Helen damaged more than 200 day care centers in western North Carolina. According to North Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesAt least 55 of the worst-hit centers are expected to remain closed “for the foreseeable future.”

“Unfortunately, we are hearing that some programs will take 6-9 months, some more, some less, to reopen,” said Amy Cubbage, president of the North Carolina Partnership for Children and statewide organizations. Smart Start net.

According to the Blue Ridge Partnership for Children, any day care center with water damage must have its facilities and water tested by licensing officials before it can reopen.

Courtesy of Smart Start of Burke County

“We’re hearing about such a wide variety of situations on the ground… many issues with flooding, carpets and damaged materials, furniture having to be thrown out, mold growth,” described Cubbage.

The Department of Health and Human Services is developing emergency plans to help centers reopen if they lose power, drinking water or critical records.

MaryLee Yearick with Blue Ridge Partnership for Childrenwhich works with child care providers in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. Currently, only one kindergarten has reopened in their area. Many providers face high costs and loss of income as they rely on tuition fees paid by families to pay their bills.

“Centers are worried about how to pay their employees, they are worried about what will happen next when parents are out of work,” Yearick said. “This is a big, serious concern right now.”

A major source of government funding to support the early childhood education industry will dry up by the end of the calendar year. Earlier this year, state lawmakers extended child care stabilization grants that were originally intended to keep providers open during the pandemic. The state cut that funding this quarter of the fiscal year and will run out entirely by the end of the year.

“This comes at a time when there is a real crisis in the child care sector, with families already struggling to find high-quality care,” Cubbage said.

The original disaster relief package passed by the North Carolina General Assembly earlier this month did not include funding for child care providers, although it did offer licensing flexibility. Advocates are calling for funding to be included in the next relief bill to help retain teachers.

“I hope that the General Assembly can put some money into this in the form of a second tranche of aid, which is what we’re really hoping for,” Cubbage said.