Buncombe County Health and Human Services received the Dr. Sarah Taylor Morrow Health Department of the Year award in the large county category from the North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA). The award recognizes the department’s work over the past year, especially in emergency response and community support.
The department faced challenges after Tropical Storm Helene affected Buncombe County. Dr. Ellis Matheson, the county’s Public Health Director, noted the staff’s efforts in response and recovery. He stated that the award reflects the team’s ongoing work to protect public health.
In the five weeks following the storm, public health staff worked more than 1,500 hours of overtime. They operated five shelters with 685 beds and opened eight Community Care Stations. These stations provided water, meals, showers, laundry, and health care. The Mobile Team gave 1,219 vaccines and helped residents access services to prevent disease outbreaks…