UPDATE: TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS), THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE. 

The Pro Bono Resource Center is hosting clinics in Eastern North Carolina at the end of March to provide legal information, advice, and counsel to residents affected by Hurricane Florence and those interested in disaster preparedness. The first of these upcoming clinics will be in Lumberton March 25-26 and Whiteville March 26-27. 

“Recovering from a disaster is a difficult process and can be overwhelming for survivors,” said Katherine Asaro, senior disaster relief staff attorney for the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center. “We want to work with local communities to prepare for future disasters and to identify and meet ongoing legal needs from Hurricane Florence.” 

Pro bono attorneys and disaster recovery experts will help Hurricane Florence survivors and those interested in learning about disaster preparedness. 

“Disasters leave in their wake myriad civil legal issues that, if not addressed early on, can lead to more costly problems in the long run,” said Equal Access to Justice Commission member Sen. Danny Britt (R-Columbus, Robeson). “Lawyers are uniquely equipped to resolve many of these disaster-related problems, returning survivors to productivity and preventing future reliance on the state and federal government.”

Details

• Lumberton Disaster Assistance Information Session
  March 25, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  Carolina Civic Center, 315 North Chestnut Street, Lumberton
   
  The public will learn about planning for future disasters and hear about resources available now for those recovering from Hurricane Florence. This educational presentation will be given by the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism, Disability Rights North Carolina, and the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency.
• Lumberton Disaster Assistance Resource Fair
  March 26, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  Southeastern Agricultural Center, 1027 US-74 Alt, Lumberton
    
  Attendees will be able to connect with representatives from statewide organizations and meet with legal aid and pro bono volunteer attorneys who will provide advice and counsel to those impacted by Hurricane Florence or interested in prospective disaster preparedness.
• Whiteville Disaster Assistance Information Session
  March 26, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  Whiteville City Hall, 317 South Madison Street, Whiteville 
   
  The public will learn about planning for future disasters and hear about resources available now for those recovering from Hurricane Florence. This educational presentation will be given by the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism, Disability Rights North Carolina, and the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency.
• Whiteville Disaster Assistance Resource Fair
  March 27, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  Whiteville City Hall, 317 South Madison Street, Whiteville 
   
  Attendees will be able to connect with representatives from statewide organizations and meet with legal aid and pro bono volunteer attorneys who will provide advice and counsel to those impacted by Hurricane Florence or interested in prospective disaster preparedness.

These events are funded by grants from the North Carolina Community Foundation and the Legal Services Corporation, and they are held in partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina, Disability Rights North Carolina, the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism, Land Loss Prevention Project, and the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency. These events are coordinated by the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center.

For more information, contact Katherine Asaro, Disaster Legal Services Project director and senior staff attorney, North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center at 919-890-1097.