Mandatory evac. for Jacksonville, N.C.?

[dixiebreeze]

Anyone know about this? Appreciate any info.

[alicia-w]

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/News_FullStory.asp?id=2427

State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor

Michael F. Easley
Governor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sherri Johnson
Date: 9/13/2005 Phone: (919) 733-5612

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOV. EASLEY ASKS CITIZENS TO HEED EVACUATION WARNINGS AS OPHELIA NEARS THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST
Tropical Storm Force Winds Expected to Begin Today Along the Southern Coastal Area

Raleigh - Gov. Mike Easley today asked citizens to heed evacuation warnings by local officials as Ophelia moves closer to the North Carolina coast. Tropical storm force winds are expected today along the state’s southern coastal area. Hurricane force winds are possible by early tomorrow, and could last until early Friday morning, as the storm moves north along the coast.

“Ophelia should not be taken lightly,” said Easley. “This slow-moving storm could cause flooding, power outages and significant damage because the tropical and hurricane force winds are expected to bear down our coast for several days. Everyone needs to heed the evacuation warnings by their local officials and immediately take the necessary precautions to keep their families safe.”

Rainfall associated with Ophelia is forecasted to bring between five and nine inches of rain east of I-95. The storm surge is expected to be four to six feet above tidal levels along the coast and as much as six to eight feet in the Pamlico Sound. The storm surge is anticipated to be five to six feet along the Neuse and Pamlico rivers, and three feet Wednesday night and Thursday morning in the Albemarle Sound.

There are mandatory evacuations in six counties: coastal Brunswick, Carteret (non-residents of Bogue Banks), Dare (Hatteras Island area), Hyde (Ocracoke Island), Onslow (North Topsail) and Pender County. There are voluntary evacuations in eight counties: Carteret, Martin, New Hanover, Pamlico, Perquimans, Onslow, Brunswick and Hyde.

Thirty shelters are now open: seven in Bladen, three in Brunswick County, one in Carteret, two in Columbus, four in Craven (open at 4 p.m. today), one in Hoke, one in Jones, two in New Hanover, six in Onslow, and three in Pender. Schools are closed in Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Dare, Duplin, Hyde, Martin, Onslow, New Hanover, Pamlico and Pender counties.

A total of 350 N.C. National Guard troops have been activated for storm response. There are four strike teams mobilized with 50 troops each in eastern North Carolina. These teams have high-clearance vehicles and a Swift Water Rescue Team assigned to them. In addition, seven helicopters are on standby ready for rescue missions. Urban Search and Rescue teams are also on standby and ready to be deployed.

Two warehouses are open in Rocky Mount and Badin to store emergency supplies such as food, water, ice and generators. Currently, there is enough in the warehouse to supply 10,000 people meals and water for two days. However, citizens are also encouraged to have enough non-perishable food, ice and water to last for at least 72 hours.

All roads remain open at this time and the State Highway Patrol has 460 troopers on alert status. The Department of Transportation has barricades, pipes and portable message signs ready in case they are needed.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, Easley declared a State of Emergency and directed all state and local resources be prepared and ready to respond to the storm. The State Emergency Response Team is working around the clock and will continue full activation as long as necessary.

The state emergency bilingual hotline is staffed around the clock. The hotline provides updated weather information, highway closings, shelter information, feeding sites and also serves as a referral line for people in need of help following the event. English and Spanish speaking people should call toll-free 1-888-835-9966; deaf and hard of hearing people should call 1-877-877-1765.

Additional information on flood safety is available at http://www.nccrimecontrol.org/severeweather. Specific road condition information is available at http://www.ncsmartlink.org or by calling 511.














--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Office of the Governor
116 W. Jones Street, Suite 202, Raleigh , NC 27603-8001
Phone: (919) 733-5612
Fax: (919) 733-5166
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

[UpTheCreek]

Anyone know about this? Appreciate any info.

Home of Camp Lejuene......no, hadn't heard that on the local news as yet.

That would surprise me very much because it isn't right on the coast.

[alicia-w]

Ophelia Watch
City offices to close Wednesday: Essential Services operating

As a highly precautionary measure, City of Jacksonville offices will close Wednesday, September 14 as a result of the forecast for hurricane force winds from Ophelia.

Essential services, including Fire, Police and Public Services, will continue to operate, but City buildings, including recreation centers, will be closed for Wednesday.

The City will fully activate the City’s Emergency Operations Center at 8AM, Wednesday and will continue to maintain staffing at the County Emergency Operations Center to provide liaison with other jurisdictions.

All City meetings are cancelled for Wednesday and Thursday.

There is no mandatory evacuation or curfew for the City of Jacksonville. City residents who live in low lying areas and who feel unsafe, are urged to consider voluntarily relocating to a Red Cross Shelter. Abnormally high tides are expected during this time, and already the constant winds have pushed the waters of the New River up into the City.

City officials are urging residents to voluntarily restrict travel on Wednesday as wind conditions are expected, and travel could be unsafe.

http://www.ci.jacksonville.nc.us/opencms/opencms

[dixiebreeze]

Appreciate all the info, y'all! We have family in Jacksonville, including one who just had a hip replacement -- so a bit concerned here.

[Terry]

dixiebreeze - someone named "calamity" from J-ville, NC has been in and out of chat. He/she didn't mention an evacuations last time, which was about 4 pm or so.