Date: June 5, 2001
| For Release: Immediate
Date: June 5, 2001 |
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NEW WAREHOUSE TO INCREASE STATE'S DISASTER
RESPONSE CAPABILITY
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BADIN - A new warehouse located near the geographic center of North Carolina will increase the state's ability to quickly move disaster relief supplies to anywhere in the state, the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety announced today.
"Getting disaster supplies quickly to anyplace in the state is a critical component of the state's emergency response plan," said Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Bryan Beatty. "This new facility is a visible part of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety's continuing effort to provide the best possible response and recovery services to disaster victims across the state."
The 12,500 square-foot warehouse is situated on a 3.42-acre lot located at the Stanly County Airport in Badin. The Department's Emergency Management Division plans to build a 5,000 square-foot addition to the current building, as well as purchase an adjacent 4.2-acre lot. The new facility will house portable generators, pumps and other equipment that may be needed by county emergency management offices following a disaster. Consumables, such as bottled water, disaster food supplies, plastic sheeting, cots, blankets and cleaning kits, will also be stored at the new warehouse. These are the items most needed immediately after natural disasters, which occur all too frequently in North Carolina.
In the past eight years, the coast has been hit by the March 1993 superstorm, as well as hurricanes Emily, Bertha, Fran, Bonnie, Dennis and Floyd. The Piedmont section of the state was hit by Tropical Storm Danny, Hurricanes Fran and Floyd, plus tornado outbreaks in March 1996 and May 1998. The mountains were not spared, but suffered the effects of the March 1993 blizzard, Tropical Storm Opal, and the flash flooding of January 1998. Three severe winter storms (January and February 1996, and January 2000) also hit multiple portions of the state. Nearly all of these weather events resulted in North Carolina receiving a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
"We are indebted to FEMA, Congressman Price and Congressman Hayes for their help in bringing about this addition to our disaster response capabilities," said North Carolina Emergency Management Director Eric Tolbert. "Congressman Price obtained a special appropriation earmarked in FEMA's budget that authorized this project. Congressman Hayes recognized the importance of this concept and has been behind it from the beginning. Without their support, the new warehouse would likely not have been possible."
"I am pleased to have been a part of this project that will enable emergency management teams to provide assistance as quickly as possible to our citizens," said Congressman David Price. "We hope that being well prepared at this site will eliminate the added misery of wondering when help will arrive after a disaster."
"Being able to respond to a natural disaster means being prepared," Congressman Robin Hayes said. "When I came to Congress, I took the time to learn about this project, and it was clear to me that Stanly County was the right location. Getting the funds for this facility was not only a victory for Stanly County, but for all of North Carolina."
The Badin location is readily accessible to six major North Carolina and U.S. highways and will enable the Department to move disaster relief supplies by road to anyplace in the state within seven hours. The airport's 5,500-foot runway will enable emergency supplies to be transported by the North Carolina Air National Guard's C-130 aircraft, should that be necessary. There are 29 airfields across North Carolina capable of handling these planes. In addition, disaster supplies can be transported by air to any of the 38 states and two U.S. territories that are members of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
The warehouse will cost $655,000 and is being purchased using Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds made available to North Carolina through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The new warehouse replaces a rented one in Wake County that the Department has been using since Hurricane Floyd.
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