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Gov. Perdue surveys storm damage
Story Date: 8/29/2011
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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 8/28/11
Gov. Bev Perdue spent the day on the ground and in the air assessing North Carolina’s response to Hurricane Irene.
“The Outer Banks has taken a hit, and we saw damage everywhere we stopped,” Perdue said. “Lives have been lost, homes and property destroyed. But this storm could have been worse, and North Carolinians are resilient. We come together in times of need. Hurricanes are a way of life here, and we know how to deal with them. We will work with our local, state and federal partners to assess damages and to seek assistance to recover from these losses.”
Six North Carolinians have died so far as a result of Hurricane Irene; two in Pitt County and one each in Nash, Onslow, Sampson and Wayne counties. Three were killed in motor vehicle crashes, two were killed by falling trees and one suffered a heart attack while preparing for storm.
Twenty-three shelters remain open, housing more than 1,700 occupants, down from a peak of more than 7,500 people in 81 shelters Saturday. Yesterday alone, American Red Cross, North Carolina Baptist Men and the Salvation Army cooked more than 21,400 meals for evacuees and first responders. NC Baptist Men will begin serving meals tomorrow for evacuees in Manteo, New Bern and Williamston.
More than 444,000 power outages remain. Utility crews from across the state and other states are headed down east to help restore power.
Transportation crews began working at daylight to clear and reopen more than 130 roads and bridges closed by fallen trees, downed power lines and storm debris. NCDOT has more than 1,800 staff responding to the storm. For the latest road conditions call 511, visit www.ncdot.gov/travel, follow @NCDOT on Twitter or get the NCDOT Mobile, application for your smart phone (m.ncdot.gov).
State ports remain closed in Morehead City and Wilmington. Ferry service has resumed on the Southport to Fort Fisher and Cherry Branch to Minnesott Beach runs. The other ferries are being used for emergency response and relief. All ferry runs will end at dark due to possible debris in the water. No passenger trains will operate in the state today and there is no freight service east of Interstate 95. Normal operations may resume tomorrow, depending upon decisions by the railroads later today.
The Department of Correction has relocated more than 1,800 inmates from Pamlico Correctional Institute in Bayboro, Hyde Correctional Institution in Swan Quarter and Tyrrell Prison Work Farm in Columbia. One prison work crew has been requested to begin clearing debris in Hertford on Monday.
Essential food, water and other supplies are in warehouses in Tarboro and Badin and distribution points have been established in Hyde and Carteret counties to begin dispensing supplies as needed.
The N.C. National Guard has 392 soldiers and airmen deployed with more on standby. They have seven helicopters in the state and 40 more are available to help with storm response and recovery if needed.
The State Highway Patrol has more than 300 troopers working to help with traffic control and storm response; more troopers are on standby if needed. Troopers have worked more than 180 collisions in eastern North Carolina since Friday night.
This morning, Gov. Perdue received an emergency declaration for 18 additional counties. President Obama on Thursday approved her initial emergency declaration request, authorizing appropriate federal assistance to protect lives, property, public health and safety. Those counties include: Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hyde, Gates, Greene, Hertford, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, New Hanover, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Wayne, Washington and Wilson.
On Wednesday, Perdue declared a State of Emergency in preparation for the oncoming hurricane.
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