Hi! I’m Alicia Edwards, the new Director of the Disaster Relief Project as of September 1st, 2023. I’m glad to connect with you! I have worked at Legal Aid of North Carolina since 2005, handling a variety of cases. My practice had been focused primarily on foreclosure and debt collection defense in recent years. I am very happy and excited to have joined the Disaster Relief Team! 

Legal Aid's Disaster Relief Project provides free legal services to eligible individuals who were affected by Hurricane Isaias, Tropical Storm Eta, Tropical Storm Fred, and other severe weather events in 2020 and 2021. Our services include helping clients access recovery funds, clarifying property ownership, providing legal services for local long-term disaster recovery organizations, and hosting disaster recovery education sessions and legal clinics. You can learn more about our services on our website. For the next 6 months, our team will be focusing on providing direct client services and conducting more legal clinics to better serve you.

We look forward to working with you if we can be of help to you or your community. If you'd like to learn more or are unsure if you may be eligible for our services, please contact us by calling the Legal Aid NC helpline at 866-219-5262, ext. 2657.

Sincerely,

Alicia

The National Weather Service (NWS) has announced that it is near certain we will experience an El Niño this winter. El Niño is a climate pattern that brings warmer-than-average surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This pattern manipulates the normal behavior of the jet stream, and in turn, creates changes in the weather. What this could mean for North Carolina is cooler temperatures and wetter weather than what we're used to this time of year.

While this doesn't necessarily indicate incoming snow, during the last El Niño in December 2018, central NC saw about 9 inches of snow fall in one day. That same day, Person County saw as much as 14 inches. Even if we don't get snow, the lower temperatures and higher precipitation chances could still spell disaster in the form of ice.

Fortunately, we can avoid the dangers of potential winter weather by preparing beforehand. Read up on these tips before disaster strikes:

• Prepare an emergency kit, seven days worth of nonperishable food, and a gallon of water per person in your household per day. Remember to bring pets inside and have enough food and water for them, as well.
• Place rock salt and sand on critical walkways around your property to curb the dangers of ice and create better traction.
• Stay indoors - avoid all unnecessary travel, and keep an extra emergency kit in your vehicle if you must drive. Drive at a reduced speed and leave room for other vehicles. Bridges and overpasses are always the first to collect ice - approach with caution and always keep an eye out for black ice.
• Stay tuned to radio, local news channels, and updates from the NWS.
• Keep dry to avoid hypothermia and look out for signs of frostbite - these include loss of feeling in and white or pale fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If you see these signs, seek medical help immediately.
• Find more essential tips on ReadyNC.gov

If a winter disaster strikes and you're struggling to find local and federal resources afterwards, we can help. Visit our website to learn more and contact us.