1998-08-25 Emergency Meeting 2 (Bonnie)
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
EMERGENCY MEETING, AUGUST 25, 1998PAGE 656
HURRICANE BONNIE
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held an Emergency Session on Tuesday,
August 25, 1998, at 4:00 p.m. in Room 501 of the New Hanover County Administration Building,
320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioner Buzz Birzenieks; Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.;
Commissioner Charles R. Howell; Vice-Chairman Robert G. Greer; Chairman William A. Caster;
County Manager, Allen O’Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie
F. Harrell.
Chairman Caster called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone present. He requested
the Director of Emergency Management, Dan Summers, to present a status report on Hurricane
Bonnie.
Director Summers reported at the morning meeting he was concerned about requesting
evacuation of the beach communities; however, with the sudden change in the path of Hurricane
Bonnie, he was glad this action was taken. The storm is 300 miles in diameter moving west northwest
at a speed of 16 mph with sustained winds of 115 mph. Hurricane Bonnie is a Category 3 hurricane,
and the storm is expected to make landfall at either Wilmington, Morehead City or Cape Hatteras.
By midnight, New Hanover County will be experiencing hurricane force winds.
Emergency Management has taken the following steps to prepare for the storm:
(1)The EOC is operational and will be fully staffed within a few hours. Additional phones have
been ordered.
(2)The Sheriff’s Department has completed shift schedules and the department is ready to move
into action. The Wilmington Police Department and Sheriff’s Department will provide
security to the shelters.
(3)Tractor/trailer units with cots and blankets are being deployed at this time in order to serve
the shelters.
(4)Large rental generators will arrive at 6:00 p.m. tonight. A contractor has been hired to
perform the necessary wiring for the generators.
(5)Requests from mutual aid fire departments are being received. Bumper stickers are being
prepared and will be issued to the various out-of-town fire teams.
(6)FEMA is sending federal resources to Ft. Bragg. This location will serve as the staging site.
(7) The Corps of Engineers will be handling the distribution of ice and bottled water to the drop
off sites.
(8)The N. C. Emergency Management Division has scheduled a conference call at 4:30 p.m. with
all coastal counties.
(9)The strike probabilities of Hurricane Bonnie are as follows and the rainfall estimates are 10
inches:
Savannah, Georgia 2%
Charleston, South Carolina15%
Wilmington, North Carolina32%
Morehead City, North Carolina32%
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina27%
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
EMERGENCY MEETING, AUGUST 25, 1998PAGE 657
HURRICANE BONNIE
(10)The Media Center is fully operational. When media releases are developed in the Media
Center, it is critical for the EOC to approve the releases.
(11)Cellular sites are busy, and a media release has been issued requesting companies and persons
to reduce the cellular use because the lines are jammed.
(12)UNCW held its last class at 3:15 p.m. today. The University has taken the necessary steps
to prepare for the storm.
(13)The Bellamy Shelter has been closed because of a scheduled roof replacement. Currently,
there are two shelters open: The Dorothy B. Johnson Shelter and Noble Shelter. The Trask
Shelter is on standby.
(14)The evacuation process has progressed extremely well in the beach communities. Most of
the residents have already left the beaches. There will be representatives from Carolina
Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach at the Media Center.
(15)The State has mobilized a portion of the National Guard Team. A liaison should arrive by
6:00 p.m.
(16)Both hospitals have representatives in the EOC. The Medical Center has evacuated the
Intensive Care Unit and other patients. Cape Fear Memorial has taken the necessary actions
to prepare for the storm.
(17)The Special Needs Task Force is opening up an outsourcing center in Classroom D at AHEC
to assist people with special needs. Churches and individuals have been contacted to assist
with caring for persons with special needs as guests in their homes. If this does not fulfill the
need, assistance will be requested from local hospitals and nursing homes. MTS will transport
persons in need of ambulance transportation.
(18)The 911 Center has taken the necessary action to prepare for Hurricane Bonnie.
(19)The amateur radio operators are activated with all radio equipment tested.
(19)The Legal Department is in the process of preparing contracts for debris removal, vegetative
materials and construction and demolition (C&D) materials.
Discussion followed on storm surge. Director Summers reported the projected storm surge
is 16 feet. Once the 5:00 p.m. weather forecast is received, more information will be available on the
storm surge and tides.
After further discussion of the need for people to move from low lying areas, it was agreed
for the Media Center to issue releases about the danger of the storm surge during a high tide.
County Manager O’Neal advised the Inspections Department has teams ready to begin
damage assessment tomorrow morning. The Parks Department has chain saw teams ready to work
with the N. C. Department of Transportation to clear major corridors. Property Management has
secured all county buildings, and the WASTEC Facility will continue to operate during the storm.
Mayor Hicks inquired as to whether a backup plan was in place to cover the loss of the
800mhz system.
Director Summers responded there are two levels of backup built into the 800mhz system.
The General Electric Plant in Castle Hayne has a similar system and the County can switch to that
system. Also, there is good mobile coverage at Flemington.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
EMERGENCY MEETING, AUGUST 25, 1998PAGE 658
HURRICANE BONNIE
Chairman Caster requested the Board to approve a budget amendment to establish a budget
for Hurricane Bonnie.
Motion:
Vice-Chairman Greer MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Birzenieks to approve the
following budget amendment in the amount of $500,000 to establish a budget for Hurricane Bonnie.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Budget Amendment #99-0025 - Emergency Management
DebitCredit
Hurricane Bonnie
FEMA - Federal $500,000
Supplies $500,000
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Caster expressed appreciation to the elected officials and agency representatives
for attending the meeting. He stressed the importance of everyone continuing to work cooperatively
together until Hurricane Bonnie has reached landfall and the recovery process has been initiated and
completed. He announced a meeting will be scheduled tomorrow morning in the Sheriff’s Conference
Room with the time to be determined early that morning. Notice of the time will be provided to all
elected officials and involved agency representatives.
Motion:
Vice-chairman Greer MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Birzenieks to adjourn.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Caster adjourned the meeting at 4:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board