Earlier this month, we saw a tornado touch down in Florence, resulting in minor injuries and destruction of at least one home. On Monday the 16th, which would normally have been the date of a County Commission meeting, county offices were closed due to severe weather warnings.
Our county reports are always written with the goal of providing Pamlico County information you can use. Save this post for later so you have the relevant county resources handy in case of an emergency.
Photo by Eleazar Yisrael
Stay informed
Pamlico County has switched county-level alerts from CodeRED to a new system run by GOGov. You can sign up on the county website.
Towns within Pamlico County may also have their own alert systems. Oriental sends out alerts via text and email. Text ORIENTALALERTS to 91896 to sign up for text notifications. To receive email alerts, send a request with "ALERT LIST" in the subject line to [email protected].
Contact your municipal government to see if there are alerts provided within your town.
The American Red Cross also has an emergency app. Their app provides localized weather alerts, short preparedness guides, and lists of local resources. To get the app, text "GETEMERGENCY" to 90999.
EMS Chief TW Harris speaks with the squad for a morning briefing. (Photo by Eleazar Yisrael)
Are schools closed?
One of the first questions when weather incidents loom over Pamlico is whether buses will be running and schools will be open. WITN maintains a list of school closures on their website.
You can also learn about county office closures on the county’s app or website.
Make a plan
Image courtesy of NOAA and weather.gov.
Experts recommend making a plan and gathering supplies before hurricane season approaches.
Decide when you will shelter in place and where you will go if you decide to evacuate.
Put together a kit for your home with items like bottled water, shelf stable food, extended supplies of over-the-counter and prescription medication and more.
More detailed advice can be found at ReadyNC.gov.
Shelters in Pamlico County
Pamlico Community College at 5049 NC-306 in Grantsboro typically serves as the area’s hurricane shelter. Our new Bayboro library also plans to work as a information hub in cases of emergency.
However, most individuals are encouraged to arrange shelter privately, whether at hotels or the homes of friends and relatives. Because of capacity limits, public shelters should always be considered a last resort.
Get help after the storm
The Pamlico County Disaster Recovery Coalition (PCDRC) is a volunteer organization created to help Pamlico County residents after a disaster. Their site has directories of pantries, mental health assistance, housing help, and other resources.
The American Red Cross chapter which serves Pamlico County is located at 135 North Market St., Washington, NC 27889. Their phone number is (252) 946-4110.
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