?Because of the storm?s slow movement, we remain very concerned about flooding and extended power outages,? said Easley. ?As the storm passes and recovery begins, people need to continue to be cautious. Be alert to downed power lines and stay out of creeks and streams flooded by the storm. I remind everyone to stay in a safe location until the threat has passed and not drive over flooded roadways.?
Easley requested and received a Presidential Declaration of Emergency for North Carolina, which allows the state to be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of storm emergency response costs incurred by Hurricane Ophelia.
?This emergency declaration is another important step we can take as we begin the road to recovery,? said Easley. ?It means that we can move forward with every means available to help those who most need our help. Federal, state and local damage assessment teams will go into the field on Friday to see conditions firsthand and to prioritize recovery efforts.?
Ophelia remains a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and gusts in excess of 90 mph. Tropical and hurricane force winds can be expected today and end overnight from Atlantic Beach to the Virginia state line. Rain bands already have dumped 12-15 inches of rain in some southern coastal locations, including Wilmington. Heavy rain is expected to continue this afternoon in affected areas.
The storm surge of eight to 10 feet will be receding this morning in the Pamlico Sound. Storm surge of five to seven feet is expected this morning from Ocracoke to Cape Hatteras, with sound-side flooding of four to six feet likely this afternoon from Rodanthe south. Severe beach erosion is expected along the entire coast, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
The majority of power outages are reported in Brunswick, Carteret, New Hanover and Onslow counties, with about 80,000 customers currently reporting no power. In addition, flooding is reported on numerous roads in Brunswick County, including U.S. 17 and N.C. 133, while many roads in New Hanover County are flooded and covered with debris, including North College Road near Castle Hayne.
Onslow, Pamlico and Pender counties have flooding on secondary roads, some of which are impassable due to downed trees and power lines. Overwash is reported along N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke. The Department of Transportation is prepared to clear sand and debris from the roadway as soon as conditions improve. For information on road conditions, call 511 or visit www.smartlink.org.
All ferry routes have suspended operations. The Department of Transportation anticipates resuming service on the Southport-Fort Fisher route by Friday.
The State Highway Patrol has 476 troopers on alert status to assist with traffic control, evacuations and other storm-related needs. Currently, 45 shelters are providing resources to about 2,000 people.
The number of N.C. National Guard troops activated for storm response is 400. There are five strike teams mobilized with 50 troops each in eastern North Carolina. These teams have high-clearance vehicles and a Swift Water Rescue Team assigned to them. In addition, seven helicopters are on standby ready for rescue missions. Urban Search and Rescue teams are also on standby and ready to be deployed.
Schools are closed today in Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Gates, Greene, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Robeson, Tyrrell, Washington and Wayne counties.
Two warehouses are open in Rocky Mount and Badin to store emergency supplies such as food, water, ice and generators. Currently, there is enough in the warehouse to supply 10,000 people meals and water for two days. However, citizens are also encouraged to have enough non-perishable food, ice and water to last for at least 72 hours.
On Saturday, Sept. 10, Easley declared a State of Emergency and directed all state and local resources be prepared and ready to respond to the storm. The State Emergency Response Team is working around the clock and will continue full activation as long as necessary.
The state emergency bilingual hotline is staffed around the clock. The hotline provides updated weather information, highway closings, shelter information, feeding sites and also serves as a referral line for people in need of help following the event. English and Spanish speaking people should call toll-free 1-888-835-9966; deaf and hard of hearing people should call 1-877-877-1765.
Additional information on flood safety is available at www.nccrimecontrol.org/severeweather.