Giving, receiving assistance at Myrtle Beach area fire

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF THE FIRE

More than 700 rooms have been offered free of charge by local hoteliers and rental agencies in North Myrtle Beach, according to Nicole Aiello, city spokesman. For more information, call the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce at 281-2662.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is working with the American Red Cross and the Horry County Emergency Operations Center to serve as a liaison between residents who have been displaced by the wildfires and those that have donated housing and accommodations. People who have been displaced and are in need of housing should call 843-916-7231. This number will be staffed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. through Monday.

OptumHealth Inc. announced today that it is providing a free help line, 866-342-6892, to people in South Carolina who are trying to cope with the emotional consequences of the recent wildfire. Staffed by experienced master’s-level behavioral health specialists, the free help line offers assistance to callers seeking help in dealing with stress, anxiety and the grieving process.The service is free of charge. Resources and information are also available via the Internet in English at www.liveandworkwell.com and in Spanish at www.mentesana-cuerposano.com. 

CDF Developers, Ashley Furniture, local mortgage lenders and Barefoot Community Church will host an event next Saturday to offer assistance in rebuilding and furnishing homes at cost to affected residents of Barefoot Resorts. For more information, contact Chris Figura, 843-241-4630.

Donated toiletries are available at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center.

Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina is providing clothing assistance to fire victims through the Red Cross. Fire victims can bring a Red Cross referral letter to either of Goodwill’s Grand Strand locations to receive clothing. Goodwill is located in Conway at 2913 Church St. and in Myrtle Beach at 127 Loyola Drive.

Citizens with special medical needs can contact the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control at 915-8804 regarding special medical needs shelters.

Horry County has opened a call center at 843-915-5150 to address citizen concerns and questions.

Coastal S.C. Chapter of the American Red Cross: 843-477-0020 for questions about Red Cross assistance or shelter.

Sands Resorts and Oceana Resorts offering free rooms to evacuees: 843-449-6461.

Peppertree Ocean Club is giving free rooms for three nights to people displaced from the Barefoot area and discounted rates for others affected by the fire. They don’t allow pets. People can call 249-1421 for information or to make a reservation.

Kingston Plantation and the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort have reduced rates more than 50 percent for fire victims. Call 449-0006 for information.

Brittain Resort Management has reduced its rates for evacuees. Go to Myrtlebeachhotels.com for a list of Brittain Resort Management properties and contact information.

Endless Fun Resorts is offering rooms for $39 for displaced residents, a 75 percent discount. Their toll-free number is 866-328-0094.

Pet shelters: There is limited space for pets of evacuees at Murrells Inlet Veterinary Hospital (843-651-3355) and St. Frances Animal Hospital (843-249-1988), according to Horry County officials.

Tails-A-Waggin in Surfside Beach has limited space for dogs. Call 477-8043 for information.

Residents who are missing pets can call the Horry County Animal Shelter at 843-915-5172 or check www.petfinder.com for rescued pets.

INFORMATION FOR DONORS

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce are assisting the American Red Cross by collecting information on potential long-term housing options for victims of the Horry County fire. Businesses that can offer housing for a minimum of one week to three months are encouraged to contact the chambers:

MBACC at debbie.heintzelman@VisitMyrtleBeach.com, or by phone at 916-7296 or www.myrtlebeacharea chamber.com

NMBCC at antonel@northmyrtlebeach chamber.com or www.northmyrtle beachchamber.com

Please include a contact name, business name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, information on the housing you can offer (how many units, are pets allowed, bedrooms, etc.) and the length of time in which you are able to offer the housing.

This list will be provided to the American Red Cross, which will coordinate matching housing available with those in need.

The Sun News and other local media, including television and radio stations, will hold a daylong fundraiser to help support those affected by the Horry County wildfires from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Myrtle Beach Mall parking lot in front of Bass Pro Shops. All proceeds will go directly to the local chapter of the American Red Cross for fire victim relief. Participating media, in addition to The Sun News, include WBTW, WFXB, WMBF News, WPDE, WRNN, Wave 104.1, WKZQ 96.1, Star 92.1, Kiss 98.5, Sunny 103.1, Coyote 106.5, Power 100.3, The Team 93.9, Movin 94.5, Easy 105.9 and WLSC 1240.

The Horry County Fire Relief Fund to support ongoing American Red Cross efforts was opened with $12,000 contributed by First Federal and three Grand Strand insurance firms owned by the bank, Associated Insurors, First Southeast Insurance Services and Kimbrell Insurance Group. The public is encouraged to contribute by visiting any First Federal office or giving an online donation at www.firstfederal.com.

If you care for a disabled young adult or the elderly, Active Day Medical Adult Day Center, 3901 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, is offering emergency placement for day services including transportation and medical supervision. In addition, Active Day will serve as a drop-off location for clothing, toiletries and nonperishable food items for the displaced families in the area. They will also provide community resource information regarding nursing services, medical transport and adult day-care placement for residents of Horry County. Please contact Lesley Bess or Felicia Stevenson at Active Day by calling 843-626-8501.

South Carolina Kroger stores are asking their customers and associates to contribute money to assist the American Red Cross Disaster Relief in providing relief to those displaced. From today through May 9, customers can give money to benefit the wildfire victims by rounding up their purchases to the nearest dollar. Customers can also make a monetary donation at the register to help provide necessities such as food, water and clothing.

Sands Resorts human resource center at 3015 Church St., Myrtle Beach, is collecting donations for fire victims staying at its hotels and Oceana Resorts hotels. The site will accept clothes, shoes, bedding, toiletries, toys and household items from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. People looking to donate can call 692-5233 for more information.

The Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce is collecting clothing that will be distributed to fire victims through the Red Cross. Items should be bagged and brought to 4948 Main St., Shallotte, N.C.

Barefoot Landing is hosting a live radio remote by 96.1 WKZQ, today, 10 a.m. to noon, to collect monetary donations for the American Red Cross and material donations for distribution by the Salvation Army.

INSURANCE INFORMATION

State Farm will open a mobile catastrophe claims site today. The Catastrophe Response Vehicle will be located at Myrtle Beach Mall, 10177 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach. Policyholders are advised to call their agent or 800-732-5246. They also have the option of visiting the mobile claims site.

United Way of Horry County has activated a 2-1-1 hotline statewide for all donations and referrals regarding the wildfires in Horry County, according to a press release.

To make a donation, call the free hotline. Clothing donations are not needed.

All out-of-state residents can dial 1-877-648-9900 and will be transferred to a 2-1-1 representative