Overview

• Hurricane Helene's flooding in North Carolina has disrupted underground nests of yellowjackets, causing swarms and increased stings.
• State health officials are distributing Benadryl and EpiPens to manage the rise in insect sting incidents.
• The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is ensuring that allergy medications are available without prescriptions.
• Direct Relief and other aid organizations have sent over 2,000 EpiPens to affected areas to support recovery efforts.
• Yellowjackets and other bees are more defensive in the fall, and the hurricane has exacerbated their aggressive behavior.