state's population. Although they may have the best intentions and strive to eat balanced meals, extra help may be needed.

Williams explained speaking with professionals trained in menu planning is an excellent option.

"Many supermarkets have dietitians on staff. Many private practice dietitians take Medicaid and insurance," Williams outlined. "It's really all about making sure family members and friends can actually be aware that these resources are out there and connecting those resources with the seniors in their life."

Williams acknowledged many seniors have limited incomes which influence their food purchases and the misconception exists healthy food is more expensive. She advises following basic nutrition guidelines, knowing specific nutritional needs and using a little strategy for grocery and meal planning.


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The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a widespread recall of Boar's Head deli meats for contamination of listeria earlier this year.

The latest outbreak has led to almost 60 hospitalizations and 10 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jose Brandao, assistant professor of food sciences at Utah State University, said the United States has "strong" food-safety policy but lacks proper implementation.

"That means that sanitation needs to be done properly and consistently," Brandao explained. "Especially with listeria, it's a bacteria that forms biofilms. Basically a protective cape that is going to make it a lot harder to clean that bacteria once the biofilm is formed."

Brandao noted bacteria capable of forming biofilms are involved in most bacterial infections, including foodborne diseases but added poor sanitation is often the root cause. Another part of the equation is testing. Documents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service in 2023 show significant testing cuts were made and it has prompted some to call for more federal oversight and ensure more aggressive inspections.

Brandao stressed he wants to see a better "food safety culture" and argued it does not come from stronger regulation but rather is fostered in facilities.

"You can have the best managers but if your employees don't see the importance in food safety, you are not going to have food safety," Brandao contended. "Just simple stuff like cleaning your hands, cleaning and sanitizing the food-contact surface, are incredibly important."

He acknowledged employees could also care about food safety but lack the appropriate tools and resources from management.

Following reports of mold, insects, dripping water and animal residue dating back at least two years, Boar's Head decided to shut down its plant in Virginia which has been tied to the deadly outbreak. Brandao emphasized such events have immediate and long-lasting impacts.

"We are speaking about the livelihood of people, a company," Brandao pointed out. "We are speaking about an industry that is going to be affected; production levels are going to go down, sales are going to go down, public trust is going to be eroded."

Brandao asserted there are many gaps in research he argued need to be filled, saying more support in scientific research will help reduce the amount of food-safety outbreaks each year.


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September is Hunger Action Month. In North Dakota, it isn't just food banks trying to help underserved populations get nutritious items. Health facilities at the community level are chipping in, too. Community Health Centers are federally qualified clinics that provide primary care to all patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Shannon Bacon, director of equity and external affairs with Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas, said since 2021, locations in this region have elevated patient screening to get a better understanding of their needs, including whether they have enough healthy food to eat.

"One example, they could ask, you know, in the past 12 months, were they ever worried about whether their food would run out before they had money to buy more?" she said.

She added that type of dialogue with a trusted health provider can help reduce any stigma about hunger and suggested this broader approach to meeting patient needs can help lead to better outcomes for these patients. Through a partnership with the Great Plains Food Bank, some Community Health Centers in North Dakota have onsite pantries, where patients who screen positive for food insecurity are sent home with fruits, vegetables and other healthy items.

Bacon said during these screenings, people also can be referred to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits, and added that there's an awareness gap in which some patients who meet the criteria don't know where to turn in their community.

"One health center found that a large majority of the patients who said, 'Yes, I am interested in getting connected with food and nutrition resources today,' also said they hadn't visited a pantry in the last year," she continued.

She said asking these questions during a wellness visit can help communities better support individuals who are falling through the cracks in the local safety net.


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