Hurricane Florence Updates
If you are experiencing an emergency during the storm, CALL 911.
Raleigh Parks is looking for volunteers to help clean up park locations across the city following Hurricane Florence. Some parks in our area do have downed limbs, debris, and trash following the storm. If you are interested in volunteering, online registration is available for staffed clean-up projects. If you would like to clean up an area on your own, please contact Ashley Deans at Ashley.Deans@raleighnc.gov for more information.
From B’nai Shalom Synagogue in New Bern: They said the synagogue has water in the basement, but the sanctuary is intact. They are expecting rising waters in the next two days; they did not think the sanctuary would see damage. They did cancel services because they don’t have a rabbi and the professional staff they had hired for the holidays could not get in. They said power was returning to New Bern, and thought it was back on in the synagogue. The Temple in Greenville, NC has invited their congregation for services for the holidays (they have a relationship with that rabbi who is the person they call for pastoral care) and she has been told that the road between New Bern and Greenville is open. They said that 85% of their membership, which is spread out over 5 counties, had left. They are trying to reach people but no one really knows what the damage to property is because most of them aren’t home yet. Greensboro Federation advised them to be in touch with the nearest JFS (which is Raleigh) if they need assistance.
From Beth Israel Congregation in Fayetteville: We will be open for services on Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur. If you plan to attend Kol Nidre and/or Yom Kippur services and require overnight accommodations, please advise as soon as possible. If you are able to host out of town guests for either/both Tuesday and Wednesday nights please advise as soon as possible
Updates for Bnai Israel in Wilmington can be found here.
Chabad in Wilmington stayed open during the storm. They are without power but fine. Hoping to get power today. No flooding. They are planning to have Yom Kippur services as planned. They have food but many who remained are running out. A kosher food truck from NY was turned around 3 miles from them and dropped their food at Sha’arei Raleigh. If anyone can figure out a way to get the food to Wilmington that would be helpful.
Myrtle Beach moved a few miles inland to their children's chabad house and are fine. The other Myrtle Beach rabbi evacuated and is unable to get back.
Temple B'nai Sholem in New Bern has cancelled Yom Kippur services (Kol Nidre, morning, afternoon, and Yizkor).
The Raleigh-Cary JCC is experiencing a phone and internet outage. Please call our emergency line at 919-592-0160 if assistance is needed.
Wake County Public Schools are closed today (Monday), but we are having Wacky Weather Camp at the JCC. Register now! https://bit.ly/20a9W6b
Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary local update:
The devastation of Hurricane Florence has left our community reeling over the past two days. Despite difficult conditions, emergency officials are working to assess the damage that has already left hundreds of thousands of people without power or access to food and water and shut down municipal services, highways, schools and community institutions. At this time, we are unsure when the weather will clear, but we must begin acting immediately.
We have always come together in times of crisis, and this time will be no different.
Many of us are anxious to help out immediately. We understand that feeling. We have been contacted by, and are coordinating with Wake Interfaith Disaster Team, NCVOAD, FEMA, the Disaster Team at Jewish Federations of North Americas, NECHAMA, ISRAID, The Jewish Agency for Israel, the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and Federations of Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham-Chapel Hill, Atlanta, Palm Beach County, Columbia, Charleston, and Houston to provide information and assistance to our community.
Jewish Federation of North America Assessment Update:
Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) has seamlessly reached out to community leadership in the Network communities in North Carolina and South Carolina and are following up each of them. They have been in contact with in North Carolina with Wilmington, Jacksonville, New Bern, Gastonia, Fayetteville, Winston-Salem and Asheville. In South Carolina,they have been in contact with Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head.The Rabbis of the Wilmington synagogues evacuated out of state as has 65%-70% of the community. The Rabbis of the coastal SC communities also evacuated, as did their congregational families, as there was a mandatory evacuation in place. As of Friday, those who they know who have stayed, have indicated they are fine and a few have indicated some roof damage. JFNA is awaiting fuller damage assessments of the synagogues in coastal NC and SC.
They have just heard from Rabbi Emily Losben of the historic Temple of Israel, Reform Congregation, in Wilmington NC. They are still assessing everything. Initial report, their historic temple building (dating back to 1875 - the oldest Jewish congregation in NC) is 5 blocks from the Cape Fear River. There appears to be damage to the roof and rainwater may have ruined the carpet and seats in the sanctuary. Their administrative building 6 blocks inland seems to be OK, just downed trees around it. Some congregants have sustained damages to cars and fences, but most families are not back in Wilmington.
They anticipate more information either later today or Monday and sharing all information as it is known.
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Call 2-1-1 if you need referrals for services post storm.
Air BNB is offering free housing to those who are evacuating. Click here for more information.
Services Shabbat Morning at Chabad of Cary: As of now, Shabbat services will still be held tomorrow morning. All who feel they would like to join are most welcome to join services, Shabbat Shuva Torah Discussion, and Light Kiddush Lunch beginning at 9:30 am at 4104 Grace Park Drive but please do not take any unnecessary risks in coming to shul if you feel it is dangerous in away way. If conditions worsen we will give another update before Shabbat.
Chabad of Cary Hebrew School is cancelled this Sunday as the Discovery School is closed for the weekend.
Beth Israel Congregation in Fayetteville has cancelled services for the weekend including Friday night, Saturday and Sunday religious school and meetings. Monday, depending on weather the office will be open and they will continue to monitor weather, road conditions, curfew and power outages for Yom Kippur planning.
Consider downloading the Nextdoor app. You can check in with your Community Watch folks for updates in your neighborhood area.
As of 10:30 am today, Sha'arei Israel Chabad Center Of Raleigh will have Friday night services at 7:00 pm and regular Shabbat morning services at 9:30 am. They will discuss Shabbat afternoon on Shabbat morning. Rabbi Pinney say, “If you feel it is too dangerous to attend please do not risk going out. If you need assistance during or after the storm please text me and I will see if we are able to help you.”
NC VOAD is NC Volunteer Organizations Active in disaster. The Wake Interfaith Disaster Team (WIDT), of which JFRC is a member. Larry Marks is our JCRC representative, and is the President of NC VOAD. Here is more info about NC VOAD
You can mark yourself SAFE of Facebook HERE
Here is the LINK to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center
TBO will stream prerecorded Shabbat Shuvah services on streamspot.
All BBYO Eastern NC events are postponed until further notice.
Yavnah: A Jewish Renewal Community, has cancelled Saturday morning service scheduled for 9/15.
Beth Meyer has cancelled Friday night and Saturday morning services, plus Sunday morning minyan and Kever Avot service at Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery on Sunday. They have NOT cancelled religious school at this point, will make a determination by 8:00am Sunday morning, September 16.
There is a now a special non-emergency number dedicated to Hurricane Florence: 919-996-2999 .
Call Duke Energy at 800-769-3766 if you have a power outage. TEXT REG to 578-01 to get outage updates.
TBO has cancelled services for tomorrow evening. Religious School for Sunday has also been cancelled. Look for specific updates on other weekend programs via TBO email. TBO members can make their safety status know by using #FlorenceTBO on your Facebook posts.
If you know of a senior citizen or another isolated, vulnerable person in the Jewish community who will be in need of reassurance or assistance after the storm, call Raleigh-Cary Jewish Family Services at 919-676-2200 x 124 or fill out this FORM. [This is NOT an emergency line. If you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency or needs assistance during the storm, call 911.]
Temple Beth Or has volunteers in their Sisterhood and Brotherhood providing set up for storm and food to our seniors.
The Federation is in initial preparation for creating and utilizing a staging a distribution center for emergency supplies.
If you have volunteers who can help fill sandbags at the JCC , please have them contact Barry Schwartz at 919-649-4058.
JFS staff just finished making over 35 calls to Jewish seniors. All were very appreciative for the outreach; everything will be delivered tomorrow.
Please download the FEMA app for storm updates in real time.
Contact HurricaneFlorence@shalomraleigh.org or call 919-649-4058 with questions or concerns. Stay tuned for further updates.