Governor McCrory Lifts State of Emergency | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

Truck Weight and Hours of Operation Waivers Will Remain to Help Farmers Salvage Crops

    Raleigh, N.C. - Governor McCrory today lifted the State of Emergency that was declared October 1 for all 100 counties. As a result the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center has deactivated and returned to normal operations after torrential rains and a close brush with Hurricane Joaquin soaked both Carolinas. State emergency management officials continue working closely with their South Carolina counterparts to monitor any resource requests as the state ramps up recovery efforts.

    The truck size and weight and hours of service restriction waivers that were signed last week are still in effect as farmers work hard to salvage any crops and companies continue to move goods across and through the state. These waivers will aid flood recovery in both North and South Carolina. The waivers are in effect for 30 days or until they are canceled.

    "I want to thank our emergency management team, National Guard forces, first responders and countless volunteers who ensured our state was prepared to respond to any severe weather or damage," said Governor McCrory. "Our state is resilient, but our primary focus will remain doing all we can to assist storm damage recovery efforts, especially for our agricultural community and our neighbors in South Carolina."

    Several back-to-back low pressure systems, a stalled coastal front and moisture from Hurricane Joaquin created an unusual weather pattern that dumped 5 to 20 inches of rain in a week. South Carolina bore the brunt of the storm with much of the midlands and low country receiving 13 to 20 inches of rain between September 29 and October 5. Much of North Carolina's coastal plain and southern border counties saw between 7 and 9 inches of rain in the same time frame with some areas receiving more. The heaviest rainfall amounts were Wilmington (13+"), Tabor City (14+"), Bald Head Island (nearly 15 inches), Longwood in Brunswick County (18+"), Morehead City (more than 19 inches), and Calabash (more than 22 inches). The National Weather Service is still compiling final rainfall totals.

    "Details are still coming in about the amount of damage along the coast," Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said. "The state will continue to work with its federal, state and local partners to assess the damage, provide resources and help with recovery efforts."

    Sprayberry said the joint preliminary damage assessment teams would begin to survey losses next week in nine counties to include Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Dare, Hyde, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico and Pender. The teams will be assessing, among other categories, beach erosion, damaged roads and compromised infrastructure. Officials anticipate the survey work will take approximately two weeks to complete.

    Sixteen North Carolina counties declared a local State of Emergency during this storm while six shelters were opened in Brunswick, Cumberland, Nash, New Hanover, Pamlico and Hyde counties.

    View the executive order here.