The Lumbee Tribe Hurricane Response Headquarters

Dear Community,

I want to take the opportunity to thank each of you for your efforts during this critical time. Our community is suffering and the smallest acts of kindness are having the greatest impact.

The Lumbee Tribe Hurricane Response Headquarters is staged at the Pembroke Boys and Girls Club located at 120 Youth Drive, Pembroke. Any non-perishable donations including bottled water will be accepted and disbursed throughout the affected communities or delivered to local shelters. Tribal staff and community volunteers have persistently worked to the best of our ability to ensure the basic needs of local citizens are being met. During the past 36 hours non-perishables, bottled water and basic supplies have been distributed to local citizens. Campbell’s Soup of Maxton has coordinated with our efforts to deliver canned goods to the Purnell Swett High School shelter and will be making another delivery to the tribal headquarters today. Tribal staff and community volunteers will continue delivering available resources throughout the affected area.

Emergency Management State Director Mike Sprayberry said additional resources from the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Military Police, National Guard and North Carolina Forestry Services have been coordinated to cover Red Cross shelters in Robeson County. The Army Corp of Engineers will be onsite to aid and manage available resources.

Duke Energy confirmed additional resources are being provided to the Robeson County Water Plant and generators would be provided to each county shelter by 7 p.m. tonight. FEMA will be providing blankets, pillows and clothing to each shelter by nightfall.

I encourage local citizens who are able to volunteer to do so through any coordinated effort throughout the affected area. To inquire on volunteering with our efforts contact Tribal Security at (910) 374-9880.

For your safety you are encouraged to adhere to the 8 p.m. mandatory curfew for citizens of Robeson County. Many local roads are impassable and many more will become after nightfall.

Please continue to keep our community in your prayers.

Harvey Godwin, Jr., Lumbee Tribal Chairman