MEDIA RELEASE
BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County Chairman Randy Thompson has declared a state of emergency effective Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. due to potential threats Tropical Storm Debby poses to the county.
The proclamation includes a voluntary evacuation of low-lying and flood-prone areas of the unincorporated area of Brunswick County. It also allows the Sheriff’s Office to control ingress and egress and move people within roadways that may be impeded by flooding or fallen trees.
“Debby is bringing excessively dangerous conditions to our area, especially concerning flooding and excessive rain,” Chairman Thompson said. “Don’t take this storm for granted simply because it is labeled a tropical storm—there will be severe weather impacts throughout the week, and it is up to all of us to stay alert and do everything we can to be prepared and safe.”
This proclamation does not trigger the limitations on weapons in North Carolina General Statute 14-288.7 or impose any limitations on the consumption, transportation, sale, or purchase of alcoholic beverages. This proclamation may be amended in the future should other measures become appropriate.
When Brunswick County declares a state of emergency, it applies to the nonincorporated areas in the county only (i.e., areas not within any town or city limits). It is up to each municipality’s leadership to decide whether to declare a state of emergency for its jurisdiction and how it will enforce any regulations within the declaration.
Brunswick County services, offices, and libraries are currently operating normally. The Brunswick County Emergency Operations Center is currently at Level 3 (Enhanced Monitoring), with staff actively monitoring and preparing for the storm and expected impacts. Brunswick County will share any updates on its operations at brunswickcountync.gov/debby.
Latest Storm Information
Brunswick County is currently under a Flood Watch and Tornado Watch as of Aug. 6 at 7:45 a.m. A Storm Surge Watch and Tropical Storm Watch are also in effect for coastal Brunswick County. Community members can find the latest updates from the NWS-Wilmington at weather.gov/ilm and find the latest weather briefing at weather.gov/ilm/briefing.
Brunswick County and the National Weather Service in Wilmington are monitoring the storm. Debby will move off the coast today, then slowly move off the South Carolina coast through Thursday morning. Debby will likely make landfall during Thursday, then begin moving northward Friday into Saturday.
The very slow progression of the storm could result in catastrophic amounts of rainfall across northeastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina, which would result in life-threatening flash flooding. Tropical storm force winds are possible, especially for coastal portions of Long Bay (Brunswick, Horry, and Georgetown Counties), and storm surge inundation of 2 to 4 feet is also possible in these areas.
Best Practices & Safety Reminders
- Register for ReadyBrunswick emergency alerts
- Have multiple ways to get weather information (local news and radio stations, NOAA weather radios, National Weather Service, emergency alert notifications, etc.)
- Never drive on flooded or barricaded roads—TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN!
Find more preparedness information and resources at brunswickcountync.gov/hurricanes
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