State of Emergency Lifted for 11 Northeastern Counties | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

Flood damage assessment to begin tomorrow in Bertie County

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory today rescinded the State of Emergency declaration effective midnight tonight for 11 counties in northeastern North Carolina. The governor also said damage assessment teams will begin surveying flood-ravaged areas of Bertie County tomorrow. On September 22, the governor made the emergency declaration after the remnants of Tropical Storm Julia dumped between 10 and 17 inches of rain across much of the area within a 72-hour period.

    "We have seen firsthand the devastating impacts on the residents, businesses and agricultural interests in Bertie County and the surrounding community," said Governor McCrory. "As I pledged during my visit, we will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to assess the damage, provide resources and help with recovery efforts throughout the entire region."

    Governor McCrory, N.C. Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry, Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson and Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler visited Bertie County Monday to survey storm damage.

    The transportation waivers for drivers who were transporting supplies and equipment for agricultural emergency response also will end at midnight. The North Carolina Emergency Operations Center will return to normal operations tomorrow.

    Emergency management officials from the state and Bertie County already have met with staff from the U.S. Small Business Administration and together they will survey damaged homes and businesses beginning tomorrow. In addition, the teams will assess damaged roads and compromised infrastructure to determine what types, if any, of state and federal financial assistance may be available to help the flood-ravaged communities. Officials estimate the damage assessments will be completed before the end of the week.

    The state deployed swift water rescue teams to help people stranded in floodwaters. A total of 138 people were rescued from homes and vehicles in the Bertie County area, including 61 residents and staff from a nursing home in Windsor. Three primary routes were closed - U.S. 17 Business in Windsor, U.S. 13 north of Windsor and N.C. 45 in Hertford County - along with numerous secondary roads. Schools were closed or delayed in numerous northeastern counties during peak flooding and one shelter was opened in Bertie County to house stranded residents.

    Click here to view the notice of termination of Executive Orders 103 and 104.

• Contact: McCrory Communications
•     govpress@nc.gov