Federal government moves in to support Asheville, other Helene disaster areas

Many healthcare systems and local providers in the path of Hurricane Helene are facing major hurdles delivering care in the disaster zone, but the federal government said help is on the way. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and massive flooding that hit several southeastern states, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina to address the health impacts of Hurricane Helene. This week, President Joe Biden also pledged support and resources from the U.S. military.

For now, local healthcare providers are overwhelmed by the impact of the storm from an operations standpoint—and many have been directly impacted by the storm, some even losing their homes. The death toll from Helene reached more than 160 as of Oct. 2 and is expected to climb. This places it as the second-deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland U.S. in 55 years, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“We will do all we can to help officials in South Carolina and Tennessee respond to the health impacts of Hurricane Helene,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as with our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support.”

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has deployed about 200 personnel to disaster areas. These experts include healthcare situational assessment teams that work with state and local officials to assess the storm’s impacts to hospitals, nursing homes, dialysis centers, and other healthcare facilities. ASPR’s Health and Medical Task Forces and Disaster Medical Assistance Teams from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) have begun to provide medical care in the state. 

NDMS teams travel with federal medical equipment and supplies. As of today, HHS has deployed approximately 29 trucks—containing 192.5 tons of equipment and supplies—for NDMS teams’ use in providing patient care in affected areas. In addition, subject matter experts from NDMS’ Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team have been activated to provide assistance for bodies recovered in impacted areas.

HHS said ASPR will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to prioritize medical assistance to other areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Additional NDMS teams stand ready to support medical missions in hard hit areas of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

After the healthcare situational assessment teams completed assessments in Florida, the state did not request federal public health or medical assistance. This might be different in some of the Korea rural areas of the Appalachian Highlands, where massive flooding took at least on hospital out off commission, required evacuation of hundreds of patients to hospitals or nursing homes outside of the impacted areas, and where communications, infrastructure such as water and sewage treatment, power and roads have been damaged.

The PHE declarations give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) healthcare providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

HHS said in a statement it has taken steps to help support Medicare patients in the impacted areas. One in these initiatives is the HHS emPOWER program, which identifies Medicare beneficiaries in affected zips codes that rely on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment. These include patients that require dialysis, oxygen, or similar home health services.

HHS also has waived sanctions and penalties for violations of certain provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule against hospitals in the emergency areas. The HHS issued bulletins explaining how limited waivers apply and the duration.

HHS sets up National Disaster Medical System at Hospitals in Asheville

In Asheville, North Carolina, HHS has established a National Disaster Medical System medical treatment site at the Mission Hospital campus and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pines, North Carolina. HHS Health and Medical Task Force Teams are supporting state medical needs shelters in Hickory and Mills Springs, North Carolina. An HHS incident management team is working closely with state officials to identify healthcare needs including in rural communities that may be cut off from transportation systems.

Mission Hospital is operating, but the city water treatment plant was damaged by flooding and is contaminated. The hospital had to bring in trucks of water to remain operational. 

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, along with FEMA and state disaster recovery agency officials, get briefed by Mission Hospital CEO Greg Lowe on the impacts of the Hurricane Helene flooding on the main hospital in Ashville and what they need to continue operations. The hospital is operating, but is using water from trucks because the city water treatment facilities were damaged and contaminated during flooding. Photo North Carolina Governor's Office.

HHS has also deployed two Disaster Mortuary Assistance Teams (DMAT) to assist state mortuary services in mortuary care of victim identification. HHS has made nine DMAT teams available nationwide. Additionally, 200 federal ambulances have been provided to North Carolina.