There are still 3,500 homes without power, but electric crews have made significant progress. Seven (7) roads are still closed due to the storm, including Hwy. 16 South bridge (Oxford Dam), Berea Church Quincy Road, Jim Millsaps Road, Black Oak Ridge Road, Country Road, Friendly Church Road, and White Plains Road. It appears that Spectrum service has been restored in the area; therefore, phone and internet service has been restored to most County offices. Cell phone service has also greatly improved in most of the county.
Alexander County declares State of Emergency due to Hurricane Helene
10/3/24, 4:00 pm UPDATE:
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest disaster assistance loans to Alexander County residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Helene. Please share this information with those who sustained real estate or personal property damage. Read more at https://alexandercountync.gov/sba-offers-low-interest-disaster-assistance-to-residents-businesses-affected-by-hurricane-helene/.
10/3/24, 9:30 am UPDATE:
Alexander County is aware of two (2) impassable roads: Black Oak Ridge Road (culvert issue) and Friendly Church Road (trees and power lines down). Drivers are urged to stay alert, allow extra travel time, and check drivenc.gov for current road closure updates.
A total of 696 homes (3.57 percent of the county) are currently without power: Blue Ridge Energy, 37 outages; Duke Energy, 659 outages; and EnergyUnited, 0 outages. Duke Energy is attempting to have most, if not all, power restored by the end of the day on Friday, October 4.
To receive local weather and emergency alerts, sign up for Hyper-Reach at http://bit.ly/hyper-reach-alexander.
10/1/24, 2:30 pm UPDATE:
The NC Hwy. 16 South bridge at Oxford Dam has reopened.
10/1/24, 9:45 am UPDATE:
Hurricane Helene will long be remembered in western North Carolina for its path of destruction. At the height of the storm on Friday afternoon, September 27, approximately 58 percent (11,300) of Alexander County homes were without electricity, and 174 roadways were compromised with downed trees and power lines. That same day, Alexander County 9-1-1 Communications processed 190 emergency calls and 1,559 other calls while dispatching 580 calls for assistance. Eighteen (18) structures were damaged during the storm. Alexander County Government would like to express appreciation to the many agencies involved in emergency response and recovery: volunteer fire departments and first responders, Alexander Rescue Squad, Alexander County EMS, Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, Alexander County 9-1-1 Communications, Alexander County Emergency Management, electric companies (including those coming from out of state to help with recovery), NCDOT (which has worked non-stop during the storm), National Weather Service of Greenville-Spartanburg, North Carolina Emergency Management, and Alexander County citizens who helped their neighbors and stayed off the roads.
9/30/24, 6:30 pm UPDATE:
Storm Update: White Plains Road is scheduled to be open by 7:00 p.m. tonight, which leaves three (3) roads impassable: NC Hwy. 16 South (Oxford Dam bridge), Black Oak Ridge Road (culvert washout), and Friendly Church Road (trees and power lines). There are currently 1,645 customers without power: Duke Energy – 1,540, Blue Ridge Energy – 91, and EnergyUnited – 14.
9/29/24, 8:00 pm UPDATE:
There are still 3,500 homes without power, but electric crews have made significant progress. Seven (7) roads are still closed due to the storm, including Hwy. 16 South bridge (Oxford Dam), Berea Church Quincy Road, Jim Millsaps Road, Black Oak Ridge Road, Country Road, Friendly Church Road, and White Plains Road. It appears that Spectrum service has been restored in the area; therefore, phone and internet service has been restored to most County offices. Cell phone service has also greatly improved in most of the county.
9/29/24, 5:00 pm UPDATE:
Alexander County Government offices will operate on a regular schedule on Monday, September 30; however, most offices do not have phone service due to a Spectrum outage. In addition, some buildings/departments have limited internet capability which may affect customer service. These buildings include Animal Services, Bethlehem and Stony Point Branch Libraries, Economic Development, EMS Stations #1 & #3, Garage, License Plate Agency, and Pre-Trial Release. For non-emergency calls, please call (828) 632-2911. As always, dial 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.
9/28/24, 5:30 pm UPDATE:
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been placed in standby mode to allow emergency personnel to rest as they have been manning the EOC for many hours. If an incident arises that requires more manpower, the EOC will be reopened. There are still numerous roadways that are closed throughout the county, the Hwy. 16 South bridge at Oxford Dam remains closed, and many people are without power, internet, and cell service. We appreciate everyone’s efforts as we work together to restore services to the citizens of Alexander County. If you have a non-emergency issue, call (828) 632-2911. As always, in the event of an emergency call 9-1-1.
9/28/24, 12:00 noon UPDATE:
As of 12:00 noon, 27.5 percent of Alexander County is without electric service: Duke Energy – 3,296 customers, EnergyUnited – 1,893, and Blue Ridge Energy – 172. There are still 18 roads that are currently closed, with several roads down to one lane. The Hwy. 16 South bridge at Oxford Dam will remain closed indefinitely until NCDOT can do a comprehensive inspection. As for the Hwy. 127 bridge, there is substantial debris but NCDOT has no plans to close the bridge as they have no structural concerns following an inspection. Duke Energy is in the process of debris removal. Please understand that non-essential travel is highly discouraged as it slows down the response and recovery process.
Rocky Face Park and Alexander County Libraries are closed today. The concert scheduled for 7:00 p.m. tonight at Courthouse Park has been canceled due to storm damage and emergency response.
The combination of power outages, cell phone outages, and travel difficulties have combined to make this storm event very challenging. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience
9/28/24, 10:30 am UPDATE:
NC Department of Transportation has shut down Highway 16 South at Oxford Dam due to the volume of water being moved through the dam. Please avoid this area.
9/27/24, 2:45 pm UPDATE:
Alexander County and the Town of Taylorsville have issued a Voluntary Curfew from Friday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. until Saturday, September 28 at 8:00 a.m. to help ensure the safety of our citizens. It is highly recommended that citizens stay off the roads during this time due to downed power lines and other debris in the roadways. Alexander County Emergency Services and Town of Taylorsville personnel have responded to more than 600 calls today, and have worked tirelessly to clear roadways and respond to calls. The curfew will allow them to rest and replenish emergency supplies. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we all work together to restore services in our county.
Other Updates: The emergency shelter at Alexander Central High School will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, but will reopen if necessary. Rocky Face Park and the Alexander County Library system will remain closed on Saturday. Eighteen (18) structures were damaged during the storm. Nineteen (19) roads are still completely blocked, with three (3) roads partially closed. Approximately 58 percent (11,300) of homes in Alexander County are still without electricity.
9/27/24, 12:30 noon UPDATE:
Seventeen (17) roads are fully closed and two (2) roads are partially closed in Alexander County due to downed trees and power lines. At the height of the storm, there were 174 road closures.
Fully closed roads include: Zeb Watts Road, Lindsay Bebber Road, White Plains Road, Hwy. 16 North, Jim Millsaps Road, Berea Church Quincy Road, Dula Loop, Sulphur Springs Road, White Hollar Lane, Caldwell Pond Road, Daniels Lumber Road, Lambert Fork Road, Smith Grove Church Road, Robinette Road, Country Road, Polk Street, and Jolly Cemetery Road.
Partially closed roads include: Sharpe Mill Road and Black Oak Ridge Road.
We sincerely appreciate our Volunteer Fire Departments and the NCDOT for their hard work during the storm.
9/27/24, 11:00 am UPDATE:
Due to power outages and storm damage, Alexander County has opened an emergency shelter at Alexander Central High School in the JV gym (223 School Drive, Taylorsville). Anyone who is in need of shelter or assistance is welcome to utilize the shelter. Please be sure to bring any necessary items, such as toiletry/hygiene items, clothing, medications, pillows, dietary needs, etc. Cots and blankets will be provided.
9/27/24, 10:00 am UPDATE:
A large tree has fallen across Rink Dam Road near River Hills Court. The road is blocked in both directions. If you don’t need to drive, please stay home.
9/27/24, 8:45 am UPDATE:
Approximately 42 percent of Alexander County is experiencing a power outage due to Hurricane Helene. Duke Energy has 3,608 customers without power, EnergyUnited – 5,035, and Blue Ridge Energy – 172. In addition, cell coverage is spotty in certain areas of the county. Non-essential Alexander County offices are closed for the day. Residents are highly encouraged to stay home if at all possible as emergency responders are extremely busy with downed trees and power lines.
The following roads are closed in both directions: Country Road, Lambert Fork Road, Robinette Road, Smith Grove Church Road, and Sulphur Springs Road. There are downed trees in many areas of the county, so please use extreme caution if you must travel.
9/26/24, 6:30 pm UPDATE:
Alexander County has already received 5+ inches of rain at the weather station at the Emergency Management office in Taylorsville. To control lake levels, Duke Energy is anticipating the opening of additional floodgates at Oxford Dam, which could result in the closure of Hwy. 16 South at the bridge due to high water.
The Emergency Operations Center has been activated and will remain open for the duration of the storm and its aftermath.
An emergency shelter has been established for those families who live along the Catawba River downstream of Oxford Dam. At this time, Sheriff’s Deputies are in the process of visiting homes to serve evacuation notices on the following roads: Fred Jolly Lane, River Shoals Ridge Drive, Mountaire Drive, Carl Fox Road, Perry Fox Lane, Olive Road, Grasshopper Circle, and Stewart Rock Road. These residents are being advised to stay with family or friends during the storm, or to visit the emergency shelter at Wittenburg Volunteer Fire Department. Depending on the need, a secondary plan is in place for a larger emergency shelter.
High-water issues have been reported on Liledoun Road (near Sipe Road), Robinette Road, Hwy. 127 (near Devil’s Track Road), and Heavenly Acres Lane.
Several more inches of rain are expected tonight and tomorrow, along with very high winds. Residents are strongly advised to stay at home tonight as roadways may be hazardous.
Alexander County Government offices will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday, September 27. Rocky Face Park will be closed on Friday.
If you have questions or concerns, please call (828) 352-7817.
—————————————————
9/27/24, 6:00 pm UPDATE:
Hurricane Helene is now about 500 miles south-southwest of Greenville/Spartanburg SC or about 540 miles south-southwest of Asheville NC
– 27.9N 84.6W
– Storm Intensity 125 mph
– Movement North-northeast or 25 degrees at 23 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
——————
Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall over the Florida Panhandle this evening and move quickly north through Georgia. Significant, potentially catastrophic flash flooding and major mainstem river flooding is expected over portions of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia this evening into early Friday, especially along the Blue Ridge escarpment. Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph with up to 80 mph across the higher ridge tops will be associated with Helene as the center of the storm tracks just west of the County Warning Area tonight into Friday morning. The combination of saturated soils and strong wind gusts will result in numerous downed trees, leading to numerous power outages. Numerous landslides may occur across the mountains, with large, damaging debris flows or slope failures possible. Several brief tornadoes are also possible, mainly across the Piedmont.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
—————–
* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible devastating impacts across the North Carolina mountains, northeast Georgia, and Upstate South Carolina. Potential impacts include:
– Extreme rainfall flooding may prompt numerous evacuations and rescues.
– Rivers and tributaries may overwhelmingly overflow their banks in many places with deep moving water. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches may become raging rivers. In mountain areas, deadly runoff may rage down valleys while increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed.
– Flood waters can enter numerous structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Numerous places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of raging water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become very dangerous. Numerous road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.
* WIND:
Protect against dangerous wind having possible significant impacts across the western North Carolina mountains and northeast Georgia and the western Upstate South Carolina. Potential impacts in this area include:
– Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles.
– Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Several fences and roadway signs blown over.
– Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable.
– Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above ground lines.
Also, protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across the remainder of the western Carolinas.
* TORNADOES:
Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant impacts across the eastern South Carolina Piedmont and the North Carolina Piedmont. Potential impacts include:
– The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events.
– Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.
– Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about. Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts across the rest of the Piedmont and Foothills of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
———————————-
* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding.
Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly ventilated area.
It is important to remain calm, informed, and focused during an emergency. Be patient and helpful with those you encounter.
Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded roadway. Remember, turn around don’t drown!
If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options.
Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
– For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
– For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
– For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE
———–
The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg SC around 11 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.
———————————————————–
Alexander County has declared a State of Emergency in preparation for the effects of Hurricane Helene. The storm is expected to bring several inches of rain, significant flash flooding, and very high winds to Alexander County and western North Carolina. Duke Energy is monitoring lake levels and will release water from Lake Hickory at the Oxford Dam.
There were false reports that the Oxford Dam Bridge was being closed this afternoon, but no plans are in place at this time. This will be the decision of Duke Energy and NCDOT, and is not expected until late tonight or early Friday morning (only if necessary).
Citizens are urged to sign up for the county’s mass notification system, Hyper-Reach, at https://bit.ly/hyper-reach-alexander.
Residents are encouraged to prepare for this storm which may cause flooding, power outages, road closures, downed trees, and downed power lines.
Stay informed through the county website (https://alexandercountync.gov/news), social media channels, and local news. Further instructions on emergency shelter locations and evacuation procedures will be shared as needed.
Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program & State Emergency Disaster Funds
Alexander Soil & Water Conservation District was able to secure Emergency Watershed Protection (or EWP) Program funds for 3 sites in the county for stream debris removal resulting from Tropical Storm Eta (November 2020). This federal funding is only available when a federal disaster declaration is given. These “emergency” funds can only be used where an emergency situation is deemed (for example: when a bridge, building, or residence is in jeopardy). Therefore, only the 3 sites completed were determined eligible for these funds. Debris removal for these 3 sites totaled 5,300 linear feet of stream.
The District was also able to secure State Emergency Disaster Funds that supplemented EWP funds on the stream debris removal from the 3 sites mentioned above. In addition, these funds were able to be used for debris removal from 4 additional sites with 5,798 additional linear feet of stream.
Below are some of the before and after pictures of debris removal sites cleaned up with EWP & State Emergency Disaster funds.
2024 Soil & Water Conservation Contest Winners Announced
The Alexander Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) held six of our yearly environmental education contests for the 2023/2024 school year. The school winners from each category were honored at our Soil & Water Awards Banquet held on April 16th at the Emerald Hill in Hiddenite. All of the education contests shared the theme “The Living Soil.” Each school level winner in all competitions received $20 and a first-place ribbon. County level winners received $30 and a plaque, while runner ups received $15 and a ribbon. Third place county winners received a ribbon. The winner of the 5th Grade Poster Contest was Ava Barnes from Bethlehem Elementary. The runner up was Avery Barnes from Sugar Loaf Elementary, and in third was Ava Mannis from Stony Point Elementary. Avery’s poster went on to receive an honorable mention at the Area Level. In addition to those mentioned above, other school level winners were: Cason Honeycutt from Ellendale Elementary, Caylee Parson from Hiddenite Elementary, Adalyn Bebber from Millersville Christian, Rhett Herman from Taylorsville Elementary, and Abigail Huffman from Wittenburg Elementary. In Sixth Grade Essay contest, the county winner was Paisley Waugh from Millersville Christian. The runner up was Tucker Barnes from WAMS, and third was Nataly Hernandez from EAMS. Paisley’s essay went on to receive 3rd place at the Area Level. This year’s Slide Show Contest Winner was Madison Herman from Millersville Christian Academy. The runner up was Cinthia Herrera Salinas from WAMS, and third was Nayeli Galarza Deleon from EAMS. Madison’s Slide Show went on to receive an honorable mention at the Area level.
This year’s County Speech Contests were held on February 27th at the Alexander Services Center. We had no Seventh-Grade contestants this year. The Eighth Grade Speech Contest Winner was Samuel James from Millersville Christian Academy. The runner up was Makayla Wilson from WAMS and coming in third place was Rylee Robinson from WAMS. Samuel James went on to compete at the Area Level in Caldwell on March 21st and took Third Place. Newly added to this year, the Ninth through twelfth Grade Speech Contest Winner was Laurel Mitchell from Alexander Central High School. She went on to compete at the Area Level in Caldwell County and placed second. Laurel Mitchell also won the new Ninth through twelfth Grade Essay Contest this year and received third place at the Area level. Carter Bowman from Alexander Central High School placed second in the county essay contest. Alexander SWCD also held a ninth-twelfth Grade Slide Show contest. This year’s county winner was Emery Miller from Alexander Early College. The runner up was Laurel Mitchell from Alexander Central High School. Emery Miller’s Slide show went on to take 1st place at the area level and received first place at the State Level Competition!
The Alexander SWCD Board of Supervisors and Staff would like to again congratulate all of the 2024 Conservation Contest participants and winners on a job well done! We would also like to thank all our sponsors that donated door prizes and funds to make our Soil & Water Awards Banquet possible. The Alexander SWCD Board of Supervisors consists of Chairman Myles Payne, Vice Chairman Eugene White, Secretary/ Treasurer Colby Herman, and members Kathy Bunton and Bryant Chapman. Please contact Pamela Bowman, Alexander SWCD Director, at 828-632-0638, for more information on yearly contests or other education programs.
Fifth Grade poster winner- Ava Barnes, Bethlehem Elementary
Sixth Grade essay winner- Paisley Waugh, Millersville Christian Academy
Sixth Grade slide show winner- Madison Herman, Millersville Christian Academy
Seventh- Eighth grade speech winner- Samuel James, Millersville Christian Academy
Ninth- Twelve grade speech & essay winner- Laurel Mitchell, Alexander Central College
Ninth- Twelve grade slide show winner- Emery Miller, Alexander Early College
2024 Envirothon Competition
The 2024 NW Envirothon was held on Monday, March 18th & Tuesday, March 19th at the Edwin McGee Center in Wilkesboro, outside. For those unfamiliar with the event, the Envirothon is an area-level, academic competition, with 5 member teams competing on middle & high school levels in 5 different categories: Aquatics, Current Environmental Issues, Forestry, Soils, & Wildlife. Students put a lot of extra time into studying to prepare for trivia, identification, and skills in each category, and the advisors dedicate a lot of time in getting the teams ready for the competition. We had 2 high school teams compete from Alexander Early College. We were fortunate enough to be able to visit a few classes to share information about the Envirothon. We greatly enjoy seeing students get excited about this experience, and of course, we enjoy it as well. We hope to do more experiential programs and practices with the Envirothon teams in the future. The top seven teams move on to the State-level Envirothon event, and Alexander County had one High School team qualify: From Alexander Early College, Emery Miller. Paige Kiser, Katie Garnto, Elizabeth Ramirez, and Angelique Carico competed as “Barbie & Friends.” Barbie & Friends came in 7th place in the high school competition. They traveled to Burlington, NC for the State Envirothon on April 26th & 27th.
Alexander County takes proactive approach to battle addiction and overdoses with PORT program
Post-Overdose Response Team/Community Paramedic
Shannon Childers, who has worked with Alexander County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the past seven years, was named the PORT/Community Paramedic in October 2023. Since that time, he has provided “boots on the ground” support for overdose victims and their families.
“We give people hope. Addiction is a terrible mental disease and most people don’t even know the damage they’re causing to themselves and their families,” Childers related. “This program lets them know about the available resources that can help them get through their addiction.”
The Alexander County Board of Commissioners, Substance Use Disorder Coalition, County Manager Shane Fox, and EMS Director Jeff Sigmon saw and understood the need for the PORT program as overdoses have risen drastically over the past few years. In 2023, there were 152 overdoses with 14 deaths, compared to 96 overdoses in 2022 and 83 overdoses in 2021.
“Out of the 152 overdoses, an even scarier number is what we don’t know – those unexposed addictions,” Childers, age 44 of the Sugar Loaf community, said. “If you know someone who has a problem, let them know there is hope and help in this community. We will walk through every battle with them to get them the help they need.”
The PORT program is funded with Opioid Settlement Funding which resulted from litigation against several pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers for their role in creating the opioid epidemic. Alexander County will receive approximately $6 million over the next 18 years.
“I’m proud of our county’s leadership that put this program in place. I love Alexander County more than any place in the world, and I want to see our people live healthy, productive lives,” he said.
When someone experiences an overdose, Childers will go to the home as soon as possible (within 72 hours) to meet and talk with the person and the family about getting help and seeking recovery from addiction.
“PORT/Community Paramedic is a new program initiated by the state and implemented by the county to help curb deaths and addictions, and to help with recovery,” Childers said. “I’m here for those in need, so please reach out. This is a judgment-free zone; we just want to help.”
The opioid epidemic has killed a lot of people, both young and old, including rural areas such as Alexander County. On a per capita basis, Childers said Alexander County is comparable to surrounding counties in terms of the overdose rate.
“A friend of mine lost his life last year due to opioid use, so I’ve experienced personal loss, which makes this job even more relatable and significant,” Childers said. “The death caused by opioid use in our wonderful community is horrible. I’ve been in some of their homes and it makes me sad. I am here to let folks know about the dangers and what drugs have done to our community.”
How does one become addicted to drugs, and at some point, experience an overdose? Childers said he believes that most drug users begin with marijuana, and then progress to pills, fentanyl, heroin, or methamphetamine.
“Trends are continuing to rise because of the mental health crisis that we’re going through in our society. I believe the COVID-19 pandemic damaged our society, both socially and mentally, resulting in increased alcohol and drug abuse,” Childers said. “It’s hard to say if the drug-use trend will ever decline, but we must be hopeful.”
Childers said EMS personnel cannot access drug-screening information from those who were admitted to the hospital, but he is confident that most overdoses involve fentanyl these days.
“In my role, I can work with these families to get the drug data, which helps us to provide better assistance to the overdose victims,” Childers related.
He said fentanyl is a relatively inexpensive synthetic opioid, which was used to “cut” other drugs, but now the drug is being sold as 100% fentanyl, which is a danger in itself.
“Fentanyl can be a useful drug as a pain reliever in traumatic injury situations. If you think back to 1996, oxycontin was used for a good purpose – pain relief. Oxy is still out there, but fentanyl is so much more potent,” Childers stated. “The main thing that folks must remember is that medicines should be taken as prescribed.”
Childers wants families to understand that there are dangerous drugs that are being sold “on the street,” and encourages vigilance.
“Fentanyl is now being processed and sold by drug dealers. Many times, people don’t even know what they’re taking because it could be laced with something. It’s a dangerous guessing game,” he said. “Statistics show that there is enough fentanyl pulled off the streets in one year that would kill everyone in the United States, as it is 100 times stronger than morphine.”
Since PORT’s origin in Alexander County, one of the first steps was to increase the availability of Narcan (naloxone), which can reverse an opioid overdose. Local agencies including EMS and the Sheriff’s Office have naloxone on hand to treat overdose victims and save their lives.
“Narcan is an opioid antagonist, meaning it removes the drug from those receptors in the brain,” Childers explained. “It used to take only one milligram of Narcan to reverse the opioids’ effects in an overdose situation, but nowadays we might have to use 20 milligrams to save someone’s life. These drugs are very powerful and folks need to understand the dangers.”
Unfortunately, there is a newer drug that is being abused – xylazine, also known as tranq. This is a horse tranquilizer and is very powerful – and Narcan is useless in reversing its deadly effects. It is also being combined with opioids, including fentanyl, making a deadly drug cocktail.
Statistics show that 68 percent of drug users are male, with an average age of 38 years old; however, there is a rise in drug use among the younger population.
Childers encourages parents to be especially aware of differences in their children’s behavior to recognize potential drug use, including distancing themselves, being secretive, appearing intoxicated, etc.
“What do you want for your kids? A good, long life? Or a life of drugs, poor health, violence, crime, or even an early death?” Childers asked. “It’s important to be a strong, loving parent for these children who are experiencing peer pressure and mental health issues.”
While some people have suicidal thoughts and purposely attempt to overdose, Childers said most are just seeking a “high” but they use too much or they get drugs that contain fentanyl or other deadly drugs.
“They do drugs trying to find peace or happiness amid their problems. We all have problems, so how do we cope with it?” Childers asked. “Drugs and alcohol are not the way.”
He said that most drugs cause the release of dopamine in the brain, some at 10 times the normal amount, and then the addiction cycle begins as users seek that feeling again and again.
“The pleasure zone in our brain drives us and tells us this drug will take the pain away. With fentanyl, a person will take it regardless of their safety,” Childers stated. “I am here to tell you that fentanyl will kill you or your loved one – it’s like playing Russian roulette. We must be safe and educate everyone on the dangers of these drugs.”
How does the PORT program work? Childers typically works Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. When an overdose call comes in during regular hours, he will go to the home immediately, but always within the first 72 hours after 9-1-1 was called. If after-hours, Childers will visit the home the next day unless he is specifically requested sooner.
“I talk with the family, and the victim if they are able, about opportunities for recovery. I want to meet them where they are to ask them if they are getting help, talk about their problem, and connect them with community resources,” Childers said. “Many times, they are very receptive. I want them to know that I’m just here to help. I care, and the community cares.”
During a home visit, he will distribute an overdose kit which includes Narcan and test kits. In addition to the initial visit, there are follow-up visits which are conducted in a non-threatening manner to continue to provide support, discuss their situation, and get the patient on the road to recovery.
Since the PORT program began in October 2023, Childers has 43 patients that he regularly visits.
Childers shared a success story from the PORT program about a 44-year-old male who has struggled with addiction for most of his life. Childers visited him at the Alexander County Detention Center, where the man shared his long history of drug abuse, including marijuana, pills, methamphetamine, and most recently, fentanyl.
“This man has overdosed 23 times and almost everyone had given up on him. I was allowed to visit him in our jail and talk about recovery. We were able to relocate him to an out-of-county facility. Thankfully, he is now in his third month of recovery!” Childers said with a smile. “He was afraid to be here for fear of relapsing. He is now achieving the overall goal of overcoming addiction! I’m so proud of him.”
Childers expressed his appreciation to Sheriff Chad Pennell, Detention Center Supervisor Mike Lunsford, and Pretrial Release Director Anita Price for connecting him with clients who are in need of recovery and education.
“I can’t say enough about the leadership in this community. Their love for the citizens of Alexander County is tremendous,” Childers said. “There are no boundaries to what they will do to keep our community safe. It’s a blessing to see everyone working together to help those in need.”
In addition to the PORT program, Childers also serves as the Community Paramedic. In this role, he provides services through the Department of Social Services, EMS, Sheriff’s Office, doctor’s offices, and more. Services include patient care, managing chronic conditions, transportation, and more. He also provides educational services in the community such as CPR, mental health, advice, and assistance.
“We must all work together to create an awareness of the imminent dangers of drugs in Alexander County. These people who are using drugs are on a very dangerous path which can lead to addiction, overdose, and even death,” Childers emphasized. “Please be observant of your children, your family members, and your friends. We can help them.”
For more information about the Post-Overdose Response Team (PORT)/Community Paramedic program, please contact Childers at (828) 352-7824 or schilders@alexandercountync.gov.