Hurricane Matthew Update - October 3, 2016 | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Stay connected to BCN for all of our many Hurricane Mathew updates.

    News Release:

    We here in the EOC just completed a Conference call with the National Weather Service, NCEM, Eastern Branch Counties and other Federal and State partners.

    The key words heard on the conference call: "Uncertainty of Hurricane Matthew track and intensity?" Based on those words and the variance of guidance we cannot afford to let our guard down and preparation is the key.

    At the present time the EOC support team should be prepared to arrive at the EOC no later than 1130 hours Wednesday as we move to a Level 2 of activation. We are starting to participate in Conference calls at 1200 and 1800 hours daily until further notice with NCEM and the surrounding counties.

    Fire Chiefs and EMS Captains are given advanced warning of a meeting Wednesday evening here in the EOC to ensure coordination of activities and to discuss Task Force organizations. Equipment and Personnel status reports are requested from those attending so we know how many personnel from each agency are available.

    BCDSS, BCHD and BCAC personnel should be notified that we could activate two human shelters and one animal shelter if the need arises. Coordination with BC Schools has already begun to include the use of ten school buses for evacuation if necessary as well as use of schools for sheltering the public. Northside High School cannot be considered for a Pre-Storm shelter as the generator is not operational.

    Coordination for the possible movement of Prisoners from the jail to other locations has begun. Assisted living facilities should begin taking the necessary steps to imitate their emergency action plans. Electric companies and CO-OPS have already begun their preparations for Hurricane Matthew.

    Our last thoughts are this: Hurricane Matthew has a fifty-fifty chance of impacting Beaufort County possibly as a Category 3 storm. Please ensure your family disaster plans are complete. We will need everyone available if this Hurricane comes to visit in its aftermath and that can only happen if we know our families are taken care of as we go out the door prior-to, during or after the storm arrives.

    The Beaufort County Control group will have a briefing at 4:00pm on Wednesday, here at the EOC, to discuss the time table for Evacuation, if necessary, and State of Emergency planning.

    Subject to your questions.

    Hurricane Mathew Alert and Notification of position PDF.

    John Pack

    Coordinator, Beaufort County Emergency Services

     1420 Highland Drive
     Washington, NC 27889
     (252)946-2046 Office   •   (252) 975-6802 Fax   •   john.pack@co.beaufort.nc.us

Stay connected to BCN for all of our many Hurricane Mathew updates.