Latest Update on Hurricane Dorian

Latest Updates on Hurricane Dorian

Questions about what to do during Hurricane Dorian? Call us anytime at 910-253-5383

If you are in an emergency, call 9-1-1

• Individuals can now sign up for the State of North Carolina Disaster Volunteer List: https://www.nc.gov/agencies/volunteer/disaster-assistance
• Learn more about VOAD: Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster information: https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/emergency/voad/

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Volunteer resources and contacts to help post-Hurricane Dorian

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County Emergency Services coordinates offers for donations and volunteer assistance with the Brunswick County Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).

Questions about who to contact for help, how to volunteer or how to donate items? Contact Emergency Services Volunteer and Nonprofit Coordinator Leslie Stanley for direction to the appropriate VOAD agency or county depa

• Phone: 910.253.2589
• Email: leslie.stanley@brunswickcountync.gov

A list of VOAD partner organizations that may be able to assist residents with unmet and construction needs post-Hurricane Dorian is listed below.

Case Management

Organizations assisting with unmet needs such as food, diapers, bill assistance, etc.

Brunswick Family Assistance (BFA)	910-754-4766
Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc. (BSRI)	910-754-6297
Catholic Charities	910-251-8130
Brunswick Housing Opportunities (BHO)	910-253-0699
Brunswick County Department of Social Services	910-253-2072

[table “172” not found /]

Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity	910-454-0007
WARM	910-399-7563

[table “176” not found /]

Based on the level of impact to Brunswick County, VOAD anticipates that its available resources are enough to serve the areas affected by Hurricane Dorian. VOAD is thankful to everyone who has reached out to offer help.

More information about VOAD is at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/voad/

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Status update on Brunswick County libraries, parks

Posted Sept. 6 at 3 p.m.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County has a few status updates concerning our libraries and parks.

All libraries are anticipated to reopen Monday, Sept. 9, including the Rourk (Shallotte), Barbee (Oak Island) and Leland branches that typically open Saturdays.

All County parks with the exception of Shallotte Park will reopen Saturday, Sept. 7 at their regular schedules. The County will continue to assess Shallotte Park and potentially reopen Monday if conditions improve.

Learn more about the Brunswick County Library System at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/library/

Learn more about Parks and Recreation at https://bcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Page?pageId=7350

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Update from Brunswick County post-Hurricane Dorian (Sept. 6 at 12 p.m.)

Posted Sept. 6 at 12 p.m.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County is assessing the county to review Hurricane Dorian’s impact to residents, infrastructure, facilities and the environment, and overall has found minor damage so far.

The Brunswick County Government Complex will reopen during its regular business hours this Monday, Sept. 9. The Brunswick County Courthouse is also planning to reopen Monday, Sept. 9.

Saturday, Sept. 7 trash and recycling collection will take place as usual. Convenience collections sites will also reopen tomorrow, however regular disposal fees will apply.

Updated Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m.: If your regularly scheduled recycle day was Sept. 5 or 6, you will not have another pickup until the week after next (Sept. 19 and 20). They will pick up extra recycling at that time as long as the items are not bagged since bags are not allowed in our recycling program. Also, if the container with extra recyclables is anything other than cardboard, it will be left with the recycle bin once emptied.

There are also free drop off sites for recycling at the Chappell Loop Road conveniennce site, Leland Park, Town Creek Park and Northwest Park. Details on the hours of operation for these sites are at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/solid-waste-and-recycling/recycling/

Updated 12:45 p.m.: All County parks with the exception of Shallotte Park will reopen Saturday, Sept. 7 at their regular schedules. The County will continue to assess Shallotte Park and potentially reopen Monday if conditions improve.

County extends free dump week to two weeks

Based on current assessments, Brunswick County does not anticipate activating its debris contract. To help residents clear their storm debris, the County is extending its free dump week to two weeks starting this Saturday, Sept. 7 through Saturday, Sept. 21.

Brunswick County property owners and residents can dispose of all materials except for hazardous waste at the Brunswick County Landfill for free during these two weeks. Metal, tires, electronics, latex paint, and yard debris must be placed in their designated area.

Residents should bring proof of Brunswick County property ownership or residency. Waived tip fees do not apply to businesses and commercial vehicles.

Brunswick County Landfill

172 Landfill Rd NE, Bolivia, NC 28422

Hours of operation:

• Monday through Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Amendments to state of emergency

The County’s mandatory curfew for unincorporated areas expired at 7 a.m. this morning. The County rescinded its voluntary evacuation for low-lying and coastal areas in the unincorporated areas effective Friday, Sept. 6 at 8 a.m.: https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BC-State-of-Emergency-Amendment-3.pdf

Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 104 concerning the mandatory evacuation of the state’s barrier islands is still in place but will be rescinded after the governor determines the entire state is out of harm’s way from Hurricane Dorian.

Local and county governments not under the executive order may begin lifting evacuation orders and allowing their residents to return to evacuated areas as soon as they deem it safe to do so.

Utilities status

The County’s water and waste water utilities infrastructure is in good shape following the storm. The Public Utilities team is working with the coastal communities to assess the status of water valves and other infrastructure before reconnecting the barrier islands’ systems to the mainland system.

Updated 4 p.m.: Brunswick County Public Utilities has resumed normal utilities operation throughout its service area for water and wastewater service.  Adjustments to water system mains serving the island communities of Bald Head Island, Caswell Beach, Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Sunset Beach have been returned to normal operations.   The vacuum systems on Caswell Beach and Sunset Beach have been returned to service.

Brunswick County is still experiencing wide spread power outages across the county. Both Duke Energy and Brunswick County Membership Electric (BCME) have several ways to report power outages.

Duke Energy Customers

• Visiting duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device

• Texting OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply)

• Calling the automated outage-reporting system at 800.769.3766 for Duke Energy Carolinas customers and 800.419.6356 for Duke Energy Progress customers

BCME

• Visit http://www.bemc.org/current-storm-updates
• Call 1.800.682.5309

Stay away from fallen or sagging power lines and keep children and pets away from power lines also. Consider all power lines – as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with power lines – energized and dangerous.

Report all power line hazards using the following phone numbers:

• Duke Energy Carolinas customers: 800.769.3766
• Duke Energy Progress customers: 800.419.6356
• BCME customers: 800.682.5309

Donations and volunteer inquiries

Brunswick County Emergency Services coordinates offers for donations and volunteer assistance with the Brunswick County Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).

Based on the level of impact to Brunswick County, VOAD anticipates that its available resources are enough to serve the areas affected by Hurricane Dorian. VOAD is thankful to everyone who has reached out to offer help.

More information about VOAD is at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/emergency/voad/

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Update on Hurricane Dorian (Sept. 4 at 11:30 a.m.)

Posted Sept. 4 at 11:30 a.m.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County Emergency Services had its most recent briefing with the National Weather Service-Wilmington and emergency response team this morning.

Brunswick County is currently under a hurricane warning, storm surge warning and flash flood watch.

Key points from the latest NWS-Wilmington briefing concerning Hurricane Dorian include:

• Center of circulation: Eye is less defined and more disorganized
• Storm is getting larger, but intensity is the same
• Storm will maintain a steady state until it gets near us, then will weaken as it moves north
• Storm track has slowed some
• Models are in agreement with the track along South Carolina-North Carolina border
• Wind and rain threats have increased to high
• NWS-Wilmington has moderate to high confidence it the storm prediction
• Sustained winds expected for Southeastern Brunswick County are 65-80 miles per hour
• Gusts for Southeastern Brunswick County expected at 85-100 miles per hour
• Storm surge still expected at 4-7 feet Thursday into Friday morning
• High tide takes place Thursday between 1 and 2 p.m.
• Expecting 8-10 inches of rain

To find the latest NWS-Wilmington update, go to https://www.weather.gov/media/ilm/LatestBriefing.pdf

Shelters Now Open

As of 8 a.m. today, three public, pet-friendly shelters have opened in Brunswick County.

• North Brunswick High School: 114 Scorpion Drive, Leland, NC
• West Brunswick High School: 550 Whiteville Road, Shallotte, NC
• South Brunswick High School: 280 Cougar Road, Boiling Spring Lakes, NC

Also, Brunswick County Emergency Services has a computerized registry of people with special medical needs who may require special assistance in the event of a disaster. Sign up for the registry at https://fs19.formsite.com/ubwatts/form165290145/index.html

Trash and Recycling Service, Convenience Centers, Landfill and Parks Information

Curbside trash/recycling collections will not run Thursday, Sept. 5 or Friday, Sept. 6. Waste Industries will collect any extra household trash on the next regularly scheduled day. At this time, Saturday, Sept. 7 routes will operate on a regular schedule.

The convenience collection sites and landfill will close Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6. At this time, both are planned to reopen Saturday, Sept. 7.

These collection schedules are subject to change.

County parks will remain closed Thursday and Friday. They could reopen on Saturday depending on assessments.

State of Emergency and Voluntary or Mandatory Evacuations

Brunswick County is currently under a state of emergency since Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 7 a.m. A voluntary evacuation for unincorporated areas began at Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 8 a.m.

The Brunswick County Government Complex and Brunswick County Courthouse are closed Wednesday through Friday.

Residents are encouraged to reach out to their municipality or visit their website for information concerning whether their area is under a voluntary or mandatory evacuation.

Gov. Cooper’s mandatory evacuation for the state’s barrier islands, including the communities of Bald Head Island, Caswell Beach, Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach, came into effect at 8 a.m. this morning.

For the latest updates from Brunswick County go to https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/dorian/

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Update: Brunswick County opens three shelters Wednesday morning

Posted Sept. 3 at 6 p.m.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County will now open three shelters for residents during Hurricane Dorian. The shelters will open to the public Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 8 a.m.

The locations of the shelters are below. All shelters are pet friendly.

• North Brunswick High School: 114 Scorpion Drive, Leland, NC
• West Brunswick High School: 550 Whiteville Road, Shallotte, NC
• South Brunswick High School (newest location): 280 Cougar Road, Boiling Spring Lakes, NC

Brunswick County made the decision to open the third shelter at South Brunswick High School after Governor Cooper’s mandatory evacuation of the state’s barrier islands beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4. This mandatory evacuation affects the communities of Bald Head Island, Caswell Beach, Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach.

The Brunswick County Government Complex and Brunswick County Courthouse are closed Wednesday through Friday. All court sessions are canceled and all rescheduled cases will receive notice of their new hearing dates by USPS.

Follow updates on our website at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/dorian/

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Update: Brunswick County Closing Offices Wednesday (1:30 p.m.)

Posted Sept. 3 at 1:30 p.m.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Due to the Governor’s mandatory evacuation of the Barrier Islands, Brunswick County Government Complex will close for business Wednesday, Sept. 4.

• From the Office of the Governor: Gov. Cooper Orders Evacuation Ahead of Historic, Life-threatening Hurricane State Evacuation Ordered for Vulnerable Coastal Area
  • Affects communities of Bald Head Island, Caswell Beach, Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach.

Brunswick County staff are also working to open another pet friendly shelter at South Brunswick High School. An update on the opening time will be posted to this webpage when available.

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Update concerning shelters and government operations in Brunswick County during Hurricane Dorian

Posted Sept. 3 at 10:30 a.m.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County will open two shelters Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 8 a.m. for residents in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian. Brunswick County will also issue a voluntary evacuation for unincorporated areas Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 8 a.m.

The locations of the shelters are below. Both shelters are pet friendly.

• North Brunswick High School: 114 Scorpion Drive, Leland, NC
• West Brunswick High School: 550 Whiteville Road, Shallotte, NC

You are encouraged to contact your municipality or visit their website to verify if there is a state of emergency and/or a voluntary or mandatory evacuation for your area. A list of municipalities and their websites is at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/info/municipalities/

A list of suggested items to bring and to avoid bringing to the shelter are listed below. Meals will be available at or around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The County will post any updates on shelter statuses or additional shelter openings at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/dorian/

Updated 1:30 p.m.: Brunswick County Government offices will close Wednesday, Sept. 4, Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6. It was previously announced that offices would be open Wednesday.

Brunswick County proclaimed a state of emergency for the County Sept. 3 at 7 a.m. View the proclamation at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BC-State-of-Emergency.pdf

Updated 1:30 p.m.: The Brunswick County Courthouse is closed Wednesday, Sept. 4, Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6, and all court sessions are canceled. All rescheduled cases will receive notice of their new hearing dates by USPS.

Staying at a Public Shelter

Area public shelters are emergency shelters for individuals who do not have another place to go. Shelter volunteers do their best to make you comfortable, but a shelter is a temporary place of safety and cannot provide the comforts of home. Stay with friends or relatives if possible.

What you should bring with you to the shelter:

• Blankets are available at the shelters, but you are welcome to bring your own blanket and pillow
• Medications you take every day
• If you use oxygen, bring extra oxygen tanks (enough for 3 or more days depending on the size and possible impact of the storm/event)
• Several days of clothing
• Personal hygiene items: Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, comb/brush, etc.
• Any special dietary items
• Pet food and supplies (bowls, cages, leashes, etc.)
• Baby supplies: Diapers, formula, etc. (enough for 3 or more days depending on the size and possible impact of the storm/event)
• Cards, games, books to pass the time
• If you need a caregiver, a caregiver must accompany you to the shelter. Shelter staff will try to assist but are not able to provide ongoing one on one care.
• Eat before you arrive. Meals may not be available during the first 24 hours. Bring snacks.

Items not allowed in the shelter:

• Alcohol and/or drugs
• Weapons
• Mattress or Air Mattress (space is limited)
• Chairs or other furniture

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Update on Hurricane Dorian (Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m.)

Posted: Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County Emergency Services met with representatives from county departments, public safety representatives and other community partners this morning to coordinate and deliver resources in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian.

As of Monday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 a.m., the National Weather Service in Wilmington’s latest briefing states the most pressing concerns for our area are ongoing minor coastal flooding with each high tide and strong rip currents and worsening surf/maritime conditions tonight through the week.

Some of the key points from the briefing are below:

• Currently Hurricane Dorian is nearly stationary over Grand Bahamas with winds of 155 miles per hour
• Hurricane Dorian is still expected to move up and skirt the coast
• NWS-Wilmington is waiting for the northerly turn to see more regarding the track
  • Track confidence is increasing to a moderate level
• There is increasing rough surf today
• The earliest arrival for winds is Wednesday morning
• The most likely arrival of the hurricane in North Carolina is 6 a.m. Thursday
• Expected rainfall has increased from moderate to high (5-10 inches, with isolated 15 inches depending on the storm’s track)

Brunswick County’s government buildings are scheduled to open as usual Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Brunswick County is planning to issue a state of emergency Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 7 a.m. so that preparation with state and other partners may continue. The County will post any updates on its website.

Emergency Services is preparing to potentially open shelters should the projected path of Hurricane Dorian continue to track toward the county. Information about open shelter locations will be posted on this webpage and shared on the County’s social media channels.

You are encouraged to continue to check and refresh your emergency kits for each member of your family, including pets, and ensure your emergency plan is in place should NWS-Wilmington issue a hurricane advisory, watch or warning this week.

You are also encouraged to continue to track the storm’s progress through your preferred communication channels.

More information about emergency kits, emergency plans and communication channels are at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/dorian/

To find the latest NWS-Wilmington update, go to https://www.weather.gov/media/ilm/LatestBriefing.pdf

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Update on Hurricane Dorian (Sept. 1 at 2 p.m.)

Posted: Sept. 1 at 2 p.m.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County Emergency Services held a conference call this afternoon with its key county, municipal, public safety and community partners, including the National Weather Service in Wilmington, to discuss our ongoing efforts to prepare for Hurricane Dorian.

As of Sunday, Sept. 1 at 2 p.m., NWS-Wilmington is concerned about the likelihood of storm surges, heavy rains, high winds and the potential for tornadoes mid-week. The timing for high winds is anticipated Wednesday night leading into Thursday, but could arrive earlier Wednesday.

Uncertainty exists with the long term track of the storm as any minor adjustment could significant adjust the level of impact the area experiences. Overall confidence is low to moderate given main impacts are still days away.

There is high confidence for continued minor tidal flooding and strong rip currents today (Sunday) and beyond.

At this time, Brunswick County Emergency Services is preparing to potentially open shelters should the projected path of Hurricane Dorian continue to track toward the county. Information about open shelter locations will be posted on this webpage and shared on the County’s social media channels.

You are encouraged to continue to check and refresh your emergency kits for each member of your family, including pets, and ensure your emergency plan is in place should NWS-Wilmington issue a hurricane advisory, watch or warning this week.

You are also encouraged to continue to track the storm’s progress through your preferred communication channels.

More information about emergency kits, emergency plans and communication channels are at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/dorian/

To find the latest NWS-Wilmington update, go to https://www.weather.gov/media/ilm/LatestBriefing.pdf

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov

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Update on Hurricane Dorian (Aug. 30 at 3 p.m.)

Posted: Aug. 30 at 3 p.m.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County’s Emergency Services department has monitored Hurricane Dorian throughout this week and will continue to track its progress this weekend.

As of Friday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m., the National Weather Service in Wilmington’s immediate concerns for Brunswick County and the surrounding region is for ongoing tidal/coastal flooding and the increased threat for rip currents during Labor Day weekend.

NWS-Wilmington is also watching for potential long-term concerns including flooding, rain, storm surges, tornadoes and damaging winds, especially mid- to late next week.

It is important to note that NWS-Wilmington’s confidence in these long-term threats is low, and the office’s ability to better predict concerns will increase as we head into next week.

Emergency Services is working closely with other County departments, the Brunswick County Sherriff’s Office, and our municipal, community and public safety partners across the county to coordinate resources and align our response plans.

Any updates on Brunswick County’s response to Hurricane Dorian will be posted to our website at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/dorian/

What should I do now?

Communications channels

During emergency situations, Brunswick County Emergency Services will send notifications through our CodeRED system. You are encouraged to enroll or verify your account is up-to-date at this time.

• Enroll in CodeRED at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/7BC24EDE14D3

The following agencies are recommended channels to check for information concerning Hurricane Dorian’s potential impact on Brunswick County and weather status.

National Weather Service-Wilmington

• Facebook: @NWSWilmingtonNC
• Twitter: @NWSWilmingtonNC

Brunswick County Emergency Services

• Facebook: @BrunscoES
• Twitter: @BrunscoES

Brunswick County Government

• Facebook: @BrunswickCounty
• Twitter: @BrunswickGovt

Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office

• Facebook: @brunswicksheriff
• Twitter: @Brunscosheriff

Make a plan

You are encouraged to make sure your plan is in place should the NWS-Wilmington Office issue a hurricane advisory, watch or warning next week. This includes:

1. Deciding how you will receive your emergency alerts
   • Public safety officials use timely and reliable systems to alert you and your family in the event of natural or man-made disasters. See our Communications Channels section for a list of suggested channels.
2. Making a shelter plan
   • Sheltering is appropriate when conditions require that you seek protection in your home, place of employment or other location when disaster strikes.
   • Brunswick County will post information on shelter locations should they open any on the County’s website at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/
3. Establishing an evacuation plan

1. • Identify several places you could go in an emergency such as a friend’s home in another town or a motel. Choose destinations in different directions so that you have options during an emergency.
   • If needed, identify a place to stay that will accept pets. Most public shelters allow only service animals.
   • Be familiar with alternate routes and other means of transportation out of your area.
   • Always follow the instructions of local officials and remember that your evacuation route may be on foot depending on the type of disaster.

4. Setting up a family communication plan
   • Create a paper copy of the contact information for you and other important people/offices, including medical facilities, schools and service providers. Make sure all members of the family have a copy in their purse, backpack or wallet.

More information is available at https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan

Emergency kits

It is a good idea to prepare an emergency kit with multiple days of clothing and food and water. Here is a list of some recommended items to pack.

Remember to also prepare kits for each member of the family and pets.

• 3+ days of clothing and shoes
• 3+ days of nonperishable food items and water
  • Pet food and bowls for food/water
• Medicines/prescriptions
• Oxygen tanks
• Communication devices and needs (phones, NOAA weather radio, charging cords, etc.)
• Critical documents (birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, medical and property insurance cards, etc.)
• Tools and safety items
• Batteries
• Hygiene and sanitation products (tooth brush and toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.)
• Blanket
• Warm clothes/coat
• Other necessary medical equipment

Useful websites

• https://www.weather.gov/ilm/
• https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
• https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
• Brunswick County CodeRED: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/7BC24EDE14D3

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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov