CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As cleanup from Hurricane Helene continues, a life-saving resource could already be in the palm of your hand.
For nearly three decades, dialing 211 has helped save countless lives in North Carolina.
Established in 1999, the NC 211 phone line is a member of North Carolina's State Emergency Response Team as a resource for residents impacted by a natural disaster. When someone calls 211, a trained specialist conducts a search based on the caller's location to identify resources that they may need.
Residents can also access real-time information and resources related to the disaster over the phone.
The phone line also helps reunite families after a natural disaster. Anyone from across the country can 211 to report a missing loved one or ask for updates about that person.
NC 211 call centers handled nearly 13,000 calls during Hurricane Matthew and then over 28,000 during Hurricane Florence.
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