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ORD- 2013 -031 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 5, 2013 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 5 -r <br />1 <br />SUBJECT: Request to Ratify the Memorandum of Understanding with the North Carolina <br />Department of Emergency Management and Approve Budget Amendment #1 -E <br />by Accepting State Aid Funds Related to Orange County Flooding <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Memorandum of Understanding Nancy Coston, 919 - 245 -2800 <br />PURPOSE: To approve Budget Amendment #1 -E for Social Services (DSS) to accept state aid <br />funds and ratify the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the North Carolina Department <br />of Emergency Management signed by the County Manager in response to flooding in Orange <br />County on June 30, 2013. <br />BACKGROUND: On June 30, 2013, when flooding impacted families in Chapel Hill and <br />Carrboro, the Orange County Department of Social Services (DSS) immediately began assisting <br />families. Staff members from DSS were at the shelter each day until July 4t" when it was closed <br />by the Red Cross. Many of the first issues involved immediate needs such as clothing, food and <br />transportation. The Red Cross provided for some of these needs and DSS staff began <br />assessing families for other services. For example, all families who were already receiving <br />Food and Nutrition Services were assessed for replacement benefits on their EBT cards. <br />Social workers from DSS were also available at the Recovery Center at University Mall during <br />the time it was operated first by Red Cross and then later by the state Division of Emergency <br />Management. As DSS staff talked with families, it became clear that many of the impacted <br />families had multiple issues needing resolution. Most were paying monthly rental fees below the <br />average market rates for Chapel Hill and Carrboro and many had physical or mental disabilities <br />needing accommodation. These issues created barriers when staff tried to help families <br />relocate to permanent housing. <br />At the time the shelter was closed by the Red Cross, sixteen families were identified for shelter <br />at local hotels. Additionally, the Town of Chapel Hill provided shelter at hotels for some public <br />housing residents impacted by the flood. Some families originally placed in hotels by the Red <br />Cross did not have housing within the week and DSS extended the hotel stays for these <br />families. Some additional families were also placed in hotels after they were no longer able to <br />stay in or return to their homes. S taff members from DSS have worked throughout this time to <br />