In the wake of Hurricanes Florence and Michael, the AFL-CIO Union Plus program, which SMART Transportation members are eligible to join, reminds people that disaster assistance grants are available from them.
Members who have had a Union Plus credit card for three months, mortgage or insurance for at least 12 months (with the account or policy up-to-date on payments) and who have experienced a significant income or property loss can apply for a once-per-lifetime disaster relief grant.
For more information, Union Plus Credit Cardholders should call 800-622-2580. Union Plus Mortgage, Union Plus Life, Accident and Auto Insurance. Union Plus Retiree Healthcare and Union Plus Personal Loan holders, should call 800-472-2005.
Tag: Hurricane Florence
LCA – CSXT Secretary and UTUIA Field Supervisor Chris Fly (Local 1106) is collecting goods of necessity for our union families who are in need in the wake of Hurricane Florence.
“Currently, Wilmington, N.C., in particular, is not accessible. This is where our Brothers and Sisters from SMART TD Local 1105 reside,” Fly said. “I am preparing to facilitate goods of necessity to our union family and their community, which will be collected at my home for now, depending upon the abundance of items received.”
Fly also reports that the Lumberton, N.C. area also has flooding issues and the Lumber River is still rising.
“We have a game plan to serve their need for necessities as well,” Fly said. “A lot of SMART TD Local 1011 members reside in this area.”
Fly is accepting water, canned food, diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies and hygiene items for men, women and children.
These items can be sent to:
Chris Fly
1071 Lindsay Rd.
Nashville, NC 27856
“The response from inland communities has been awesome, I may have to rent a U-Haul due to the abundance of necessities donated,” Fly said. “Mainly, we need prayers that the water will subside so assistance can get in. Currently, they are still isolated by the flood waters.”
N.C. State Legislative Director Ron Ingerick is also accepting donations for those affected by the hurricane. So far, Ingerick has reported that two members have lost everything in the flood. He asks that members keep Ryan Forinash (Local 1105) from Wilmington, and Vice Local Chairperson Jeff Hunt (Local 1011) from Lumberton, and their families in your prayers.
SMART TD has activated the disaster relief fund and is collecting monetary donations for members affected. All donations to the fund are used solely for the benefit of TD members who are impacted by natural disasters.
UTUIA President Kenneth Laugel announced Wednesday that his organization was giving $5,000 to relief efforts for members affected by the storm.
“The devastating flooding and the resulting damage in the Carolinas and particularly North Carolina continues to grow as a result of the aftermath from Hurricane Florence,” Laugel said. “It is our hope and desire that this will serve to ease the burden of those who are suffering.”
To donate, checks can be made payable to ‘SMART TD Disaster Relief Fund‘ and can be sent to:
SMART TD Disaster Relief Fund
24950 Country Club Blvd.
Suite 340
North Olmsted, OH 44070-5333
Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Dear members of SMART Transportation Division:
Hurricane Florence and its resulting floods have left behind substantial destruction in North and South Carolina, leading to the loss of life and millions, if not billions, of dollars in damage to property in the Mid-Atlantic region and inland.
Some of those affected by the devastation include our Brothers and Sisters of SMART Transportation Division (SMART TD) who live in the region. This disaster adds a tremendous burden to their lives and the amount of loss that they now must cope with is unimaginable. The silver lining is, and will continue to be, the generosity of citizens around the country who are giving what they can to help those affected to help overcome the effects of this disaster and to reclaim their lives.
We are asking the SMART TD family to rise to the call and give what you can so that the daunting task of starting over and rebuilding can begin. Your generous donation will help lessen the struggle and bring real hope and relief to our SMART TD members who are suffering through this disaster.
Please make your donation to the SMART TD Disaster Relief Fund. All donations to the fund are used solely for the benefit of TD members who are impacted by natural disasters, and are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Contributions may be sent to:
SMART TD Disaster Relief Fund
Suite 340
24950 Country Club Blvd.
North Olmsted, OH 44070-5333
Sincerely,
John Previsich
President, SMART Transportation Division
Hurricane Florence has struck North and South Carolina and is causing destruction in the region. SMART TD and Your Track to Health want to remind members affected by Florence that resources are available to help recover from the storm.
The following health and wellness resources are available to those impacted by Hurricane Florence.
Behavioral health
An emotional support hotline is available, free of charge, regardless of behavioral health plan membership. It provides access to specially-trained mental health specialists.
United Behavioral Health/Optum: 1-866-342-6892 (toll free) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Prescription drugs
If you don’t have your medication(s) with you, prescriptions are available to you at any retail pharmacy. Simply show your Express Scripts ID card, or if your ID card is unavailable, call the number below. For members with home delivery orders in impacted areas, UPS shipments will be held at the member’s local post office for pickup if delivery to the home is not possible.
Accredo and Express Scripts: 1-800-842-0070 (toll free) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Vision
If you’ve lost, broken or damaged your eyewear, emergency (temporary) replacement glasses can be sent to you, at no cost, with overnight shipping (must call by 2:30 p.m. ET on weekdays for same-day processing). Or, if you prefer to order permanent replacement glasses or contacts, expedited shipping is available.
EyeMed: 1-866-652-0018 (toll free) Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m. ET; Sat 8 a.m.-11 p.m. ET; Sun 11 a.m.-11 p.m. ET
Medical care and more:
Telemedicine services are available to any resident of an evacuation zone, regardless of health plan membership. Individuals can request a call from a doctor, free of charge, to handle non-emergency medical problems via specific contact information below.
Teladoc: 1-855-756-8708 (toll free) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or for more information visit https://www.teladoc.com/florence/
Free telephone access to registered nurses is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week regardless of health plan membership.
Railroad HEALTHLINK: 1-866-735-5685 (toll free) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Help finding care, behavioral health support, and assistance with finding available shelters and government resources, and other services are available through Aetna’s Resources for Living, regardless of health plan membership to people in Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Aetna: 1-833-327-2386 (toll free) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
For those who reside in areas where States of Emergency have been declared, waivers have been put in place for Medical Authorization Requirements, Claims Timely Filing, and Paying Out-of-Network Claims as In-Network.
Highmark/Blue Cross Blue Shield: 1-866-267-3320 (toll free) Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET
Free telephone access to registered nurses is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week regardless of health plan membership. Help finding health care services is available through the toll-free phone number, and in-network rates will be available even if members are not able to see an in-network provider.
UnitedHealthcare: 1-866-735-5685 (toll free) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Information is available to monitor and prepare for the storm. Experts are available to help: locate in-network providers in a new area, find facilities that will be able to provide temporary assistance, transfer medical records and prescriptions, get a short supply of medications if prescriptions have been lost, coordinate care between insurance company and medical providers, answer benefit and treatment questions and help with elderly parents.
HealthAdvocate: 1-866-799-2690 (toll free) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Dental:
Members affected by the hurricane who need care or other assistance can access Aetna.
Aetna Dental: 1-877-238-6200 (toll free) Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET
For more information, visit Your Track to Health at www.ytth.com.