Carteret County Emergency Management Office
Telephone 728-8470
Fax 728-8459
E-mail joanns@carteretcountygov.org

Hurricane Basics Hurricane Hazards Storm Surge Information Evacuation Reentry Shelters Home Preparedness Other Weather Emergencies Links Email Us	Current Hurricane Information via NWS Carteret County Web-based Emergency Operations System (For general announcements, login as userid PUBLIC, leave password field blank.)
	NCEM	FEMA

EVACUATION

• PURPOSE
• CONTROL GROUP
• ORDERS
• TIMING
• ROUTES
• DESTINATIONS
• PREPARATIONS

PURPOSE The threat of severe weather, or man-made catastrophe, may force local government officials to issue evacuation orders. These orders are not issued casually or indiscriminately. Officials realize that evacuation orders cause serious disruptions in the normal daily activities of our citizens. But, officials also realize that a significant portion of our citizens live in areas that are vulnerable to the effects of severe weather and relocating to safer areas may mean the difference between life and death. The purpose of an evacuation order is to emphasize to the public that a potential dangerous situation is developing and to encourage citizens to take actions necessary to minimize the potential danger.

CONTROL GROUP In Carteret County evacuation orders related to hurricanes are issued by a group of local officials called the Control Group. The Control Group consists of the mayor of each Carteret County municipality and the chairman of the Carteret County Board of Commissioners. When the potential for hurricane effects exists in any part of Carteret County, the Control Group meets and determines the need for an evacuation. The Control Group receives information from expert sources such as the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center to aid in the evacuation decision. Representatives from the Red Cross, Carteret County Schools, NC Highway Patrol, and emergency management also provide information to the Control Group.

EVACUATION ORDERS Evacuation orders are generally applied to the following areas of Carteret County: Bogue Banks, property adjacent to waterways, low lying or flood prone areas, and mobile home dwellers. The evacuation order will advise a time that the evacuation should begin and a time when the evacuation, and all preparations, should be completed. The evacuation order will list the time when access to Bogue Banks will be controlled and will list the time that shelters will open.

EVACUATION TIMING Residents and visitors who intend on evacuating prior to the approach of a storm should not feel rushed to do so. Evacuation orders are issued far enough in advance of impending storms so as to allow sufficient time for residents to complete storm preparations and travel to a safe location before the arrival of gale force ( 39 mph) winds. This evacuation time cushion is usually between 18 and 24 hours. During tourist season the Control Group may request that visitors, persons towing boats or campers, and persons in RVs voluntarily begin their evacuations ahead of the official evacuation period.

ROUTES Hurricane evacuation routes in Carteret County are marked with blue and white evacuation route signs. The evacuation routes out of Carteret County are US 70, NC HWY 101, and NC HWY58. Evacuation Route Map Hurricane evacuees from Carteret County should remember that many highways in Eastern North Carolina serve as evacuation routes for multiple counties. Evacuees should expect to encounter heavy traffic conditions during evacuation events. Traffic delays have been historically encountered in Havelock at the US 70/NC 101 intersection, in Maysville at the US 17/NC 58 intersection, in Kinston at the US 70/NC 58 intersection, in Kinston at the US 70/NC 258 intersection, and in Garner at the I-40/US 70 intersection.

DESTINATIONS Evacuating from the coast is the surest way to avoid injury from the effects of hurricane force winds and storm surge. But evacuees should carefully choose their place of evacuation. The effects of a hurricane strike will be felt in all of eastern North Carolina. High winds and river flooding are possible in all counties east of I-95.Hurricane evacuees from Carteret County are encouraged to travel to areas in and around Raleigh. Evacuees are reminded that hotel space is limited in many areas and destinations should be confirmed prior to evacuating the coast. Click here for a list of US 70 corridor and Raleigh hotels.

PREPARATIONS Hurricane evacuations cannot be successfully undertaken without some preplanning and preparations. The basic preparations include the following:

1. Determine your destination prior to evacuating
2. Know your evacuation route
3. Keep a full tank of gasoline
4. Pack supplies sufficient for 3 to 5 days
5. Pack important papers (insurance, identifications, property inventory)
6. Have a plan for your pets
7. Secure your home before leaving
8. Notify friends and relatives of your destination

SHELTERS

Carteret County establishes shelters as needed and announces the shelter locations and times of operation via our web-based WEBEOC Emergency Operations System located at http://www.carteretems.com (Please note log-in as userid PUBLIC, leave password field blank.)

For the most up-to-date information, visit our WEBEOC system and login with the userid PUBLIC. There is no password. By logging into this facility, you may receive the latest information regarding shelters, general announcments, road closures, press releases, etc.

SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTER
Carteret General Hospital operates a shelter for persons with special medical needs at the Leon Mann Enrichment Center. This facility is located at 3820 Galantis St. in Morehead City. Persons wishing to use the special needs shelter must pre-register with Carteret General Hospital. The telephone number to call to pre-register for the special needs shelter is 808-6081.

SHELTER SUPPLIES Carteret County operates the shelters as a short term location for residents to go to escape the effects of a hurricane. The shelters are not intended to be used for the long term housing of persons and have not been stocked to provide this type of sheltering. Long term shelters, that provide cots and food, for persons displaced from their homes will be established after a storm has passed. Therefore, persons evacuating to one of the pre-hurricane shelters should bring the following supplies with them:

Bedding ( cot, lounge chair, blankets, pillows)
Food ( non-cooking, non-refrigerated, 2 day supply)
Beverages (non-alcoholic)
Cooler with ice
Baby Supplies
Changes of Clothing
Medications
Entertainment Items (board games, deck of cards, reading materials)
Evacuees should bring adequate supplies to last two to four days.

HOME PREPAREDNESS

ASSESSMENT Many Carteret County residents will opt to ride out a hurricane or severe weather event in their own homes. Prior to making that decision, the homeowner should assess the vulnerabilities of the structure and location of their home. An assessment should include a determination of the soundness of the construction of the home with special attention to the methods used to attach the roof structure to the sides of the house. An assessment should also include a review of the potential for the home to be flooded and the potential for roads leading to the home to flood and isolate the home.

INSURANCE The best hurricane protection for your property is adequate insurance coverage.

Many government agencies such as FEMA and the SBA are prepared to assist homeowners with recovering from hurricane damage. However, total replacement or near total replacement of the value of your damaged property is only available through adequate and proper insurance coverage. There are three basic types of insurance available for coastal homeowners.

1. Homeowners- covers damage from fire, theft, wind.
2. Wind- some homeowners policies do not include wind damage. Coverage is provided by a separate wind policy.
3. Flood- required for coverage for any damages resulting from rising water. Coverage provided by a separate flood policy.

STRUCTURE PROTECTION Any home being used as a hurricane shelter should have the following structural protection in place. Methods to provide these structural improvements must be initiated far in advance of an approaching storm.

1. Window Protection
2. Garage Door Protection
3. Alternative Electrical System

SUPPLIES The following supplies will be needed in a home serving as a hurricane shelter. Many of the supplies can be bought ahead of time and stored until needed.

1. Food ( 3 to 5 day supply)
2. Water ( 1 gallon/person/day, 3 to 5 day supply)
3. Baby Supplies
4. Medications
5. First Aid Kit
6. Radio with Batteries
7. Flashlight with Batteries
8. Pet Supplies
9. Cash
10. Home Repair Supplies ( plywood, tarps, duct tape)

REENTRY

• PURPOSE
• PERMITS
• PROCESS

PURPOSE Hurricanes have the potential to cause severe damage to properties near and adjacent to the beach strand. Hazardous situations such as collasped structures, washed out roads, downed power lines, and leaking propane tanks are possible following a hurricane strike. In order to protect our citizens from these hazardous situations local officials have devised a plan to restrict or limit access to the communities on Bogue Banks following a hurricane event. These communities included in this plan are Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, Salter Path, and Emerald Isle.

PERMITS Property owners on Bogue Banks are issued reentry permits by the town in which their property is located. Residents of the unincorporated community of Salter Path receive their passes at the Indian Beach Town Hall. The permits are distributed prior to hurricane season. Each town determines the distribution policy for their permits. Some towns have issued permanent permits to residents while other towns issue new permits each hurricane season. Residents should contact their town halls for specific information on reentry permit policies Each community has a colored permit unique to their section of Bogue Banks. The permits are to be displayed on the driver’s side dashboard of a vehicle. The reentry permits allow law enforcement officers to easily identify Bogue Banks property owners and improve traffic flow at local checkpoints.

PROCESS Carteret County officials have developed a process to limit access to the beach communities of Bogue Banks following a hurricane event that results in severe property damage. Highlights of that process are listed below.

Just prior to the arrival of the storm, access onto Bogue Banks will be restricted to property owners.

Check points will be established and maintained by the NC State Highway Patrol on the mainland sides of the high rise bridges leading to Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle.

Bridges will remain open to exiting beach traffic as long as wind speeds allow for safe travel. During high winds, the NCSHP may elect to temporarily close bridges to traffic.

A three step approach will be used for post storm reentry to Bogue Banks. These steps include the return of emergency personnel, the return of property owners, and return of the general public.

Immediately following a hurricane event, access to the beaches will be closed to all traffic except for emergency personnel and utility companies. Repair crews will use this time period to assess the situation in each town and to make repairs necessary to facilitate the return of property owners.

Each town will determine when property owners in their specific town can return to Bogue Banks. Towns with minimal damage may open to property owners soon after the storm passes. Towns with severe damage may elect to stay closed to property owners for an additional period of time.

Property owners will be required to show proof of property ownership or a disaster reentry permit before being allowed to access Bogue Banks.

Property owners will be permitted, if road conditions allow, to traverse through closed sections of Bogue Banks in order to reach their property. Travelers through closed sections of Bogue Banks will be restricted to designated roadways. Deviations from the designated through roads could result in possible arrest.

Property owners are reminded that you may be allowed to reenter areas that are without utility services such as electricity, water, and sewer. Property owners are also reminded that curfews and travel limitations may exist for certain areas of Bogue Banks. Property owners must be prepared to deal with these situations and adhere to these regulations.

The final step in the reentry process is to allow the return of the general public back on to Bogue Banks. The reentry of the general public will be coordinated between all the communities on the banks. Efforts will be made to open all areas of the beaches to the general public simultaneously.

TORNADO Tornadoes are one of the most dangerous events that occur in nature. Approximately 1000 tornadoes are reported each year in the United States. Each year in the U.S., tornadoes cause millions of dollars in property damage, injure hundreds of persons, and result in the deaths of 40 persons. Fortunately tornadoes are not a frequent occurrence in eastern North Carolina. But, since tornadoes can form quickly, and can cause massive destruction without much warning, it is important for citizens to know some tornado survival techniques.

Severe Thunderstorms Tornadoes are a byproduct of a severe thunderstorm. The National Weather Service (NWS) tracks the movement of all severe thunderstorms and issues watches and warnings for areas that may be affected by a severe thunderstorm. Citizens should understand that the issuance of severe thunderstorm warning for their area could be the precursor to the development of a tornado in their area.

Tornado Watch The NWS will issue a tornado watch for an area when weather conditions are present that have the potential to cause the formation of a tornado. A tornado watch does not mean that a tornado has been spotted. A tornado watch only means that tornado formation is possible for the watch area. Citizens in the watch area should monitor a local TV and radio for weather updates. Citizens should be alert to changing weather conditions around them.

Tornado Warning The NWS will issue a tornado warning when an actual tornado has been spotted or when their doppler radar displays a tornado pattern. The tornado warning will indicate the current location of the tornado and will indicate the direction of travel of the tornado. The NWS will identify specific locations such as towns and communities in the path of the tornado. Citizens in the area of a tornado warning should be prepared to make life preserving decisions. These decisions should include:

If you are inside a building, go to the lowest and inner most part of the building.

Reduce your exposure from flying glass and debris.

If you are outside, try to find a safe building or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area.

If you are in a car or mobile home, get out immediately and go to a safe structure or lie in a ditch.

FLOODS Floods kill more people each year than all other natural disasters combined. Floods can take days to develop and provide people with ample time to take protective measures, or, floods can occur rapidly and force people to make quick , life-preserving, actions. To survive a flood , a person must have knowledge of the flood risks that exist in a particular area, and, the person must have absolute respect for the power of moving water.

Flood Watch The National Weather Service will issue a flood watch when flooding is possible in an area.

Flood Warning The NWS will issue a flood warning when flooding is already occurring an area.

Flash Flood A flash flood occurs when flood waters build rapidly. Extreme rainfall amounts are usually the cause of flash floods. Flash floods sometimes contain a large wall of moving water that can cause severe damage to structures and roadways.

Urban Flooding Urban flooding is a term used to describe flooding that occurs in city areas. This type of flooding usually refers to streets being flooded. The main cause of urban flooding is heavy rainfall in a short period of time.

Tidal Flooding Tidal flooding is a term used to describe flooding caused by rising tide waters. Tidal flooding occurs when some type of force hinders the normal rise and fall of the tides and causes water to back up into tidal areas. Tidal flooding can be caused by astronomical events such as lunar gravitational pull during a full moon. Tidal flooding can be caused by winds that blow from the same direction for an extended period of time. And, tidal flooding can be caused by tropical weather systems passing near the coast.

Protective Measure
Know the flood potential for the area that you are in.
Know the location of high ground and know the routes to that high ground.
Never attempt to cross a flowing stream of water.
Never attempt to cross a body of water that has an undetermined depth.

WINTER WEATHER Winter weather is not a frequent occurrence in Carteret County. Most winter weather events in our area consist of snow flurries once or twice a year with an occasional light dusting of snow. Snow accumulations rarely exceed one inch during most winter weather events. However, on occasion, weather systems do align and produce heavy snowfalls or ice storms. The public works infrastructures of Carteret County are not equipped to handle heavy snow or ice situations. Accumulations over 5 inches have the potential to paralyze transportation systems and knockout utility services. Residents should be prepared to face three to five days of isolation should a severe winter storm hit our area.

Preparations Preparing for a winter storm is very similar to preparing for a hurricane. Many of the same problems, such as isolation and loss of utilities, are characteristics of both types of storms. Preparations should include the following:

Monitor weather information. Winter storms are usually tracked well in advance by local meteorologist.

Maintain a stock of 3 to 5 days of food and water.

Plan for an extended loss of electricity.

Keep heating fuels topped off.

Plan for use of alternate heating sources such as wood stoves or kerosene heaters.

Winter Weather Driving Driving should be discouraged during winter weather events. The chances of personal injury and the chances of property damage greatly increase for drivers during snow or ice storms. If driving is required during these events then the following preparations and precautions should be followed:

Prepare your vehicle by having good tires, good wiper blades, and an adequate level of antifreeze.

Check for proper operation of the vehicle’s heater and defroster systems.

Eliminate leaks in the vehicle’s exhaust system.

Keep an emergency kit in the vehicle that includes a blanket, warm clothing, windshield scraper, tow rope, booster cables, and a short shovel.