CLAYTON, N.C. - The pastor of a Johnston County church on Wednesday said it is an honor to host medical staff tending to those with chronic medical needs.
- A medical shelter in Clayton will host people with serious chronic medical conditions
- You should contact your local emergency management agency if you think you might need it
- Officials said you should call 911 like normal if you need emergency care
State officials on Wednesday opened a medical support shelter at Clayton's C3 Church, the second time they have asked the church to provide space for hurricane evacuees who are too sick to go to a general shelter. Pastor Matt Fry said he's glad he has the square footage.
“People that need hope, we need to provide a safe place and a shelter for them,” he said.
Officials said staff have volunteered from a number of North Carolina hospitals and EMS units, including UNC Health Care and Duke Health. Chuck Lewis, assistant chief of the state's Office of Emergency Medical Services, said the shelter will care for people with chronic needs such as dialysis, oxygen or chemotherapy-related care. He said the shelter currently has 60 beds and can accommodate up to 100. So far, the Clayton location is the only medical shelter emergency managers are opening for Hurricane Dorian. If more beds are needed, he said state officials will open additional shelters.
Lewis said if you think you might need ongoing care during the storm, you should contact your local emergency management agency. Local EMAs will refer patients if needed. He said the shelter cannot accept walk-in patients, nor can it accept people needing emergency care. Anyone with a medical emergency should call 911 like they normally would.
Hospitals along the coast said they are not suspending emergency services during the storm. Vidant Health Care, Carteret Health Care and New Hanover County Health Care all said outpatient services and similar activities will be suspended Thursday and Friday but emergency care will still be available.
