Governor Mccrory Declares State Of Emergency For Four Eastern Counties; Urges Preparation For More Severe Weather | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, N.C. – Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency for Beaufort, Chowan, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties in the wake of Friday's severe thunderstorms and devastating tornadoes and warned that more rough weather is headed our way.

    "What I witnessed firsthand in Beaufort, Chowan and Perquimans counties is a stark reminder of how damaging tornadoes can be," said Governor McCrory. "My heart goes out to the hundreds of people dealing with property damage, injuries, and even the loss of life. In times like these, we must stick together and help each other out, and we will do all that we can to help communities hit by these storms."

    The State of Emergency declaration is the first step in seeking federal funds to help defray the cost of providing emergency services, clearing debris and repairing any damaged public infrastructure. It also triggers the price gouging law in those areas.

    The governor also urged all North Carolinians to be prepared for the severe weather that caused deadly tornadoes in the Midwest, as it heads toward North Carolina.

    Meteorologists are predicting the system has the potential to spark more tornadoes. The storms are expected to move into western North Carolina later today and affect North Carolina statewide through Wednesday. In the west, heavy rains could cause flash flooding and possibly mudslides. Central North Carolina may experience multiple strong storms Tuesday and Wednesday. The East remains at risk for storms and residents with damages from the previous storms should exercise extreme caution if severe weather is in the area.

    "We have all seen how quickly storms can strike and it is extremely important for everyone to stay tuned to local weather reports to get the most up to date information," said Secretary Frank L. Perry, Department of Public Safety. "Our goal is to stress the importance of being prepared."

    Emergency officials recommend the following safety tips:

• Stay tuned to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) radios and make sure to have back-up batteries for the radio.
• Register with a local television or radio station to receive weather alerts, on your cell phone or landline, specific to your area.
• Keep cell phones charged in the event of power outages.
• Know where the nearest safe room is, such as a basement or interior room and away from windows, and go there immediately if you hear or see a tornado.
• If driving, you should leave your vehicle immediately to seek safety in an adequate structure. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle, and do not stop under an overpass or a bridge.
• If you are outdoors, and there is no shelter available, take cover in a low-lying flat area. Watch out for flying debris.
• Following a storm, wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves and gloves when walking on or near debris, and be aware of exposed nails and broken glass.
• Be aware of damaged power or gas lines and electrical systems that may cause fires, electrocution or explosions.
• Know the terms: WATCH means a tornado is possible. WARNING means a tornado has been spotted; take shelter immediately.

    Those preparations are especially important in nighttime hours when many have gone to bed. North Carolina leads the nation in fatalities due to nighttime tornadoes. Emergency Management officials recommend having a weather radio that broadcasts alerts from the National Weather service whenever severe weather occurs. Many North Carolina tornado fatalities have occurred at night when people are asleep and less likely to receive a warning without a weather radio.

    Last year in North Carolina, the National Weather Service recorded 10 tornadoes that injured three people and caused more than $6 million in damages. The state also had 460 thunderstorms or damaging wind events that resulted in three fatalities, seven injuries and more than $11 million in damages.

    Teams of local and state emergency managers began working over the weekend with impacted communities to survey damages caused by Friday's tornadoes and severe storms. Employees from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will join those teams tomorrow to help determine if renters, homeowners, businesses owners or local governments may qualify for federal financial assistance to help recover from the storms. The teams hope to complete the damage assessments by the end of the week if they are not delayed by additional storms.

    More information on tornadoes and overall emergency preparedness can be found in the ReadyNC mobile app and online at www.ReadyNC.org.


    Contact: Crystal Feldman
       govpress@nc.gov