Volunteer, church disaster response remains strong in Pamlico County

BAYBORO — A Friday morning meeting between Hurricane Irene volunteer leaders, and county and municipal officials drew a consensus that relief efforts should be centralized through a group that has been operating out of Bayboro Baptist Church since the storm ravaged the county Aug. 27.

David Spruill, the county’s EMS director, called the meeting to gather information on any unknown unmet needs.

“I want to make sure we are not doing things twice and wasting resources,” he told a group of about 25 people, which included mayors from Oriental and Vandemere, along with Bayboro’s town clerk, state Rep. Norman Sanderson and several FEMA representatives.

A concern expressed by Melissa Greene, the Area 3 coordinator from state emergency management, was the influx of unknown contractors into the county offering assistance with rebuilding and repairing homes.

Contractors have been asked to go by the Bayboro church and register, to add their names to companies that are bonded, insured and deemed reputable by the state. She said homeowners should be wary of contractors who travel door-to-door offering services, especially ones who ask for money up front. Her advice was to call the church at 252-745-4106.

County Manager Tim Buck said Pamlico’s small inspection department was currently stretched thin “just doing the basics” in the aftermath of the storm. He said developing a procedure to keep track of incoming companies would be added to the county’s to-do list.

Scott Fitzgerald, who is coordinating the Bayboro church relief center operation with Miriam Prescott, said volunteer groups have been overwhelming in their response to the Pamlico disaster.

He said groups such as the Baptist Men, Samaritan’s Purse, United Methodists, Harvest Connection, Mennonites, Marines and Coast Guard had all been working — with more on the way.

The work includes the tearing out of flooring, walls and duct work from damaged homes and treating mold, as well as removing trees still atop houses.

“It is our goal by the end of next week to have 20 to 30 teams working every day,” he said. “If you know someone with needs, please, please call us and we will send someone to them. If they need a bed, an air conditioner or a fan or food, we can put them in touch with the right people.”

Vandemere Mayor Judy Thaaman said she had been going door-to-door seeing what people needed and she had often come upon a Catch-22 situation — people needing furniture, appliances and other items, but with no livable house in which to put them.

“It would be nice if we had rebuilding teams, but we are just not there yet,” said Fitzgerald, who added that more volunteer plumbers, electricians and carpenters are expected.

Prescott noted: “People are proud and a lot of them won’t ask for help.”

She said the Bayboro group — comprised of churches and volunteers from throughout the county — has attracted more than 250 volunteers who have spread out into all areas of the 350-square-mile county.

Fitzgerald said with central coordination, the various groups know what and where work is being done.

“It is a slow process, but momentum is picking up,” he said. “They (work crews) all have job numbers and for us to do anything, we have to have the signature of the deeded property owner.”

Fitzgerald said the work groups also add information about conditions, as well as find new, unanswered questions.

“We may pull out the duct work, but do they have food in the refrigerator?” he said.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com