February 09, 2010
Written by Yulia Koltun, Senior-Nutrition, OSA Assistant
November 2009
A fire engulfed SunStone Apartments, located on Connor Drive off East Franklin Street, around 4:30am on Thursday, October 22, 2009. Firefighter crews from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham and New Hope arrived at the scene as 33 residents were evacuated from the burning complex. WRAL reports that half of the apartments in the 24-unit complex experienced extensive damage; the remainder were declared uninhabitable. The captain of the Orange County Red Cross was quoted stating this disaster to be the largest the organization has responded to in several years. Fortunately, only a few minor injuries and burns were sustained as a result of the incident.

Though the smoke from the blaze has settled, the disarray and shock suffered by those affected has not. The Department of Health Policy and Management geared up to assist two master’s students within the Department who were residents of SunStone Apartments. Jeff Nguyen, president of the HPM Masters Student Council, sent an email to the HPM listserv soliciting support for the displaced classmates. An immediate and overwhelming response from faculty, staff, and students totaled $1,500 in monetary donations that was loaded onto Visa gift cards for the two students. Another classmate put the two students in touch with Red Cross, which has assisted them with the purchase of groceries.

Geraldine Pierre, one of the HPM students affected by the fire, thanks the department for the uplifting and unforeseen response: “The donations, calls, and emails have really helped us to get everything together and to get back on our feet. This was a totally unexpected event, but the actions of the Department made it a much smoother time for us. We have everything – new apartment, lots of food, furniture, and clothing! The most important thing we have now,” Geraldine stresses, “is renter’s insurance….it makes a world of a difference.”

A Google search of “renter’s insurance Chapel Hill” generates a list of several companies in the area that offer plans to safeguard a renter in the event of fire, theft or vandalism that renders the property uninhabitable. Renter’s insurance can cover the cost of temporary housing, furniture, clothing, and protect valuables like laptops and bikes.

In addition to the safeguards offered by renter’s insurance, the Gillings School of Global Public Health itself offers a Student Emergency Relief Fund to assist students who have had their personal and academic lives affected by an unexpected disaster. To request funds, students submit an application and supporting documentation to the Office of Student Affairs, which the SPH Student Emergency Relief Fund Committee reviews. The committee can allocate funds up to $500 per person per incident.
Find more information on the SPH Student Emergency Relief Fund on the Office of Student Affairs website.

 

 

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