Topics Related to Emergency Management

COVID-19 has affected our lives in so many ways. That is especially true when it comes to sheltering plans during an emergency. We are approaching the peak of hurricane season and the landscape for evacuation shelters is drastically different this year. North Carolina Emergency Management officials want you to know what to expect at shelters this year so that you can begin preparing.

Tucked away off Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh in the same secure facility as the NC National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters is the North Carolina State Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Many members of the NC Emergency Management (NCEM) team work here daily, but in times of emergency or during disasters, this building is transformed into an operational war center of state and federal agencies, nonprofit relief organizations, faith-based organizations and some private sector companies.

Know Your Zone, North Carolina’s new system of coastal evacuation zones, launched earlier this month. It’s a tiered evacuation system that focuses on areas most vulnerable to impacts from hurricanes, tropical storms and other hazards. The campaign was implemented to simplify the evacuation process by assigning lettered evacuation zones in each county, based on areas of higher and lower risk of flooding.

September is National Preparedness Month and is also in the middle of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which starts June 1 and runs through November 30. Any time is a good time to work on your emergency plans, but it is especially important during hurricane season. If you haven't already, get started today with these tips.

On March 25, 2020, North Carolina received a federal major disaster declaration providing public assistance funding to reimburse local governments and certain private nonprofits for some of their response efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Surf City is getting a new town hall with the help of more than $500,000 from North Carolina and the FEMA Public Assistance Program.  

Governor Declares March 1-7 Severe Weather Preparedness Week

North Carolina is in the midst of the largest hurricane recovery in the state’s history: In the past four years, North Carolina has received federal disaster declarations for four hurricanes covering 77 of the state’s 100 counties.

Storms leave behind big messes and communities need help with clean up. That’s certainly the case on Ocracoke, where several feet of storm surge inundated the island when Hurricane Dorian passed by last September.

As residents cleaned out flooded homes, large piles of curbside debris quickly developed all over the island – made up of ruined furniture, soaked drywall and damaged floorboards.  

With winter weather in the forecast, now is the time to prepare. To remain safe during this time, the best thing you can do is not drive on the roads, but if you must, plan ahead and review how to operate your vehicle in winter weather.