1998-08-27 Emergency Meeting 2 (Bonnie)
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
EMERGENCY MEETING, AUGUST 27, 1998PAGE 663
HURRICANE BONNIE
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held an emergency meeting on August
27, 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 O’Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F.
Harrell.
Others present were: Kure Beach Mayor Betty Medlin and Carolina Beach Mayor Ray
Rothrock.
Chairman Caster called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone present. He requested
the Director of Emergency Management, Dan Summers, to present a brief status report on Hurricane
Bonnie.
Director Summers reported the EOC was busy with many resources being offered from the
private sector. North Carolina performs a good job on resource allocations, but due to other coastal
counties experiencing winds and storm surge from Hurricane Bonnie, the State is not in a position
to release response assets to New Hanover County. Currently, the National Guard has deployed a
150-member team to provide a show of presence at the beach communities and assist with safety
issues. Also, some transportation assets have been received at the Law Enforcement Center.
Flyover operations cannot be performed because of the weather. It is felt that all assessments
can be made on the ground without the use of aircraft. The following preliminary estimates of
damage were presented:
New Hanover County:
(1)Residential Damage: 294 structures with minimal damage; 11 structures with major damage;
and 1 structure destroyed.
(2)Business Structural Damage: 8 businesses with minimal damage; 12 businesses with major
damage; and 2 businesses destroyed in the northern section of New Hanover County.
(3)Governmental Structural Damage: The current estimate of water damage to County buildings
is approximately $87,000. Debris removal is projected at $200,000.
County Manager O’Neal stressed the importance of everyone understanding that all figures
presented were preliminary with only 25% of assessments completed.
Kure Beach:
(1)Structural Damage: 54 structures with major damage; and 1,059 structures with minimal
damage.
Carolina Beach:
(1)Structural Damage: 6 structures destroyed; 101 structures with major damage, and 751
structures with minimal damage.
Wrightsville Beach:
(1)Structural Damage: Very minimal with the collapse of two porches and shingles detached
from some structures.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
EMERGENCY MEETING, AUGUST 27, 1998PAGE 664
HURRICANE BONNIE
Director Summers presented the following report:
(1)Only one shelter is opened with 50 residents.
(2)Out-of-county fire crews have arrived and are backing up Fire Departments at Carolina
Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach.
(3)The Salvation Army mobile canteens have provided 1,600 meals today.
(4)The Red Cross mobile canteens will be mobilized tonight and in the morning.
(5)The Southern Baptist Men’s group is arriving and will be capable of feeding 10,000 people
per day.
(6)The 15 distribution sites are in the process of being setup.
In closing, Director Summers stated the EOC has accomplished these activities within 24
hours which is a good recovery effort.
County Manager O’Neal advised that Property Management was in the process of cleaning
up water damage in the County Administration Building and Annex Building so County employees
can return to work on Friday. Electrical power has not been restored for the Department of Aging,
Health Department, Department of Social Services, Transportation Services, and the Southeastern
Center. Carolina Power & Light Company has been contacted, and if power cannot be restored to
these departments, services will be curtailed on Friday, August 28, 1998.
A discussion followed on minor sewer spills. County Manager O’Neal reported there are 110
lift stations in New Hanover County with 30 stations having commercial power, 30 to 35 stations on
generators, and all remaining stations being operated by moving generators from site to site. He
requested County Engineer Jim Craig to report on the spills.
Mr. Craig reported that 16 sites of the 110 sites had experienced minor sewer spills. Most
of the sewer spills occurred inland with three spills near tidal creeks. Currently, the Pirates Cove lift
station is still under water. The Engineering Department has investigated the spills and is in control
of the situation. The department will continue to monitor the spills and report to the appropriate
agencies.
Vice-Chairman Greer inquired as to whether the recently purchased sewer guards had been
useful in preventing sewer spills.
Mr. Craig responded the sewer guards were helpful. However, some of the lift stations had
overhead storage, which was as use problem, not an inflow problem.
A lengthy discussion was held on debris removal. Director of Environmental Management
Ray Church reported after riding through the County, the debris should be about the same tonnage
as experienced with Hurricane Bertha. D&J, the contractor used to clear roads and remove debris
with previous storms, has been contacted. This firm has already sent personnel to begin the clearing
of major roads, thoroughfares and eventually subdivisions. A bid proposal for debris removal will
be advertised on the Sunday, August 30, 1998, with a bid opening scheduled for Tuesday, September
1, 1998, at 4:00 p.m.
The major issue for Commissioners to decide is whether New Hanover County will contract
with a private contractor to remove hurricane debris or allow the U. S. Corps of Engineers to perform
this service free of charge. After contacting the Corps of Engineers, no definite date could be
established as to when the debris removal process would begin. If the contractor used in the past
hurricanes is hired, debris removal can begin by the end of next week.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
EMERGENCY MEETING, AUGUST 27, 1998PAGE 665
HURRICANE BONNIE
County Manager O’Neal recommended hiring a private contractor to remove the hurricane
debris as soon as possible. He advised it will take weeks for the U. S. Corps of Engineers to perform
this service, which means the piles of debris along roadways will become a fire, health and safety
problem.
Chairman Caster requested an explanation on the cost of contracting with a private
contractor.
Director Church reported that after Hurricane Fran, the County was reimbursed 100% of the
debris removal cost, 75% received from the federal government and 25% received from the state
government. As of this date, no information has been received from the federal or state governments.
If the debris is removed by the Corps of Engineers, there will be no cost to New Hanover County.
Director Summers commented on a letter received from James L. Witt and he explained that
debris removal and emergency protective measures taken by the State and affected local governments
during the first 72 hours will be reimbursed 100%. Additionally federal funds will be available to the
State and affected local governments to pay 75% of eligible costs for debris removal and emergency
services related to the hurricane in the 10 designated counties.
In summary, Director Summers advised the County will receive 75% reimbursement from the
federal government for debris removal. As of this date, the County has not heard from the Governor
as to the 25% reimbursement by the State.
Director Church presented the following guidelines for a safe and cost-defective debris
removal process:
(1)Vegetative storm debris must be placed on the curb or in the road right-of-way. Collection
crews are prohibited from entering private property, but will service gated communities and
private roads assessable to the collection vehicles.
(2)Collections are limited to vegetative materials only, such as tree trunks cut in 6 to 8 feet
lengths, limbs, brush, pine cones and leaves. This does not include household trash,
construction or demolition (C&D) debris such as shingles, lumber or appliances.
(3)Smaller debris such as pine cones, leaves, twigs, etc., should be placed in rigid containers
and/or trash cans (30 gallons or less) to help speed-up collections and to minimize wind-
blown debris.
(4)Debris should be placed in large piles away from mailboxes, fire hydrants, drainage ditches,
driveways and traffic lanes.
(5)Residents are requested to park vehicles away from debris piles to help speed up collections.
(6)Evergreen Forest Products at 2605 Blue Clay Road will collect pine trees or logs greater than
13 feet long and at least 3 inches in diameter on the small end.
(7)Due to the large number of collection stops, not all residents will be immediately serviced. All
residents will be served as quickly as possible. Collection vehicles will pass each property
three times to allow home and business owners time to move materials to the curb.
(8)Burning of debris is not recommended due to health and respiratory concerns.
(9)The Hanover County Landfill will not accept vegetative debris.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
EMERGENCY MEETING, AUGUST 27, 1998PAGE 666
HURRICANE BONNIE
In closing, Director Church requested the Board to provide direction on how staff should
proceed with debris removal.
Motion:
After discussion of the need to begin the debris removal process as soon as possible, Vice-
Chairman Greer MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Birzenieks to authorize staff to proceed
with hiring a contractor to remove debris after Hurricane Bonnie free of charge to the citizens under
the guidelines as proposed. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Director Church expressed concern for the shortage of space in the County Landfill. He
stated it could become necessary to move some of the C&D materials to the BFI Landfill in Sampson
County. During previous hurricanes, the Corps of Engineers has carried C&D materials to Sampson
County.
Discussion followed on burning debris. Director Church explained that vegetative debris
could be burned through a process known as a “smokeless burn”. He requested Mr. Kyl McIntire,
owner of Wilmington Materials, to explain this process.
Mr. McIntire explained that a smokeless burn could be achieved with the use of an air curtain
and the right degree of physics. Very little smoke will be noticed by surrounding neighborhoods
because the process allows for a quick and clean burn. The burn is scheduled for Wednesday,
September 2, 1998, in the back pit of the facility.
Motion:
After further discussion of the need to perform the burn, Commissioner Birzenieks
MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Howell to authorize Wilmington Materials to perform a
smokeless burn as scheduled. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Through a telephone conference call, Wrightsville Beach decided to join the County in the
vegetative debris removal process.
The following curfew hours were presented by each municipality.
Carolina Beach 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
Kure Beach 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
Wrightsville Beach11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
City of Wilmington10.00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
Chairman Caster advised he felt in future disaster events, the same curfew hours should be
used by all local governments to avoid confusion among the general public. The elected officials
present agreed to better coordinate curfew hours in future emergency events.
Motion:
Commissioner Birzenieks MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Howell to implement
a curfew from 10:00 p.m., August 27, 1998 until 6:00 a.m., August 28, 1998. Upon vote, the
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNMENT
District Court Judge, John W. Smith, advised that all courts would be closed on Friday,
August 28, 1998.
Motion:
Commissioner Birzenieks MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Greer to adjourn.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Caster adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board