2008-09-04 Emergency Meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 31
EMERGENCY MEETING, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 PAGE 453
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for an Emergency Meeting on Thursday, September 4,
2008, at 2:00 p.m. in the Lucie F. Harrell Conference Room (Room 601) at the New Hanover County Government Center,
230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman William A. Caster; Commissioner William A.
Kopp; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; Clerk to the Board Sheila L. Schult; and County Manager Bruce T. Shell.
Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett arrived at 2:55 p.m.
Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr. was absent.
Elected Officials present were: Senator Julia Boseman; Mayor Joel Macon, Town of Carolina Beach; Mayor Mac
Montgomery, Town of Kure Beach; Mayor Stephen Whalen, Town of Wrightsville Beach, and Mayor Bill Saffo, City of
Wilmington.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order and advised that the Emergency Session had been called to discuss the
current location of Tropical Storm Hanna and the possible impact to New Hanover County. He requested Emergency
Management Director Warren Lee to begin the presentation.
Director Lee presented the latest storm advisory of Tropical Storm Hanna reporting that the storm is expected to
make landfall around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2008. Rainfall in the amount of 4 to 5 inches is expected with
winds reaching the Cape Fear coast Friday afternoon with conditions expected to improve by Saturday afternoon.
Director Lee suggested the following plan of action:
?
Declare a state of emergency effective Friday, September 5, 2008 at 6:00 a.m.
?
Activate the Emergency Operating Center, Public Information, Emergency Center and Special Needs
Plan on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 7:00 a.m.
?
Open three shelters beginning at noon on Friday, September 5, 2008.
?
The following schools will serve as shelters:
?
Noble Middle School ? pet friendly for cats and dogs
?
Eaton Elementary
?
Johnson Elementary
After brief discussion and a question and answer period, the mayors of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville
Beach and the City of Wilmington stated that they are in agreement with declaring a state of emergency with voluntary
evacuation effective Friday, September 5, 2008 at 6:00 a.m.
The following information was also presented and briefly discussed:
?
Snows Cut Bridge will be monitored and based on wind may be closed at the discretion of the Highway Patrol.
?
Emergency Medical Services and Fire Services will not operate emergency vehicles when sustained winds
reach 50 mph.
?
All New Hanover County Public Schools will be closed on Friday, September 4, 2008.
?
A voluntary evacuation for all students at UNC-Wilmington is in effect with classes being cancelled for Friday,
September 5, 2008.
?
Progress Energy repair staff is on alert in preparation for the storm.
Chairman Greer requested direction from the Board to adopt a proclamation declaring a State of Emergency in New
Hanover County.
Motion:
Vice-Chairman Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Kopp to adopt a proclamation declaring a State
of Emergency in New Hanover County effective Friday, September 5, 2008 at 6:00 a.m. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED 3 TO 0.
A copy of the proclamation is hereby incorporated as a part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XXXI,
Page 19.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 2:58 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the Board