2005-09-12 Emergency Meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
EMERGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 12,2005
BOOK 30
PAGE 405
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for an Emergency Meeting on Monday, September 12,
2005, at 11 :00 a.rn. in Room 501 ofthe New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington,
North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman William A. Caster; Commissioner Ted Davis,
Jr.; Commissioner William A. Kopp; Interim County Manager Dave Weaver; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk
to the Board, Sheila 1. Schult.
Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett was absent.
Elected Officials present were: Mayor Dennis Barbour, Town of Carolina Beach; Mayor Betty Medlin, Town of
Kure Beach; Mayor Avery Roberts, Town ofWrightsville Beach, Mayor Spence Broadhurst, City of Wilmington and Sheriff
Sidney A. Causey.
Others present were: 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; Calvin Peck, Town Manager of Carolina Beach and other representatives
from the County, New Hanover County School System, 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 Ophelia 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 Ophelia has been downgraded to a tropical storm. Coastal counties will be impacted by high
winds. Sustained tropical storm force winds above 50 mph should arrive after midnight in southern New
Hanover County and are predicted to last 48 hours. Minimal hurricane force winds, 75-80 mph, will
affect coastal areas at approximately 4:00 a.rn. on Wednesday and could last 4 to 6 hours. Rainfall
amounts are predicted in the range of 1- 3".
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 Davis, to adopt a proclamation declaring a State
of Emergency in New Hanover County. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED 4 TO O.
A copy ofthe proclamation is hereby incorporated as a part ofthe minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XXIX,
Page 27.10.
Director Lee received comments concerning critical decisions from the representatives ofthe 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.
. Two evacuation shelters will open at 6:00 p.rn. on Monday, September 12,2005, 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.
. New Hanover County and City of Wilmington government offices will be closed on Tuesday, September 13,
2005.
. Snows Cut Bridge will be monitored and based on wind may be closed at 8:00 p.rn. on Tuesday, September
13,2005.
. Emergency Medical Services and Fire Services will not operate emergency vehicles when winds read 50 mph
sustained.
. All New Hanover County schools will be closed on Tuesday, September 13,2005. A decision for closing will
be made on a day-by-day basis.
. A mandatory evacuation for all students at UNC- Wilmington is in effect.
. The court system in New Hanover County will be closed on Tuesday, September 13,2005.
. The County's Emergency Operation Center is currently operating on a limited basis but will be fully
operational at 5:00 p.rn. today.
. Progress Energy repair staff has returned from Louisiana and is being readied in preparation for the storm.
. The City of Wilmington has suspended trash collection on Tuesday. A decision will be made on a day-by-day
basis.
. NHC Environmental Management debris clean-up contract is in place.
After a brief discussion concerning the importance of construction sites being secured, Chairman Greer asked for a
motion from the Board.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
EMERGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 12,2005
BOOK 30
PAGE 406
Motion: Vice-Chairman Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Kopp, to direct the Inspections Department to
suspend daily inspections and begin to contact builders to secure building sites. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED 4 TO
o.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 11 :58 a.rn.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila 1. Schult
Clerk to the Board