New subject: [Oakwood-CERT] Our Governor's Statement on Preparedness

4 Oct 2016

Thanks for sending this, Dave.  Should this be sent to our neighborhood listserves? I
think it should be. What do others think?
Hugh
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab®4
-------- Original message --------
From: Dave Wiesner via Oakwood-CERT &lt;oakwood-cert(a)eastraleigh.org&gt;
Date: 10/4/2016  8:06 PM  (GMT-05:00)
To: 'Kim Gazella' &lt;kgazella(a)gmail.com&gt;
Cc: 'Oakwood CERT' &lt;oakwood-cert(a)eastraleigh.org&gt;
Subject: [Oakwood-CERT] Our Governor's Statement on Preparedness
Press ReleaseGovernor McCrory Urges Residents to Plan Now as the State Prepares for Major
Impacts from Hurricane Matthew  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    
                  (919) 814-2100 Tuesday, October 4, 2016                                
                           govpress(a)nc.gov  Raleigh, N.C. – Governor Pat McCrory is urging
North Carolinians throughout the central and eastern part of the state to gather emergency
supplies, discuss emergency plans and carefully monitor local news stations to prepare for
Hurricane Matthew. The latest forecast calls for Hurricane Matthew to skim along the
Atlantic coastline before making landfall near the North and South Carolina border early
Saturday morning. “With each subsequent forecast, the impacts to our state appear to be
more substantial,” cautioned Governor McCrory. “I cannot stress enough how critical it is
that all of our residents in central and eastern North Carolina begin preparations for
their families and homes. For those residents in the eastern parts of the state, it is
especially critical that you update your emergency supply kits in case you need to
evacuate and always follow the directions of your local emergency officials.”  Currently a
Category 4 hurricane, Matthew made landfall along eastern Cuba this morning and is
predicted to move northwest through the Bahamas and along Florida’s Atlantic coast during
the next few days. From there, the large and powerful storm is expected to shift toward
the northeast, hugging the Georgia and South Carolina coast before making landfall in
North Carolina sometime Saturday. While the storm is a still a few days away, the major
hurricane continues to shift westward, increasing the potential for significant impacts to
the state. Emergency officials are preparing for 4 to 8 more inches of rain over the
weekend across eastern and central North Carolina along with heavy winds of up to 73 miles
per hour beginning Friday.  “Many of our central and eastern counties are already
saturated from storms during the past few weeks,” said state Emergency Management Director
Mike Sprayberry. “With additional rain and heavy winds in the forecast, we are preparing
for additional flooding, downed trees and widespread power outages in the coming days.”
 Yesterday, Governor McCrory declared a State of Emergency for 66 eastern and central
North Carolina counties to expedite the movement and activation of any resources to help
with storm response. He also waived restrictions for truckers on hours of service and
weight limits to help farmers harvest their crops, quickly restore power and expedite any
debris removal.  The North Carolina Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activated yesterday
with staffing support from key state agencies as well as the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. The EOC will begin 24-hour operations Thursday morning with additional personnel.
State emergency managers and FEMA representatives are coordinating with North Carolina
counties and neighboring states on sheltering and evacuation plans should they be needed.
  “The North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) will have soldiers on standby ready to provide
direct assistance to state and local emergency managers, the highway patrol and first
responders,” said Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry. “The Guard has high water
vehicles and helicopters, and can provide power generation, medical, communication and
shelter support, and is capable of transporting supplies if needed.”  The North Carolina
State Highway Patrol is also preparing its troopers and equipment. Troopers will be
monitoring all major highways and will be assisting the Department of Transportation,
county Emergency Management officials and local partners.  Additionally, the Department of
Transportation continues to monitor conditions and prepare equipment and crews to respond
to Hurricane Matthew. The Department is prepositioning equipment and personnel along the
coast and preparing ferry operations to expedite the transportation of residents and
visitors off Ocracoke Island and the Outer Banks.  Governor McCrory urges residents to
take the following steps to prepare for the storm:  1. Determine if you are in a storm
surge zone: Residents living in storm surge zones may be ordered to evacuate. Evacuation
zones will be identified by local emergency managers through the news media. You also
should know if your home is located in a flood plain. These areas suffer from heavy rains
associated with hurricanes. Visit ncfloodmaps.com to determine if you are in a flood zone.
 2. Gather supplies and prepare an emergency kit: To prepare for a hurricane or any
disaster, it is best to have an emergency kit available. This kit should contain
nonperishable food, water (one gallon/person/day) and clothing to sustain each family
member for three to seven days. The kit should include a flashlight, radio and spare
batteries. Blankets, rain gear and appropriate footwear also are recommended. Special
considerations must be made for the young or disabled. Remember to include baby food and
medicines as appropriate. In addition, the kit should include photo copies of important
family documents, such as birth certificates and insurance policies. A complete checklist
of items for your emergency kit can be found here.  3. Fuel cars, obtain cash and secure
important documents: Residents should fill their cars with gasoline and have enough cash
on hand to last a week in case they are ordered to evacuate. During power-outages, gas
stations and ATM machines do not work. It is also important to secure original copies of
documents in a waterproof container in case of flooding.  4. Obtain supplies to protect
the home: If residents are ordered to evacuate, there will be little time to protect their
homes from the storm. Supplies, such as lumber and shutters, should be purchased now, and
window casing pre-drilled. Homeowners should clear their property of all debris that could
damage buildings in strong winds. Cars should be stored in the garage.  For more
information about how to get ready for a hurricane and what to do during or after a storm,
go to ReadyNC.org. You can also get real-time traffic and weather on the ReadyNC mobile
app. Follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook for the latest on Hurricane
Matthew.   Be safe. Dave Wiesner

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