1996-07-10 Emergency Meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 25
EMERGENCY MEETING, JULY 10, 1996PAGE 486
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held an
Emergency Session on Wednesday, July 10, 1996, at 11:00 A.M. in
Conference Room 501 of the New Hanover County Administration
Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Sandra Barone; William A.
Caster; William E. Sisson, Jr.; Vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.;
Assistant County Attorney, Kemp Burpeau; and Deputy Clerk to the
Board, Teresa P. Elmore.
Chairman Robert G. Greer and County Manager Allen O'Neal were
in New York, NY for the sale of hospital bonds for New Hanover
Regional Medical Center; however, they were connected by conference
call.
Vice-Chairman Mathews called the Emergency Session to order
and reported the purpose of the meeting was to hear a report on the
current conditions of Hurricane Bertha and the recommendations from
the Emergency Management Director on the course of action to take.
Director of Emergency Management, Dan Summers, gave the
coordinates of Hurricane Bertha and reported a hurricane warning
had been issued by the National Weather Service for the coastal
areas of southern Georgia to Charleston, SC. The warning was
expected to include New Hanover County later in the afternoon. He
expressed concern on the high number of summer visitors in the area
and the length of time needed to evacuate the beaches.
Director Summers recommended declaring a State of Emergency in
order to begin a voluntary evacuation of the beach communities and
the low-lying areas around 2:00 p.m. The voluntary evacuation
would give visitors ample time to check-out of hotels and allow an
early start in moving some of the vehicular traffic from the beach
communities. He warned that evacuations during nighttime hours are
more difficult and would require an additional six to eight hours.
He also expressed concern that since this hurricane was one of the
earliest on record, everyone would need more time to prepare for
the storm. At this time, he did not feel the State of Emergency
should require any restrictions or curfews; however, he recommended
that a County Commissioner be authorized to invoke restrictions
later as needed.
Furthermore, Director Summers recommended activating the
Emergency Operation Center in the Law Enforcement Building and the
Public Information Office in Courtroom 317 at 4:00 P.M.
Vice-Chairman Mathews stressed the importance of being very
cautious and reminded everyone that Hurricane Hazel had people
trapped on the beaches. He reflected on the extreme damage caused
from the storm.
Chairman Greer, by phone, cautioned against calling for
evacuations too early and too often. In the event that a more
dangerous hurricane occurs, the beach communities may not evacuate
as directed.
Director Summers explained it was hoped that the voluntary
evacuation would lower the census at the beaches and move some of
the traffic early. He reported evacuations were occurring at
Hatteras Island and Cape Hatteras at the present time.
Mayor Betty Medlin, representing the Town of Kure Beach,
commented that the patrons of Kure Beach had already started
leaving the beach and those who were planning to come had canceled
their reservations because of hearing about the storm through the
news media. The residents of Kure Beach were very concerned and
would not object to a voluntary evacuation. A meeting of their
emergency team would be at 6:00 P.M.; however, they would be
prepared to carry out the County's order when called upon.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 25
EMERGENCY MEETING, JULY 10, 1996PAGE 487
Mr. Jeff Farris, representing the Town of Carolina Beach,
stated they were prepared to carry out a voluntary evacuation and
were in the process of setting up their emergency operation center.
Mr. Ed Taylor, representing the Town of Wrightsville Beach,
stated the Board of Aldermen would meet at 1:00 P.M. However, the
town would like to call for a voluntary evacuation later around
4:00 or 5:00 P.M., when more detailed information was known about
the storm. This would still give several hours before nightfall to
begin an evacuation.
Director Summers reported he was expecting an intermediate
advisory from the National Hurricane Center at 2:00 P.M. A
precautionary evacuation statement could be made at 3:00 P.M. since
there were people already leaving the beaches. By delaying the
evacuation announcement, additional time would be given to set up
the E.O.C. and P.I.O.
Mr. Mike Thompson, representative from the American Red Cross,
asked if shelters would be opened when the voluntary evacuations
were ordered. He expressed concern that the people who were
vacationing at the beaches would need shelters until they were able
to return to their rentals. If an evacuation were to be ordered,
they should be given an option of a place to stay.
Director Summers stated the precautionary evacuation would not
include the opening of shelters. However, he would investigate
which school facilities would be available for use and begin the
preparation of setting up shelters in the schools. Meanwhile, the
Red Cross, DSS, and Health Department should start their procedure
in staffing the emergency shelters.
Commissioner Sisson explained that people with substantial
health problems and disabilities living in the beach communities
would need extra time to be moved; hence, the early warning would
assist those individuals and reduce the traffic jams on the bridges
and roads leaving the beaches.
Motion: Commissioner Barone MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner
Caster, to adopt a proclamation declaring a State of Emergency in
New Hanover County with a voluntary evacuation of the beach
communities and low-lying areas to begin around 3:00 P.M.; and to
authorize a Commissioner to invoke mandatory evacuation of the
beach communities, as well as other restrictions and curfews as
needed. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
A copy of the proclamation is hereby incorporated as a part of
the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XXIII, Page 21.
Director Summers requested the County Manager to designate
$10,000 in a separate account for the operation of the E.O.C. The
funds would be required to cover the cost of special operation and
emergency needs during the State of Emergency. The Emergency
Management Coordinator would extend operation hours in order to
carry out the duties involved with the emergency situation.
County Manager O'Neal, by phone, stated that it was a matter
of accounting and he authorized setting $10,000 for the emergency
operations.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice-Chairman Mathews adjourned the meeting at 11:25 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa P. Elmore
Deputy Clerk to the Board