The day after Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina, local 911 operators faced a surge in calls from residents concerned about safety. To help manage the volume, Watauga County Emergency Services contacted Jennifer Schroeder Tyson at Appalachian State University to set up a nonemergency line for questions and triage.
Schroeder Tyson, who is a research assistant professor in the Department of Public Health and leads the Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps (APP MRC), organized a training program for volunteers and established a 24/7 nonemergency call center. This allowed emergency responders to focus on urgent situations while APP MRC volunteers handled calls related to road closures, resource coordination, and other noncritical issues.
“The emergency call center was overwhelmed with the call volume after the storm, and emergency responders needed to prioritize saving people who were in danger,” said Schroeder Tyson. “Because the Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps was already established and had an engaged volunteer base, we were able to work quickly and respond in unique ways after Hurricane Helene, and we continue to find ways to have a positive impact on community health.”
Medical Reserve Corps units are community-based groups formed by local organizations to address public health needs. The APP MRC serves 25 counties in the region, focusing on rural public health operations and community preparedness. It was created following the global pandemic as a way to support local health outreach.
“Watauga County Communications greatly values and appreciates this partnership and the ability of APP MRC to fill this need in the community, extending outward from the college campus and into the county as a whole,” said Melissa Harmon, assistant director of Watauga County Communications. “Their careful nonemergency call taking enabled life and safety calls to be addressed as additional needs were able to be met, both with information and with resources.”
After Hurricane Helene hit, APP MRC’s volunteer numbers grew rapidly from 50 to over 900 within weeks. Volunteers included nearly 300 students, faculty, staff from App State; members of App State Public Health AmeriCorps; local EMTs; and retired medical workers. They fielded more than 800 calls during three weeks of operation.
Other volunteers helped unload supplies for hospitals and clinics or provided clinical support at area shelters.
Emily Autry from App State’s University Communications worked with Schroeder Tyson soon after the storm to discuss how the call center could help address communication challenges in the community.
APP MRC’s efforts during recovery have received national attention. Schroeder Tyson spoke about their response at the National Association of County and City Health Officials Preparedness Summit.
Since then, APP MRC has kept many new volunteers involved. The group now has about 230 active participants who receive regular training—including psychological first aid—and take part in various activities. More than 800 people subscribe to its monthly newsletter.
According to Schroeder Tyson, APP MRC now supports disaster response efforts along with ongoing public health outreach projects such as distributing school supplies at back-to-school events or helping organize community health assessments in nearby counties.
Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences offers multiple degree programs across six departments including Nursing; Nutrition & Health Care Management; Public Health & Exercise Science; Recreation Management & Physical Education; Rehabilitation Sciences; Social Work—serving over 3,600 students through facilities like Holmes Convocation Center and Levine Hall of Health Sciences (https://healthsciences.appstate.edu).
Appalachian State University enrolls more than 21,000 students across two campuses (Boone & Hickory) plus online programs (https://www.appstate.edu). It is one of 17 institutions within North Carolina’s university system.
