Hurricane Dorian

BURGAW – Pender County Utilities has rescinded the Sept. 6, conservation advisory issued to its water customers in the Hampstead and Scotts Hill areas.

“The water main break in the western part of Pender County has been repaired, which has returned water supplied to their normal availability,” said Kenny Keel, Pender County Utilities director.

Also, Stage 1 Voluntary Water Restrictions is lifted for users of the Pender County Water System in the Hampstead and Scotts Hill areas.

The conservation advisory and voluntary water restrictions were rescinded Sept. 7.

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No longer necessary to boil water

BURGAW – Pender County Utilities rescinded the Sept. 6, system pressure advisory issued to its water customers. It is no longer necessary to boil water.

“Bacteriological analysis results of drinking water samples collected after completion of the water system repair show no coliform bacteria present,” said Kenny Keel, Pender County Utilities director. “The system has resumed normal operations and you may use the water without boiling.”

Pender County Utilities water customers in the Moores Creek Water District, Central Pender Water District, and Rocky Point/Topsail Water District west of 7390 NC Highway 210, where included all areas served with water by Pender County Utilities west of  Interstate 40, as well as areas along and adjacent to NC 53 east of Burgaw, and areas along NC 210 north and west of 7390 NC Highway 210 (Running Deer Landfill) lost water service when a water main broke during Hurricane Dorian.

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PENDER COUNTY – The Pender County Office of Emergency Management (EOC) will demobilize Sept. 6, at 7 p.m.

“Pender County Emergency Management was fully activated in response to Hurricane Dorian,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager. “The storm is no longer a threat to Pender County.”

Collins said the Pender County curfew has been rescinded.

There are no mandatory evacuations. All Hurricane Dorian shelters are closed.

The Pender County State of Emergency is rescinded, effective Sept. 6, at 8 p.m.

Pender County Emergency Operations Center will return to regular working hours. Pender County government offices return to normal operations, effective Saturday, Sept. 7.

Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the website, pendercountync.gov. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.

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PENDER COUNTY – All Pender County Solid Waste Convenience Center locations and the Hampstead Transfer Station will be open normal hours starting tomorrow Sept. 7.

“We will open all Convenience Centers and the Transfer Station on Saturday,” said Kenny Keel, Pender County Utilities director.

The Hampstead Transfer Station will be open 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The solid waste convenience centers will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

No vegetative material will be accepted at any Pender County government solid waste sites.

Watch Pender County’s website at pendercountync.gov or an announcement on Pender County’s Facebook page. Or call the utilities department at 910-259-0212, when county offices re-open.

Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the website http://www.penderem.com. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.

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BURGAW – After damage assessment from Hurricane Dorian, Pender County Board of Commissioners agreed a county-wide vegetative debris pick-up is not necessary.

“Due to limited vegetative debris, we urge our residents to compost what little debris resulted from the storm,” said George Brown, Chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners.

Residents have several options to dispose of small limbs and leaves. Items may be composted or burned according to state regulations. Items may be deposited on private sites for a fee. Centrally located is Running Deer Landfill, 7390 NC Hwy 210, Rocky Point, is open to the public for a fee. Contact Running Deer Landfill at 910-604-3523.

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Water customers of Pender County Utilities, in Pender County in the Hampstead and Scott’s Hill areas are advised to conserve water to the maximum extent possible today, Friday September 6, 2019 until further notice.  Due to a water main break in the western part of Pender County, the system has limited water availability to all areas served by Pender County Utilities.  While water pressures are currently within normal range in Hampstead and Scott’s Hill, there is the possibility that sufficient water may not be available to replenish the elevated water tanks in the area as water is used.  We expect this conservation advisory to be necessary through Sunday September 8^th but will advise further as more information becomes available.

Customers are requested to use bottled water and other sources for water as much as possible.  Water customers are strongly urged to conserve water whenever possible until further notice.

This advisory remains in effect until further written notification is issued.

PENDER COUNTY – As cleanup from Hurricane Dorian gets underway, Pender County EMS and Fire and the Pender County Office of Emergency Management urge residents to use caution.

“After the storm passes is time when we receive the most emergency calls,” said Woody Sullivan, Chief of Pender EMS & Fire. “We respond to chainsaw accidents, carbon monoxide poisonings from generators, and anaphylactic shock from bees and fire ants.”

“Wear protective clothing when working with a chainsaw,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager. “Wear goggles or safety glasses, hard toe shoes and leather gloves.”

Sullivan urges citizens to never place a running generator inside a home or garage.

“This results in carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Sullivan. “Always read the manual before operating a generator.”

Fire ants are a hazard after flooding forming rafts in order to survive. The raft of ant’s float on flood water. Fire ants can bite several times, causing a fierce reaction or apoplectic shock. Bees and wasps are also stirred by storms and flooding.

“Fire ants and bee stings can send people into anaphylactic shock,” said Collins.

“Be mindful of the equipment used in clean-up,” said Collins. “And be mindful of insects. Wear insect repellent with DEET.”

Sullivan also reminds citizens to stay hydrated during recovery efforts.

Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the website http://www.penderem.com. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.

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Water customers of Pender County Utilities, in Pender County, including Moore’s Creek Water District, Central Pender Water District, and Rocky Point/Topsail Water District west of 7390 NC Highway 210 are advised that due to a water main break and other Hurricane Dorian related failures, water service is currently unavailable or at below normal pressures as of late Thursday September 5, 2019 and Friday September 6, 2019.  This notice includes all areas served with water by Pender County Utilities west of  Interstate 40, as well as areas along and adjacent to NC 53 east of Burgaw, and areas along NC 210 north and west of 7390 NC Highway 210 (Running Deer Landfill).  Water service will not be available or at reduced pressures until water main repairs are completed later today, Friday September 6^th.  We expect water to be off for most of today while repairs are performed.

Water service will be returned upon completion of the repair work, although it will take several more hours for the system to fully re-pressurize.  Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system.

Therefore, consumers in the areas noted above are advised to boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation) or use bottled water until this advisory is lifted.  This advisory will be in effect for a minimum of 24 hours, but is likely to extend longer.

Vigorous boiling for one (1) minute should kill any disease-causing organisms that may be present in the water.

Water customers are strongly urged to conserve water whenever possible.

This advisory remains in effect until further written notification is issued.

PENDER COUNTY – All Pender County Solid Waste Convenience Center locations and the Hampstead Transfer Station will remain closed on Friday Sept. 6 due to Hurricane Dorian.

“All Pender County Convenience Centers and the Transfer Station will remain closed on Friday Sept. 6,” said Kenny Keel, Pender County Utilities Director.

“Once we are able to complete storm damage assessments, convenience center sites will open on a case-by-case basis as routes are determined for material transport,” said Keel.

Leaving garbage at closed convenience centers is illegal and violators will be prosecuted.

Watch Pender County’s website at pendercountync.gov or an announcement on Pender County’s Facebook page. Or call the utilities department at 910-259-1570, when county offices re-open.

Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the website http://www.penderem.com. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.

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BURGAW – Pender County Utilities customers in Rocky Point to US 421 are experiencing a water pressure drop. Utilities crews are looking for indications of a water break.

Watch social media for immediate updates on both the Pender County and Pender County Emergency Management Facebook pages.

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