Digital Scholarship and Initiatives

Five weeks after Hurricane Matthew, homes and streets in South Lumberton are uninhabitable. More than 500 residents are living in motels, some as far away as South Carolina. However, almost everyone has found some type of living quarters and all of the 100 emergency shelters have been closed.

At the first meeting of Gov. Pat McCrory’s Hurricane Matthew Recovery Committee, these things were stated: McCrory submitted a request for more than $1 billion in federal assistance, and the General Assembly is expected to convene in early December to discuss freeing up money to do so.

“The meeting was held to discuss steps to raise money, organize community resources, hear from the public and address disaster-relief needs that won't be met by federal programs alone.”

Director of N.C. Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry said that almost 4,000 people were served in 100 shelters, 2,200 people were rescued by boat, 90 people were rescued by helicopter and 28 people died. Robeson County also had the most FEMA applicants in the state.

“The governor's recovery committee plans four more regional meetings in hard-hit cities, including Fayetteville on Monday.”