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Public Notices

Pender County allocates additional funds for Pender County Schools

BURGAW – Today in and Emergency Meeting, the Pender County Board of County Commissioners allocated $947,244 for the Pender County Board of Education for contracts to remediate district buildings.

In the meeting the Commissioners approved considered items related to the school district’s hurricane damage, possible funding for school repairs, and emergency response issues related to Hurricane Florence recovery.

“The goal of the Pender County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education remain the same – to provide a safe learning environment for our children,” said George Brown, Chairman of the Pender County Board of County Commissioners.

On Sept. 28, the Pender County Board of County Commissioners approved and allocated $4 million to the Pender County Board of Education. The Board of Education then hired a professional engineering and industrial hygiene firm to prepare remediation protocols for damaged schools. The Board of Education received bids from contractors on Oct. 8 and awarded contracts to remediation firms on the evening of October 9th.

“With this allocation, the County Commissioners have fully funded all contracts which the School Board has approved. Both Boards are working together to get our kids back in school as soon as we safely can do so,” Brown said.

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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 Emergency Operations fully activated

PENDER COUNTY – The Pender County Office of Emergency Management is fully activated, effective 7 a.m., Oct. 11.

“We are tracking Hurricane Michael,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Management director. “The EOC is fully staffed.”

Pender County Emergency Management will post 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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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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System Pressure Advisory NO LONGER IN EFFECT

The system pressure advisory for water consumers of Pender County Utilities in the areas between 8605 to 11335 US 117 South is NO LONGER IN EFFECT. Testing results indicate that the water in this area is safe to drink.

The lifting of this advisory is issued at 7:09pm on October 8, 2018 by:

Kenny Keel, Director
Pender County Utilities
910-259-0212

System Pressure Advisory! (Updated 10/7/18)

The water consumers of Pender County Utilities, in Pender County in the following areas:

  • From 8605 to 11335 US 117 South
  • Lucas Avenue
  • Pennsylvania Avenue
  • Rocky Point Elementary School Road
  • Rocky Point Training School Road
  • Lacy Padgett Road
  • Bridgeside Road
  • Fallbrook Lane
  • East & West Tumbling Waters Road
  • Babbling Creek Road
  • East & West Strawberry Lane
  • Tarwolf Trail
  • Camellia Drive
  • Rose Drive
  • Magnolia Drive
  • Southward along US 117 South to, but not including, the entrance of Woodhaven Subdivision

are experiencing periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system due to a 12” water main break.  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, when water service is restored consumers 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.

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.

System Pressure Advisory!

The water consumers of Pender County Utilities, in Pender County along the 9000 block of US 117 South, Lacy Padgett Road, Bridgeside Road, Fallbrook Lane, West Tumbling Waters Road, East Tumbling Waters Road, Babbling Creek Road, East Strawberry Lane, Tarwolf Trail, West Strawberry Lane, Camellia Drive, Rose Drive, and Magnolia Drive are experiencing periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system due to a 12” water main break.  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, when water service is restored consumers 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.

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.

This advisory issued on October 6, 2018 by:

Kenny Keel, Director

Pender County Utilities

910-259-0212

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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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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