Hurricane Helene’s deadly flooding in western North Carolina destroyed the underground nests of stinging insects and caused them to swarm on workers and residents trying to recover from the storm.

The spate of bites from yellowjackets, bees and other insects has prompted the state health department to purchase Benadryl and epinephrine injections, as aid groups also work to obtain the drugs and get them to people in affected areas.

Alycia Clark, Direct Relief’s chief pharmacy officer, told The Associated Press that many of those seeking treatment for insect bites are electricians working to restore power lines and other outdoor workers.

“With every disaster we get requests for EpiPens, but this one is definitely an outlier,” Clark said.

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Flooding from Hurricane Helene destroyed the underground nests of many insects in western North Carolina. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

The group told The AP that it has sent more than 2,000 EpiPen injections to community health centers, clinics and pharmacies throughout Western North Carolina.

Pharmacists in North Carolina are providing emergency refills for already prescribed allergy medications and allowing people to buy epinephrine injections like EpiPens without a prescription, a spokesperson for the state’s health department told the outlet.

State health officials and aid groups are working to distribute the drugs in affected areas. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

While most people are not allergic to stings from wasps, bees and other insects, irritation and pain can be severe, and the stings can swell and remain painful for days, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, some people may experience a severe allergic reaction that can lead to anaphylaxis, which can cause difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue and throat, weak pulse, and loss of consciousness. In these situations it is important to administer epinephrine immediately.

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Hurricane Helene killed at least 232 people across the Southeast. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

Being stung more than a dozen times can also cause a buildup of venom in the body, which can lead to serious illnesses such as dizziness, fever, convulsions or vomiting.

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Hurricane Helene killed at least 232 people as the storm swept across the Southeast. Hundreds more people are still missing from the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since Katrina.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.