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HurricaneFlorence

DISCOLORATION OF PCU DRINKING WATER

Based on the laboratory analysis of water samples collected the week of September 26th, 2018, slightly elevated levels of iron and manganese have been detected in portions of the distribution system. This may lead to slight variations in color of slightly yellowish to slightly brown.

The water is still safe to drink and meets all drinking water standards.

What causes the release of iron and manganese in the water mains?

In conversation with NC DEQ officials and other public water supplies that use the Cape Fear River as the raw water source to their Water Treatment Plants, they have seen this type of release after previous flooding events.

It can be attributable to increased iron and manganese in the source of raw water (Cape Fear River) associated with Hurricane Florence, elevated river water temperatures and increased water demands in the distribution system.

It is advisable to not wash white linens if you have discolored water at your tap.

The water color is expected to return to normal within the next few weeks.

Hazard Mitigation Activities

PENDER COUNTY, NC – Following a federally declared disaster such as Hurricane Florence, local governments are eligible to apply for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds (HMGP) that will reduce or eliminate the losses from future disasters. Projects must provide a long-term solution to a problem, for example, elevation of a home to reduce the risk of flood damage as opposed to buying sandbags and pumps to fight the flood. In addition, a project’s potential savings must be more than the cost of implementing the project. These activities may include elevating structures in the regulatory floodplain, acquiring property to prevent future losses, or retrofitting structures to minimize future damages.

“It’s important to understand that these activities have not been activated by FEMA or the State of North Carolina and therefore, Pender County is unaware of any potential funding amounts or timing of this potential future grant application” said Kyle Breuer, Planning and Community Development Director. “Projects such as this have taken years to receive funding and are not designed to provide immediate relief from the devastating effects of natural disasters our area is known to see. There’s an expectation that this option is available now, which it is not.”

Staff from the Planning and Community Development department as well as Emergency Management will be available next week, Tuesday, October 16th from 4 – 6 p.m. at 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC to review potential HMGP opportunities with residents as well as to review requirements for potential eligibility.

The County has created a website to host additional information for residents to review and can be found at: https://pendercountync.gov/pcd/planning-community-development/flood/

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Pender County is under a State of Emergency

PENDER COUNTY – Due to the potential impacts of Hurricane Michael, a State of Emergency has been issued for Pender County.

Pender County Chairman George Brown on behalf of the board of county commissioners issued the declaration effective noon, Oct. 9.

“Pender County has been severely impacted by Hurricane Florence,” said Brown. “Additional rainfall, high winds, and storm surge from Hurricane Michael will impact already saturated areas of the county.”

“We urge our residents to secure tarps on their rooftops,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager. “Secure lawn furniture and items that could become flying debris.”

Collins warned residents whose homes were damaged in Hurricane Florence to be mindful of weakened structures.

“When the ground is this saturated, trees fall. Power lines are taken down,” he said. “If you are sheltering in place, prepare for periods of being without power. Stock up on fresh water and refresh your emergency kits.”

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

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FEMA establishes Disaster Recovery Centers in Pender County

PENDER COUNTY – Immediately following Hurricane Florence, Pender County Emergency Management and the Pender County Commissioners requested FEMA Disaster Relief Centers (DRCs) to assist our residents with assistance.

Today FEMA announced 8a Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) is available for individuals who need closer access or who have lost Internet capabilities. The MDRC is located at 801 S. Walker St., in Burgaw, TODAY at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will be there through Sat., Oct. 6.

FEMA established a DRC at Caswell Presbyterian Church in Atkinson. The DRC will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A longer-term Disaster Recovery Center site for the county will open soon. However, Pender County continues their request for a Mobile Disaster Center for the Hampstead, Scotts Hill, Surf City and Topsail Beach area.

According to FEMA, in the three weeks since the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Florence, Pender County residents have received more than $20 million in state and federal funds and more than $9.2 million in state and federal grants to nearly 1,900 homeowners and renters.

More than $2.8 million in claims paid to more than 1,000 National Flood Insurance Program policyholders, according to FEMA. More than $8.2 million in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans approved for 142 homeowners and renters and five businesses in Pender County.

Regarding individual assistance, 5,631 home inspections were issued with approximately 90 percent of home inspections completed.

An estimated 490 inspections have an “Inaccessible” status. This is the number of applicants who had an initial meeting with an inspector who determined that the dwelling is inaccessible. These applicants need to contact FEMA to reschedule an inspection when their homes are accessible.

In regard to Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA), 942 interactions with survivors by FEMA have been conducted. As of Oct. 4, there are two DSA crews working in Pender County, including a Mobile Registration Intake Center which opened when more than 4,000 residents applied for food stamp assistance at the county agricultural building with our department of social services. The FEMA intake center is tentatively slated to close Oct. 6.

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

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Curfew lifted in Pender County

PENDER COUNTY – The curfew for the Black River and Northeast Cape Fear River, tributaries, creeks and stream areas, has been lifted.

“The curfew was in place for the safety of residents and property,” stated Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith. “We urge our residents to use caution due to the storm damage to the shoulders and to our roadways.”

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

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County appoints Dawson as Relief/Volunteer Coordinator

PENDER COUNTY – Pender County has been blessed with organizations such as the North Carolina Baptist Men Disaster Relief, numerous churches, non-profits, and civic organizations who what to help in the Hurricane Florence recovery effort.

“To coordinate this large relief effort, Pender County has appointed Olivia Dawson as the Relief/Volunteer Coordinator,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager.

“There are a lot of great people who want to help our residents in need,” said Dawson. “We want to coordinate these efforts to meet the great demands across Pender County.”

Dawson said many collection points, feeding kitchens, and more have been established across the county. Supplies are available; however, volunteers are needed.

Any organization or local non-profit who wants to help should contact Dawson at 910-259-0311 or email odawson@pendercountync.gov.

Organizations conducting donation drives should also contact Dawson to assist the county in coordinating these efforts.

“We are thankful for all of the help at this desperate time,” said Dawson. “We have families who have lost everything. All relief efforts and donations are greatly appreciated.”

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

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How to establish power following Hurricane Florence

PENDER COUNTY – Homes and electrical systems that may have been damaged by Hurricane Florence will need verification of safe electrical service prior to it being cut back on.

Due to the safety concerns following storm events, especially flood waters, assuring safety is necessary before power can be turned back on or temporary electric service can be provided.

Property owners will need to contact a licensed electrician to determine if the electrical system is safe or if temporary power will need to be established to complete necessary repairs.

A licensed electrician is required to install the temporary power pole. The owner of the property will need to contract with the licensed electrician.

The licensed electrician will obtain a permit from Pender County Inspections and Permitting.

Following installation, the licensed electrician will need to request an inspection.

“Because of the damage caused by Hurricane Florence, Pender County Inspections will inspect electrical later, if work is completed by a licensed electrician,” said Scott Henry, Inspection Division director. “But we will not tell the power company to turn on power without work by a licensed electrician.”

For more information regarding inspections, call 910-259-1202.

Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page and the Pender County website, www.pendercounty.nc.gov. If you need assistance call the Emergency Management office at 910- 259-1210.

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Pender County Emergency Management reduces operations

PENDER COUNTY –The Pender County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has reduced operations to a partial activation, 5 p.m. on Oct. 3 .

“The volume of calls has reduced significantly,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager. “The EOC has reduced operations to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. effective today.”

Pender County residents can still contact the Pender County EOC with questions regarding Hurricane Florence recovery during normal operating hours.

One shelter remains open at Pender High School.

Pender County Emergency Management will continue to 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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Pender County rejects aerial spraying for mosquitoes for now

PENDER COUNTY – Pender County Health and Human Services, department of Environmental Health, is actively spraying for mosquitoes following Hurricane Florence.

“We started spraying immediately,” said Carolyn Moser, Pender County Health and Human Services director. “We are using a larvicide that kills mosquito eggs and we are spraying to kill adult mosquitoes.”

Some counties are opting for aerial mosquito spraying. According to FEMA, counties using aerial spraying must meet specific requirements including restrictions on spraying state and federal managed areas, water bodies, rivers and streams, schools, organic farms, bee hives, and aquaculture sites.

“We value our beekeepers, organic farms, and our natural resources,” said Moser. “An aerial spray may not provide the targeted treatment Pender County needs right now.”

“A vector (aerial) spray would be costly,” said Moser. “The aerial spray may last four days, depending on weather, and it kills adult mosquitoes only. It doesn’t include larvicidal applications that kill mosquito eggs.”

Spraying by truck offers both the chemical and larvicidal applications. The chemical applications work for seven days.

The environmental health department started spraying as soon as the storm ended in accessible areas and increased the treatments as roads began to open to travel.

“We have received additional state funding to continue our program,” said Moser.

“However, residents can help control mosquitoes by ‘tip and toss’,” said Moser.

Tip and Toss is a process of tipping standing water in birdbaths, buckets, wading pools, old tires, and items where water gathers and becomes stagnant and tossing old items that you don’t need such as outdated children’s toys, old tires, and cans.”

“We’re addressing the mosquito problem,” said Moser. “We are spraying all areas of the county, four hours in the morning and four hours in the evening.”

Watch Pender County’s website at pendercountync.gov or Pender County’s Facebook page for storm recovery updates. 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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Worried About Mosquitoes? Remember to Tip, Toss and Cover…

ONCE A WEEK…
TIP CONTAINERS- drain standing water from garbage cans, pet bowls, birdbaths, flower pots, gutters, pool covers or any other container that has collected standing water. Mosquitoes breed in standing water.
TOSS- old tires, drums, bottles and other outdoor items that are outside and are not being used.
EMPTY AND SCRUB-birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.

ONCE A MONTH…
MAINTAIN– apply a larvicide to standing water that cannot be emptied or drained. Larvicides can be found at home improvement and hardware stores.

COVER YOUR SKIN WITH…
CLOTHING: Wear long, loose, and light colored clothing and shoes and socks.
REPELLENT: Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Always use repellents according to the label.

For more information contact Pender County Health Department Mosquito Control Division
910-259-1326

Please see the following flyers and click the links below for a printer friendly version:

English Flyer

Mosquito hanger ENG

 

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