Coastal NC — Hurricane Florence Recovery

Volunteers in Jacksonville, Florida

Flood waters in a coastal North Carolina neighborhood from Hurricane Florence. Photo by Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA

All future volunteer opportunities with BDM will require new safety protocol and consent forms beyond what was previously in place as we strive to provide volunteer opportunities in this COVID-19 environment. The Covid-19 Informed Consent Agreement must be signed and returned with the Volunteer Registration form at least 2 weeks before arriving at the project location.

Overnight Volunteers use this form: https://www.cognitoforms.com/ChurchOfTheBrethren1/bdmconsentformovernight

A BDM site in Bayboro, NC opened in Sept 2020 to continue Hurricane Florence rebuilding and paused at the end of April 2021. This site is scheduled to reopen at the end of October 2021 through April 2022. Volunteer housing is in Pamlico County at the Mt. Zion Original Free Will Baptist Church in Bayboro, N.C. There are multiple local work partners with which BDM plans to work, the primary one being the Pamlico County Disaster Relief Coalition.

Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina on Sept. 14, 2018, bringing a record-breaking storm surge of 9 to 13 feet and devastating rainfall of 20 to 30 inches in some areas along the coast of the Carolinas. The slow-moving storm proved to be the wettest tropical cyclone in Carolinas history. Thirty-four counties in North Carolina received a FEMA declaration for Individual Assistance, with a total of 34,713 people applying for assistance with FEMA.

BDM has moved to the area to continue the rebuilding work over two years after the storm. Volunteer housing is in Pamlico County at the Mt. Zion Original Free Will Baptist Church in Bayboro, N.C. There are multiple local work partners with which BDM plans to work, the primary one being the Pamlico County Disaster Relief Coalition.

Find information here about what the Coastal NC Project looks like with COVID-19 protocol in place.

Find the most up to date schedule here.

Housing

Mt Zion OFWBC
1912 Lynchs Beach Loop Rd
Bayboro, NC 28515

Mailing Address:

BDM/ (name of recipient)
PO Box 718
Bayboro, NC 28515

Volunteer housing will be in the unused portion of the Mt Zion OFWB Church, a large single-story facility.

Contact

Email: BDMcoastalnc@gmail.com

Meals

Meals are prepared in the church kitchen. Volunteer groups are asked to include an assistant cook. Volunteers will be asked to help with kitchen cleanup.

Closest Restaurants

  • Mayo Seafood: 13533 NC Highway 55, Bayboro, NC 28515, (252) 745-4663 Mon-Sat 11AM-8PM, Sun 11AM-2PM. Seafood, American, Family Style
  • Charlie’s: 14469 NC-55, Bayboro, NC 28515, (252) 745-4551 Mon-Sat 6AM-8PM, Sun 7AM-2PM American, Vegetarian
  • Aggie’s Steak Subs: 13442 NC Highway 55 28515-9105, (252) 745-8111, Mon-Sat 11AM-8:30PM, Sunday-closed. American Lunch & Dinner
  • Little Italy Pizza: 12268 HIGHWAY 55 ALLIANCE NC 28509, (252) 745-5400, 11AM-9PM Mon-Sun, Pizza, Subs, Italian dishes

Work

The type of work in the coastal area of Pamlico County & the surrounding areas includes major repairs from Hurricane Florence wind and flooding damage. This includes major repairs such as floors, insulation, drywall, porches etc. Repairs to mobile homes are greatly needed. Tools and leadership are provided.

Travel

Groups must send registration forms, COVID-19 Informed Consent Forms and mode of travel plans to bdmcoastalnc@gmail.com at least 2 weeks prior to your scheduled trip. The COVID-19 Consent Form must be received BEFORE the volunteer LEAVES HOME for the trip or they will not be able to travel to the site.

BDM Safety Guidelines for Traveling Safety During Covid-19

Upon arrival, BDM Project Leaders will welcome you and collect any incomplete paperwork. They will orient you to the project, covering such topics as house rules, work schedule, safety, tools, daily devotions, expectations, etc. Orientation does not begin until all participants arrive.

Flying

The closest airport is Coastal Carolina (EWN) in New Bern. American Airlines seems to be the only option for airlines to and from this airport. Please provide flight itineraries for each person flying.

Plan to arrive or be picked up on Sunday between 3:00 and 5:00pm. Project leaders can do one airport run between these hours only if needed. Please try to coordinate all members of the group to arrive at or near the same time. Groups flying into any other airport will need to find their own transportation to the project site.

Driving

Arrival time for volunteers on Sunday evening will be between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm. All restaurants in Bayboro except fast food locations are closed Sunday evenings. Incoming volunteers must either eat before arriving to the site during this time frame or coordinate IN ADVANCE with project leadership for alternative food options to pick up before getting to town and eat at the housing location. If eating at the housing location the volunteer team would be responsible for providing all food, beverages, plates, napkins, and utensils for this meal.

Driving directions:

1912 Lynchs Beach Loop Rd
Bayboro, NC 28515
Follow I-95 into NC. Merge onto Rt 64E toward Rocky Mount/Tarboro, travel 31.89 miles. Take US 13 S/NC-11 Exit 496 toward Greenboro/Bethel. Merge onto US 31S/NC-11 toward Greenboro/Bethal/Parmele. Travel 3.47 m. Turn left onto Hwy 30/NC 30. Continue traveling on NC-30 15.03 miles, turn left onto US Highway 264/US 264E. Continue 9.02 miles, merge onto US 17 S, travel 4.09 miles. Take exit for NC 33 W toward Chocowinity/Greenville. Turn right onto NC Highway 33 /NC 33. Travel 21.08 miles, turning right onto NC Highway 306/NC 306. Travel 11.07 miles, turning left onto NC Hwy55/NC 55, continuing on NC 55 for 4.20 miles. Turn left onto Vandemere Rd/NC 304. Follow NC 304 for 5.42 miles. Turn right onto Lynchs Beach Loop Rd. Church will be down the road on the left 0.27 mile.