2004-08-13 Emergency Meetings
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 30
EMERGENCY MEETINGS AUGUST 13 AND 14, 2004PAGE 104
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for an Emergency Meeting on Friday, August 13,
2004, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 501 of the New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street,
Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Julia Boseman; Commissioner William
A. Caster; Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett; County Manager, Allen ONeal; Assistant County Attorney, Kemp
=
Burpeau; and Clerk to the Board, Sheila L. Schult.
Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr. was absent.
Elected Officials present were: Mayor Dennis Barbour, Town of Carolina Beach; Mayor Betty Medlin,
Town of Kure Beach; and Sheriff Sidney A. Causey.
Others present were: Dave Weaver, Assistant County Manager; Patricia A. Melvin, Assistant County
Manager; Bruce Shell, Finance Director, Leslie Stanfield, IT Director, Tom Parker, Deputy Chief of the Sheriff’s
Department; Mark Boyer, Public Information Officer; Warren Lee, Emergency Management Director; Susan Wynn,
County Manager’s Office; Calvin Peck, Town Manager of Carolina Beach; Andrea Surratt, Town Manager of
Wrightsville Beach; and other representatives from the County, Municipalities, and Community Agencies.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order and advised that the Emergency Session had been called to
discuss the current location of Hurricane Charley and the possible impact to New Hanover County. He requested
Emergency Management Director Warren Lee to begin the presentation.
Director Lee placed a conference call to the local office of the National Weather Service and received the
latest hurricane advisory.
Hurricane Charley has been upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145 MPH,
wind gusts to 160 MPH. The current forecast track brings Charley across Florida, back into the
Atlantic Ocean, and into Myrtle Beach as a Category 1 or higher hurricane on Saturday afternoon.
There is an increased risk of tornadoes Friday evening through Saturday evening. The exact track
of this storm is still very much questionable and may vary significantly.
Chairman Greer opened the floor to receive comments from the representative of the various agencies and
municipalities and the following consensus was reached:
?
A voluntary evacuation has been issued for residents and visitors of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and
Wrightsville Beach. Residents and visitors who have decided to evacuate should have their plans
completed by early Saturday morning. Driving conditions are expected to be treacherous as rain from the
hurricane approaches the area.
?
The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office will have additional staff on duty to assist motorists.
?
Two shelters will open at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday for New Hanover County evacuees. Shelters are located at
Dorothy B. Johnson Elementary School, 1100 McRae Street and Hubert Eaton Elementary School, 6701
Gordon Road.
?
The Board of County Commissioners agreed to authorize the County Manager to proceed with notifying the
company that New Hanover County will need generators for the shelters and museum.
?
The New Hanover County Emergency Operation Center and Emergency Public Information Center will
open at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.
?
The drawbridges will be closed when the wind speed reaches 40 MPH and NCDOT will close Snow Cut
Bridge when the wind speed reaches 40-50 MPH.
After receiving comments from the elected officials Chairman Greer requested direction from the Board.
Motion:
Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Boseman to adopt a proclamation
declaring a State of Emergency in New Hanover County. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED 4 to 0.
A copy of the proclamation is hereby incorporated as a part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book
XXIX, Page 3.1.
After discussion it was agreed to hold another meeting on Saturday, August 14, 2004, at 8:15 a.m. in Room
501 of the New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 3:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the Board
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 30
EMERGENCY MEETINGS AUGUST 13 AND 14, 2004PAGE 105
EMERGENCY MEETING HELD AT 8:15 A.M. AUGUST 14, 2004
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for an Emergency Meeting on Saturday, August
14, 2004, at 8:15 a.m. in Room 501 of the New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street,
Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Julia Boseman; Commissioner William
A. Caster; Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett; County Manager, Allen ONeal; County
=
Attorney, Wanda Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Sheila L. Schult.
Elected Officials present were: Mayor Dennis Barbour, Town of Carolina Beach; Mayor Betty Medlin,
Town of Kure Beach; Mayor Spence Broadhurst, City of Wilmington; Mayor Avery Roberts, Town of Wrightsville
Beach and Sheriff Sidney A. Causey.
Others present were: Dave Weaver, Assistant County Manager; Patricia A. Melvin, Assistant County
Manager; Bruce Shell, Finance Director; Leslie Stanfield, IT Director; Tom Parker, Deputy Chief of the Sheriff’s
Department; Mark Boyer, Public Information Officer; Warren Lee, Emergency Management Director; Susan Wynn,
County Manager’s Office; Calvin Peck, Town Manager of Carolina Beach; Andrea Surratt, Town Manager of
Wrightsville Beach; and other representatives from the County, Municipalities, and Community Agencies.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order and requested Director of Emergency Management Warren Lee
to report on the latest developments with Hurricane Charley.
Director Lee placed a conference call to the local office of the National Weather Service and received the
latest hurricane advisory.
Hurricane Charley is moving toward the north-northeast at 22 knots. The hurricane should begin
to move faster during the next 12 to 24 hours. This track would bring the center of the hurricane
within the warning area this morning. This is consistent with most of the track models that
unanimously take the hurricane north northeastward along the eastern United States.
Director Lee reported that New Hanover County could see sustained winds of 50 MPH with wind gusts up
to 80 MPH with the Hurricane passing over Bladen and Columbus Counties at approximately noon with heaviest
rains between 2 – 4 p.m. A major threat to the area will be from falling trees due to the large amount of rainfall and
the high winds. Flooding of the rivers should not be a problem.
Director Lee reported that all plans have been implemented and the municipalities’ Emergency Operation
Centers are operating.
After a brief discussion, consensus was reached that Snow Cut Bridge would be closed for all traffic except
for emergency vehicles at noon.
Hearing no further discussion, Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 8:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the Board
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 30
EMERGENCY MEETINGS AUGUST 13 AND 14, 2004PAGE 106
EMERGENCY MEETING HELD AT 5:40 P.M. ON AUGUST 14, 2004
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for an Emergency Meeting on Saturday, August
14, 2004, at 5:40 p.m. in the BellSouth Building, Third Floor Conference Room, 102 North Fourth Street,
Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Julia Boseman; Commissioner William
A. Caster; Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett; County Manager, Allen ONeal; County Attorney, Wanda Copley; and
=
Clerk to the Board, Sheila L. Schult.
Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr. was absent.
Elected Officials present were: Mayor Dennis Barbour, Town of Carolina Beach; Mayor Betty Medlin,
Town of Kure Beach; Mayor Spence Broadhurst, City of Wilmington; and Sheriff Sidney A. Causey.
Others present were: Dave Weaver, Assistant County Manager; Patricia A. Melvin, Assistant County
Manager; Bruce Shell, Finance Director; Tom Parker, Deputy Chief of the Sheriff’s Department; Mark Boyer,
Public Information Officer; Warren Lee, Emergency Management Director; Calvin Peck, Town Manager of Carolina
Beach; Andrea Surratt, Town Manager of Wrightsville Beach; and other representatives from the County,
Municipalities, and Community Agencies.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order and requested updates from the municipalities of damage
caused from Hurricane Charley.
Mayor Medlin, Town of Kure Beach reported that the beach community was in good condition with
minimal beach erosion. Power has been restored and there was minimal damage to property and vegetation.
Mayor Barbour, Town of Carolina Beach reported that the beach community was in good condition with
minimal beach erosion. Most of the power has been restored with just a few areas still without power and there was
minimal damage to property and vegetation.
Town Manager Surratt, Town of Wrightsville Beach reported that the beach community was in good
condition with minimal beach erosion. Power has been restored and there was minimal damage to property and
vegetation.
Mayor Broadhurst, City of Wilmington reported that power outages were being experienced by much of the
City and large trees were down.
Director Lee reported that the shelters were now closed, and the EOC and EPIC will be closing this
evening. Progress Energy will continue to work around the clock to restore power to approximately 40,000 – 50,000
residents in New Hanover County; damage estimates are forthcoming.
Chairman Greer, on behalf of the Board, thanked Director Lee, his Staff and all those involved for a job
well done.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the Board