STORM SURGE A SPECIAL SECTION TO THE WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS
PLAN. PREPARE. RECOVER. AUGUST 2020
2C• Saturday, August 29–Sunday, August 30, 2020 www.TheWashingtonDailyNews.com
STAYING CURRENT NOAA heads to social media to share message, new features By VAIL STEWART RUMLEY Washington Daily News
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n early August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released an updated forecast of the 2020 hurricane season, calling it “extremely active.” Forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center have added on to the original forecast issued in May. Typically, the ninth named storm doesn’t form until Oct. 4 in a given season, but this year has indeed been extremely active: the ninth named storm this year was none other than Hurricane Isaias, which formed July 30 and plowed through eastern North Carolina in the early morning hours of Aug. 4. Since, Josephine, Kyle, Laura and Marco have all been named. According to NOAA, the average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, including six hurricanes of which three become major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5). The early August update instead calls for 19-25 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 7-11 will become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), including 3-6 major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater). The extremely active hurricane season means the agencies responsible for sharing information about tropical storms and hurricanes have also updated how they reach those who may in the path of a storm — revising graphics, increasing notifications, streamlining information and upping social media presence to keep the public informed. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER/ NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE These agencies are simplifying their system, only raising the “flag” for big events, as opposed to a bunch of advisories. This season, those in the path of the storm will get a “Watch,” an indication you need to prepare, or a “Warning,” a prompt to act. NHC/NWS are also issuing 60-hour track, intensity and wind forecasts, midway between the 72-hour and 48-hour forecasts previously provided. The more specific information about a hurricane’s track potentially gives those who need to prepare an additional 12 hours to do so. Add to this increased precision for stormsurge predictions. NHC is mapping out more precise ranges, illustrating expected stormsurge inundation — the peak height the water
could reach above normally dry ground in the specified area — by feet, rather than the maps of the past, where coastal and low-lying areas are categorized by the less-specific threat levels of elevated, moderate or high. “I think it allows us to get the information to the public in a format that’s kind of easy to understand at a glance. It’s good to see that from the weather service and NOAA. The information has always been there, but you’ve had to find it,” said Chris Newkirk, chief deputy of Beaufort County Emergency Services. “It’s just so much easier to understand and share with the public. That part’s very nice.” NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY — KNOW YOUR ZONE NCDPS Secretary Eric Hooks officially launched the Know Your Zone program in June, along with its major tool, the Know Your Zone website. Meteorologists from the National Hurricane Center, FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, teamed up with North Carolina Emergency Management and county emergency managers to designate zones for 20 coastal counties, an effort to determine who needs to evacuate and when. “For me, I think it definitely clarifies terms that we have used very loosely in the past. We’ve always identified evacuation zones as low-lying areas, and then the questions come: ‘Well, how do I know if I’m in a low-lying area?’ It puts lines on that. It’s really just defining a line on a map that people can understand,” Newkirk said. Unique to each individual county, based on that county’s topography, as well as its evacuation needs, the maps are a starting point, and every Beaufort County resident should visit knowyourzone.nc.gov to find out what their zone may be. When the call comes to evacuate, it’s in every resident’s best interest to know. According to Jamie Rhome, the National Hurricane Center’s storm surge specialist, Know Your Zone is a progressive approach to emergency management, as a few changing factors are contributing to a greater risk of flooding events: heavier rainfall associated with a warmer climate, some science suggesting a slowing trend in the forward speeds of hurricanes as they approach land and sea-level rise. “The ocean — the sea level — is rising. It’s absolutely indisputable, it’s rising,” Rhome said.
INFORMATION FOUND HERE Looking for the information about a coming storm, without interference? Look no farther than the following, which offer unfiltered information, straight from the sources:
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER XX Facebook: www.facebook.com/NWSNHC XX Twitter: @NHC_Atlantic sends auto-
mated tweets whenever NHC issues advisories and updates for tropical cyclones; @NHC_Surge reports the findings of the NHC storm-surge group; marine forecasts by the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch can be found at @NHC_TAFB.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE XX The NWS branch for central-eastern North Carolina is Newport/Morehead City. XX Facebook: www.facebook.com/NWS-
MoreheadCity XX Twitter: @NWSMoreheadCity
BEAUFORT COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES Don’t miss BCES’ local updates. They share information from the NHC and NWS, as well as information that specifically affects Beaufort County residents. XX Facebook: www.facebook.com/bcemergencymanagement
NOAA RADIO Tried and true, NOAA weather radio will keep you abreast of all the storm information from National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City if the internet goes out. For Beaufort County, that comes from the New Bern transmitter, at 162.400 MHz.
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Saturday, August 29–Sunday, August 30, 2020 • 3C
SHELTERS
A last resort this hurricane season You get 100 people in a room together, they’re going to talk, and they’re going to socialize, but in a COVID environment, that’s not going to be allowed. It’s not going to be a commingled, community environment.
WHAT TO BRING TO THE SHELTER Shelters will be available if necessary this hurricane season. If you and your loved ones do need to evacuate to a shelter, Beaufort County Emergency Services has provided a list of items you need to bring:
— CHRIS NEWKIRK By VAIL STEWART RUMLEY Washington Daily News
Clothing and Bedding
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f COVID-19 hasn’t already changed enough about the average day-to-day living in North Carolina, more change arrived with this year’s hurricane season. “Staying at a storm shelter is not a good option during the COVID-19 pandemic and should only be considered a last resort,” according to the Ready NC website. That’s not to say shelters will not be opened if a hurricane, and flooding, threaten Beaufort County. They will, according Beaufort County Emergency Services. But this hurricane season — unlike the 2018 season in which nearly 800 people made use of the county’s shelters — it’s going to look very different. “We’ve been fortunate in the past that we’ve had very good amenities in our shelters, and those who needed it could go to those shelters in comfort and community. But during COVID, that’s not going to be the option,” said Chris Newkirk, deputy director of Beaufort County Emergency Services. The changes will start at checkin. Each person seeking shelter will have their temperature taken and go through a medical screening. Social distancing will be required, which means the floor of the Washington High School gym and other classrooms being used will be marked off with tape. Residents will be required to wear face masks at all times and stay within their marked off areas. Meals will no longer be provided cafeteria-style, instead they will be delivered from the cafeteria, evacuees will eat in their designated areas and
XX Extra clothes and shoes XX Sleeping bag, blanket and pillow, and light-
weight portable lounge chairs XX Rain gear XX Wash clothes, towels, soap, toothbrush, paper towels and toilet paper XX Mask or cloth face covering (Children under 2 years old, people who have trouble breathing and people who cannot take the cloth face covering off without help should not wear cloth face coverings.)
Baby supplies XX Clothes, diapers, formula, bottles, food and blankets
Medications and first aid supplies XX Medication clearly marked with your name, dosage, type of medication and doctor’s name XX Must be able to administer all medications XX First aid supplies in a waterproof box XX Hand sanitizer
Important papers DAILY NEWS
plates will be picked up afterward. If a person seeking shelter is sick, they will be isolated; those at high risk for the virus will also be quarantined in an area of their own. For volunteers staffing the shelter, more stringent cleaning practices, sanitizing doorknobs, faucets, light switches and restrooms will be required. “It really all comes down to social distancing and the safety measures you have to have in place to accommodate that many people,” Newkirk said. “You get 100 people in a room together,
MAKE A PLAN From ReadyNC.org
You and your family members may not be in the same place when an emergency happens. It is important to plan ahead and talk about what you will do before, during and after an emergency. You need to talk about how will you get to a safe place, get in touch with each other and get back to each other. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you should make advance plans to stay with family or friends who live in a safe place, or at a hotel. Staying at a shelter with a large number of other people is not a good option during the pandemic. Shelters should be considered only if you have no other options. Your plan should contain: XX Phone numbers of a pre-assigned contact person for family members to call; XX Where to find information on shelters (television, radio, this website); XX How to be safe if you stay in your home during an emergency; XX What to do with your pets; XX Thoughts about any older adults or those with functional needs in the home. Mold your plans for your family’s needs. Think about creating a group of neighbors, friends or family to help each other in emergencies. Talk how that group can help each other connect, care for children, pets or other needs. Knowing how you will respond to an emergency at home, school or work will help you remain calm, think clearly and react well. Being ready helps you and your family. It also lowers the workload of fire fighters, police and emergency medical workers.
they’re going to talk, and they’re going to socialize, but in a COVID environment, that’s not going to be allowed. It’s not going to be a commingled, community environment.” This is why state and local emergency officials are urging county residents who may need to evacuate during a storm to make alternate plans this year. “Staying with family, friends or at a hotel will reduce the chances of you being exposed to or transmitting the COVID-19 virus,” the Ready NC website reads.
XX Name and address of doctor XX Name and address of nearest relative XX Identification and valuable papers
Miscellaneous XX Games, cards, toys, battery powered radios and flashlights XX Take a bath and eat before you leave home XX Register immediately upon entering the shelter
No alcohol or weapons are allowed in the shelter.
4C• Saturday, August 29–Sunday, August 30, 2020 www.TheWashingtonDailyNews.com
Navigating insurance
AFTER A STORM
By VAIL STEWART RUMELY Washington Daily News
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t was 2 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 4, when Jean Thompson ran into the bedroom of Jennifer Sable to warn her about the coming catastrophe. “I looked out the window and saw the tree swaying back and forth,” Sable said. “I leapt out of bed and just saw leaves coming toward the window. It wasn’t as loud as I thought it would be, but it was loud, hitting the roof over the bedroom.” It was Tropical Storm Isaias that, at the height of the storm, landed a large tree on the roof of their Country Place home near Swan Point. It could have been worse. They could have had water pouring into the house through a hole punched in the roof. “It could have been a disaster,” Sable said. The downed tree from the winds of Isaias was not their first introduction to damage done by a hurricane. The first was during Hurricane Irene, in 2011, when flooding required a total replacement of all the duct -work beneath the house. But what to do when damage occurs and when to do it can be a little bit overwhelming in the aftermath of a storm. “The insurance company was great. We called them immediately,” Sable said. “It’s a process. You have to do it. Of course, you’re worried, and you’re concerned about your house.” ReadyNC.org has some stepby-step advice for property owners who experience damage from destructive forces of a hurricane’s or tropical storm’s wind, rain or flooding:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY XX Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim and arrange a visit from an adjuster. You must do this first before you file any other claim. XX Before doing any repairs to your house, take pictures and make a list of the damage. XX Protect your home from more damage by making shortterm repairs only. You need to wait until your insurance company can tell you what else you need to do. Save any receipts for items bought for repairs. XX Do not have permanent repairs made until your insurance company has inspected the property. Wait until you and the insurance company have reached an agreement on the cost of repairs. Sable said a Nationwide adjustor came out to do a damage
assessment and a check immediately was written to cover the cost of the tree removal. To fix the damages to the roof proper requires an additional layer of oversight if a homeowner has a mortgage. “We had to send (the $6,500 check from the insurance company) to our mortgage company. It’s a requirement by the mortgage company — if you have mortgage, they have to endorse it,” Sable said. “They’re going to check to make sure the work was done. They just want to know the amount, see the amount, endorse it, send it back to us, and they’ll track the repair cost — they just want to make sure that we don’t run off with the money.” One of the more confusing aspects of insurance in the wake
of a storm is which policies cover what. Again, ReadyNC has some useful guidance: XX Unless you have extra coverage with your homeowner’s policy, food lost in a power outage is probably not covered. Think about buying an endorsement to cover food losses in the future. XX Most damage to your home or nearby buildings resulting from fallen trees is covered by your homeowner’s policy. Check with your agent or company before calling the tree removal service. Tree removal costs may be covered. XX Damage to your vehicles resulting from fallen trees or debris may be covered by your auto policy if you have comprehensive coverage. Check with your agent to determine whether your vehicle is covered.
XX A homeowner’s policy does not cover flooding! The only way to protect your property from flood losses is to get flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program. Policies must be in place for 30 days before coverage takes effect. Contact your agent for more information. XX If your insurance does not properly cover the loss of or damages to your home, you may file a claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This can only happen after you’ve filed your homeowner’s insurance claim. XX After filing with FEMA, and your loss is still greater, you may file with the Small Business Administration for a loan. Whether you’re new to Beaufort County or are a lifelong resident, the best option is to be prepared for a storm — all it takes is one tree or one inch of water entering the finished level of a house. Prepare now, so you won’t have to later. XX A full list of personal items will help get insurance settlements and/or tax deductions for losses. Insurance agents can give you inventory checklists. Be sure to take pictures and describe the items on your list. Put these and other key insurance papers in waterproof containers or in your safety deposit boxes. XX Look over your insurance policies and coverage to not make mistakes later. Separate policies are needed for protection against wind and flood damage. XX Find out if your home is subject to flooding. Your local building inspection department has copies of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps that show property subject to a 100-year storm frequency.
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Saturday, August 29–Sunday, August 30, 2020 • 5C
Storms for the ages By MATT DEBNAM Washington Daily News
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or centuries, those residing on the banks of the Pamlico and Pungo rivers have persevered through hurricanes. To look back at the history of these life-changing storms,
three sources offer insight: a segment of the 1976 community history “Washington on the Pamlico,” written by Pauline Worthy; a 2000 National Weather Service memo “Tropical cyclones affecting North Carolina since 1586: An historical perspective,” by James E. Hudgins; and the ar-
SEPT. 3, 1913 UNNAMED CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE
Perhaps the most devastating hurricane to hit Beaufort County in the early 20th century, this unnamed storm cut a wide swath of destruction throughout eastern North Carolina. An account in “Washington on the Pamlico” says that, “The Pamlico rose to its highest point ever (10 feet above the previous high water mark), that businesses were bankrupted and crops were ruined, and that every bridge over every stream in Beaufort County was washed away (including the major railroad trestles).” In the Washington Daily News, the picture was bleak, “ … Washington today on every street presents a pitiful sight indeed. All classes of businesses are practically at a complete standstill. The town’s future as well as that of the county is certainly anything but propitious, for suffering sustained by the storm is yet to be known, and may not ever be estimated.” “The water reached a point ten feet above the watermark,” the Daily News report continued. “On Market Street, in the business portion, the water stood from five to seven feet in the business places, and on the streets gas boats were running to and fro carrying passengers. Citizens resorted to bathing suits to reach different points.”
OCT. 12, 1954 HURRICANE HAZEL (CATEGORY 4)
At the time, Hurricane Hazel was the most destructive storm in the history of North Carolina, and left a trail of destruction from Haiti to Canada. Fortunately for Beaufort County, the storm arrived in the morning, so school buses had time to return children home and businesses closed early. In “Washington on the Pamlico,” Worthy writes, “By noon many streets were flooded. Washington Park was entirely under water and the tide was still rising. The brunt hit at 1:45 p.m. Piers were uprooted and piling hurled in the air like match sticks and then washed away. Scores of boats were damaged. Water rushed inside many homes. People were lucky if they could go upstairs. Some had to take refuge on their roofs, not knowing when the roof would blow away. Yet amazingly enough, no lives were lost in Hurricane Hazel.” While that may have been true locally, statewide, 19 people lost their lives during the storm, and approximately 200 were injured. To this day, many Beaufort County residents can still recall the fury of the storm, and a generation that followed them learned her name well in the tales they told.
THE 1955 HURRICANE SEASON HURRICANE CONNIE (CATEGORY 3) HURRICANE DIANE (CATEGORY 2) HURRICANE IONE (CATEGORY 3) For many of a certain age, this hurricane season sticks out in memory, as a series of four powerful storms caused tremendous destruction both in Beaufort County and throughout the state. The three sisters who wrought devastation that year were Connie, Diane and Ione. “Less than a year (after Hazel) Connie rushed in on August 11, 1955, and a week later, before the town had caught its collective breath, here came Diane on August 17, and some felt that she was even worse than Hazel,” Worthy wrote. “There is nothing on earth as dreadful as the sound of that peculiar wind howling over the water. People could not believe their ears when on Sept. 18 of that same year (1955) Ione rammed ashore to cover town and county with the same devastating destruction. Damage this time was many millions and in these three, which followed so closely on each other’s backs, many persons lost their lives.”
chives of the Washington Daily News, which has covered these storms faithfully since its founding in 1909. While there have been many more than the ones listed, these are some of the most memorable hurricanes that have impacted Beaufort County and its people over the past 120 years.
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1950 – 1953 STORMS FIRST NAMED According to the National Hurricane Center, the organization began naming storms in 1950, using phonetic names progressing through the alphabet (Able, Baker, Charlie, etc.). That convention changed in 1953, when the Center began using an alphabetized list of female names to refer to the storms. The first tropical storm to receive a female name was Alice, which hit Florida, Cuba and Central America in May and June of that year.
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DAILY NEWS
HURRICANE HISTORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 6C
What’s in a name? Q&A with the National Hurricane Center Why are hurricanes named? Experience shows that the use of short, distinctive names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and less subject to error than the older, more cumbersome latitude-longitude identification methods. These advantages are especially important in exchanging detailed storm information between hundreds of widely scattered stations, coastal bases and ships at sea. The use of easily remembered names greatly reduces confusion when two or more tropical storms occur at the same time. For example, one hurricane can be moving slowly westward in the Gulf of Mexico, while at exactly the same time another hurricane can be moving rapidly northward along the Atlantic coast. In the past, confusion and false rumors have arisen when storm advisories broadcast from radio stations were mistaken for warnings concerning an entirely different storm located hundreds of miles away. How did naming hurricanes start? For several hundred years many hurricanes in the West Indies were named after the particular saint’s day on which the hurricane occurred. Ivan R. Tannehill describes in his book “Hurricanes” the major tropical storms of recorded history and mentions many hurricanes named after saints. For example, there was “Hurricane Santa Ana” which struck Puerto Rico with exceptional violence on July 26, 1825, and “San Felipe” (the first) and “San Felipe” (the second) which hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 13 in both 1876 and 1928. Tannehill also tells of Clement Wragge, an Australian meteorologist who began giving women’s names to tropical storms before the end of the 19th century. An early example of the use of a woman’s name for a storm was in the novel “Storm” by George R. Stewart, published by Random House in 1941, and filmed by Walt Disney. During World War II, this practice became widespread in weather map discussions among forecasters, especially Army and Navy meteorologists, who plotted the movements of storms over the wide expanses of the Pacific Ocean. In 1953, the United States abandoned a confusing twoyear-old plan to name storms by a phonetic alphabet (Able, Baker, Charlie) when a new, international phonetic alphabet was introduced. That year, the United States began using only female names for storms. The practice of naming hurricanes solely after women came to an end in 1978, when men’s and women’s names were included in the Eastern North Pacific storm lists. In 1979, male and female names were included in lists for the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. How are hurricane names chosen for each season? Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms had been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. They are now maintained and updated through a strict procedure by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. Six lists are used in rotation and recycled every six years, i.e., the 2019 list will be used again in 2025. If a storm forms in the off-season, it will take the next name in the list based on the current calendar date. For example, if a tropical cyclone formed on Dec. 28, it would take the name from the previous season’s list of names. If a storm formed in February, it would be named from the subsequent season’s list of names. In the event that more than 21 named tropical cyclones occur in the Atlantic basin in a season, additional storms will take names from the Greek alphabet. 2020 names: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky and Wilfred. 2021 names: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Elsa, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Julian, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor and Wanda. How are hurricane names retired? For Atlantic hurricanes, there is a list of names for each of six years. In other words, one list is repeated every seventh year. The only time that there is a change is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for obvious reasons of sensitivity. If that occurs, at an annual meeting by the World Meteorological Organization committee (called primarily to discuss many other issues), the offending name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it. There is an exception to the retirement rule, however. Before 1979, when the first permanent six-year storm name list began, some storm names were simply not used anymore. For example, in 1966, “Fern” was substituted for “Frieda,” and no reason was cited. Below is a list of retired names for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. There are, however, a great number of destructive storms not included on this list because they occurred before the hurricane naming convention was established in 1950. Listed by year, the following hurricane names have been retired: Carol, Hazel, Edna (1954); Connie, Diane, Ione, Janet (1955); Audrey (1957); Donna (1960); Carla, Hattie (1961); Flora (1963); Cleo, Dora, Hilda (1964); Betsy (1965); Inez (1966); Beulah (1967); Camille (1969); Celia (1970); Agnes (1972); Carmen, Fifi (1974); Eloise (1975); Anita (1977); Greta (1978); David, Frederic (1979); Allen (1980); Alicia (1983); Elena, Gloria (1985); Gilbert, Joan (1988); Hugo (1989); Diana, Klaus (1990); Bob (1991); Andrew (1992); Luis, Marilyn, Opal, Roxanne (1995); Cesar, Fran, Hortense (1996); Georges, Mitch (1998); Floyd, Lenny (1999); Keith (2000); Allison, Iris, Michelle (2001); Isidore, Lili (2002); Fabian, Isabel, Juan (2003); Charley, Frances, Isabel, Juan (2004); Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan, Wilma (2005); Dean, Felix, Noel (2007); Gustav, Ike, Paloma (2008); Igor, Tomas (2010); Irene (2011); Sandy (2012); Ingrid (2013); Erika, Joaquin (2015); Matthew, Otto (2016); Harvey, Irma, Maria, Nate (2017); Florence, Michael (2018). DID YOU KNOW? If you ever have trouble pronouncing the name of a given hurricane, the National Hurricane Center website has a pronunciation guide for assistance. The guide can be found at www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/aboutnames_pronounce_atlc.pdf.
6C• Saturday, August 29–Sunday, August 30, 2020 www.TheWashingtonDailyNews.com
HURRICANE HISTORY
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ASHLEY VANSANT | DAILY NEWS
RETURNING HOME
AFTER A HURRICANE By VAIL STEWART RUMLEY Washington Daily News
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1996 HURRICANE SEASON BERTHA (CATEGORY 2) FRAN (CATEGORY 3) With just under two months between them, hurricanes Bertha and Fran came as a one-two punch for North Carolina. “Serious flooding from the Pamlico Sound was reported in Belhaven, Washington, and New Bern,” Hudgins writes of Bertha. “Belhaven saw its previous record flood level of 6.6 feet eclipsed by the seven foot surge of Bertha. Surge heights of around seven feet were also observed in Washington, where extensive damage to homes and business occurred along the adjacent Pamlico River.” Damage statewide from that storm was estimated at $270 million, with one death reported in North Carolina. While Fran caused significantly less flooding in the Pamlico, it was far more deadly and costly. All told, that storm was indirectly responsible for 21 deaths statewide, and more than $2 billion in economic damages throughout North Carolina.
s a hurricane approaches, those in its path are busy preparing: securing property, buying supplies, gathering documents, making a plan if an evacuation may be necessary. The “before” is clear, but sometimes the “after” can be a bit complicated, especially if there’s widespread damage — especially if you have to evacuate. The American Red Cross has a list of recommendations when it comes to evacuees returning to a home, what to do on first inspection of damaged property and ways to clean up after a storm. BEFORE RETURNING Before you hop in a vehicle and try to return to your property, its best to be prepared: consult local officials and make sure you have the supplies you need. XX Find out if it is safe to enter your community or neighborhood. Follow the advice of your local authorities. XX Carry cash. ATMs may not work and stores may not be able to accept credit or debit cards. XX Bring supplies such as flashlights, batteries, bottled water and nonperishable foods in case utilities are out. XX Create back-up communication plans with family and friends in case you are unable to call from affected areas. XX Plan for delays when traveling. Bring extra food, water, pillows, blankets and other items that will make the trip more comfortable. Keep the fuel tank of your vehicle as full as possible in case gas stations are crowded, out of fuel or closed. XX Carry a map to help you route around heavy traffic or impassable roads. XX Find out if local medical facilities are open and if emergency services are functioning again. Do not call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number to do this. XX Understand that recovery takes time. Focus on the positive and have patience. Others will have similar frustrations. FIRST INSPECTION XX While it might be tempting to plow onto a property to see the damage that’s been done, there may be hidden dangers. Be on the lookout for the following: XX If possible, leave children and pets with a relative or friend. If not, keep them away from hazards and floodwater. XX Beware of rodents, snakes, insects and other animals that may be on your property or in your home. XX Before entering your home, look outside for damaged power lines, gas lines, foundation cracks and other exterior damage. It may be too dangerous to enter the home. XX Smell for gas. If you smell natural gas or propane, or hear a hissing noise, leave immediately and contact the fire department. XX If your home was flooded, assume it is contaminated with mold. Mold increases health risks for those with asthma, allergies or other breathing conditions. XX Open doors and windows. Let the house air out before staying inside for any length of time if the house was closed for more than 48 hours. XX Turn the main electrical power and water systems off until you or a professional can ensure that they are safe. Never turn the power on or off, or use an electrical tool or appliance while standing in water. XX Check the ceiling and floor for signs of sagging. Water may be trapped in the ceiling or floors may be unsafe to walk on. XX When using a portable generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a portable generator to a home’s electrical system. XX If you are considering getting a generator, get advice from a professional, such as an electrician. Make sure that the generator you purchase is rated for the power that you think you will need. CLEANING UP Cleaning up after a hurricane might seem like a simple task, but it can be daunting. Take your time and take precautions. Better yet, accept the help of friends and neighbors, then return the favor. Remember: when it doubt, throw it out. Wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and rubber boots. XX Be careful when moving furnishings or debris since they may be water logged and heavier. XX Throw out all food, beverages and medicine exposed to flood waters and mud, including canned goods and containers with food or liquid that have been sealed shut. XX Some cleaning solutions can cause toxic fumes and other hazards if mixed together. If you smell a strong odor or your eyes water from the fumes or mixed chemicals, open a window and get out of your home. XX Throw out items that absorb water and cannot be cleaned or disinfected (e.g. mattresses, carpeting, cosmetics, stuffed animals and baby toys). XX Remove all drywall and insulation that has been in contact with flood waters. XX Clean hard surfaces (e.g. flooring, countertops and appliances) thoroughly with hot water and soap or a detergent. XX Return to as many personal and family routines as possible.
RETURN PREPARED If you have to evacuate before or during a hurricane, it’s a good idea to know what you’ll need to make your way back home. The following is list of musthaves in the aftermath. XX Government-issued photo ID and proof of address XX Important phone numbers XX Bottled water and non-perishable foods XX First aid kit XX Cleanser/hand cleaning gel for personal use XX Hygiene products and toilet paper XX Insect repellent and sunscreen XX Long sleeved shirts, long pants, sturdy waterproof boots and work gloves XX Flashlight, portable radio and extra batteries XX Cameras for photos of damage for insurance claims
SEPT. 15-16, 1999 HURRICANE FLOYD (CATEGORY 3)
The rain of Hurricane Dennis fed the flooding of Hurricane Floyd, which is remembered as some of the most devastating in Beaufort County’s recent history. Even before Floyd reached Beaufort County, the Daily News reported flooded roads and homes in the area, the result of heavy rains earlier in the week and runoff from Dennis moving into the area. Combined with the torrential rains of the hurricane, the result was constantly-rising water for nearly five days. Even after Floyd passed, the Tar River continued to rise, finally cresting at 27.9 feet in Greenville, breaking an 80-year-old record. That, in turn, caused significant flooding in northwestern Beaufort County, especially in the Tranters Creek area, where some residents had to be evacuated by helicopter. All told, approximately 500 had to be rescued during the course of the flooding. Incredibly, no one died in Beaufort County, though 52 people lost their lives statewide. Leaving $3 billion in damages, Floyd was the costliest natural disaster in North Carolina’s history until it was surpassed by Hurricane Florence in 2018.
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AUG. 26-27, 2011 HURRICANE IRENE (CATEGORY 1) Another name that stands out in recent memory for Beaufort County residents is Hurricane Irene, with a combination of intense flooding and winds that caused widespread damage. Tens of thousands of people were left without power in the aftermath, most of the south side of the river was without water and downed trees were a prominent feature in the landscape. More than 225 homes in Beaufort and Hyde counties were in need of major repair in the years after the storm. The storm caused an estimated $4.5 million in damages for Washington alone. No deaths or major injuries were reported locally, but five lost their lives statewide.
20 16 OCT. 8-9, 2016 HURRICANE MATTHEW (CATEGORY 1)
Like Hurricane Floyd before it, Hurricane Matthew left a lingering flood in its wake, as water poured down the Tar and Pamlico from inland waterways. During and after the storm, millions of gallons of untreated sewage found its way into the Tar and Pamlico rivers, with spills in Princeville, Tarboro and Greenville, on top of 1 million gallons spilled into Jack’s Creek during the storm. For local farmers, the biggest impact was to the local cotton crop, which suffered a 5070% loss. Hundreds applied for federal assistance or filed insurance claims after the storm, though some homes have yet to be repaired four years later. A total of 26 people lost their lives statewide.
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SEPT. 12-15, 2018 HURRICANE FLORENCE (CATEGORY 1)
A slow-moving storm, Hurricane Florence dumped rain on Beaufort County for days, all the while pushing in water from the Pamlico Sound to create heavy storm surge. Both the Pamlico and Pungo rivers, which rose to 8.55 feet and 4.5 feet above normal, respectively, flooded homes and businesses in Washington and Belhaven. Within the City of Washington alone, 260 people had to be rescued from rising floodwaters, with more pulled from homes on Whichard’s Beach Road. A total of 790 people were housed in American Red Cross Shelters, and 12,000 Beaufort County residents lost power, some for as long as five days. Six people died statewide during the storm.