State and county departments prepare for impacts of Hurricane Florence

Dispatch, The (Lexington, NC)

Sept. 10--State and county emergency services are busily preparing for the forecasted strong impacts of Hurricane Florence in North Carolina, according to Davidson County Emergency Management Coordinator Maj. Alton Hanes.

Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday declared a state of emergency for North Carolina ahead of the storm, which is expected to make landfall later this week. On Monday, the governor sent a letter to President Donald Trump seeking federal assistance for cleanup after the storm passes.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has begun preparations in all 100 North Carolina counties, according to a press release from the governor's office. Trucks, chain saws, front loaders, motor graders, backhoes, barricades, road closed signs and high water signs are all ready to be dispatched throughout the state should the need arise.

"We are working closely with the National Hurricane Center and FEMA and our other partners and leveraging that wealth of experience to ensure we can respond to any need," state Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said. "We are also working closely with our county and SERT partners to ensure all resource requests are met. We ask the public to stay tuned to local forecasts and follow instructions from your local emergency officials and to have a plan for yourself and your family members, including your pets."

On the county level, Hanes had a conference call with the state's emergency management department midday Monday and said another local meeting would be held Tuesday morning to prepare. it will include representatives from area school systems, the Department of Transportation, all municipalities, emergency departments and utility providers.

"We'll put them in a room together in the morning, all of us together, and see what everybody has put in place and talk about the needs and concerns," Hanes said.

"Right now we are just coordinating our internal resources, making sure all of those are ready and all of our assets are ready for deployment if need be," he said.

According to a press release from the county, Emergency Services is conducting "logistical checks, fuel resource allocations, emergency service delivery components and resource stockpiling."

"We're doing a lot of planning today countywide," Hanes said Monday. "We're reaching out to everybody as far as stakeholders to make sure they're getting things in place."

In addition to local efforts, Rep. Larry Potts posted a statement online Monday which indicated 200 National Guard troops have been activated to help make preparations for the storm throughout the area.

More information on preparations will be available as emergency departments continue to meet throughout the week. Residents can receive real-times updates and information by signing up for the county's CodeRED alert system at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BFFFE65DACB9.

The forecast

Hurricane Florence is currently listed as a Category 4, classifying it as a major hurricane which has the potential to cause significant damage or loss of life, according to the National Hurricane Center.

According to prediction models from the National Hurricane Center, the storm is projected to make landfall between Nags Head, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina.

Tropical-storm-force winds, which are predicted to blow between 60 and 70 mph in Davidson County, are expected to reach the area by Thursday morning.

The hurricane, which is expected to make landfall early Thursday and into Friday, will begin to weaken as it travels across land. The eye of the storm is predicted to reach Davidson County by Saturday morning, having decreased in strength to a tropical depression with maximum wind speeds of 35 mph.

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