SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Area towns are taking precautions and asking residents to as well, as tropical storm Debby — downgraded from a category 1 hurricane after landfall Monday morning — will slowly progress up the coast from Georgia to North Carolina by mid-week.
READ MORE: Hurricane Debby: Extreme flash-flooding expected in region
Though her track is unknown, she could bring up to 20 inches of rain in some areas. This will cause what the National Weather Service has deemed potentially “catastrophic flooding” and motorists are advised to avoid the roads during this time.
Some area coastal towns and municipalities are preparing for its aftereffects. The Village of Bald Head Island announced Monday it is not planning to initiate evacuation orders at this time; however, the ferry will likely close, as will the village’s administrative offices, post office and package center as conditions worsen per the storm’s approach.
Debby also will make for poor marine conditions and dangerously high rip currents. In nearby Oak Island, beach warning flags are on red until further notice and all rescue tubes are being removed from the shoreline, as are water safety stations. Public works personnel are making safety precautions, and police and fire have adjusted staffing needs ahead of the storm’s arrival to account for emergency situations.
There are no plans for evacuations or bridge closures at this time, but the town also released a street-flooding map here for residents to follow.
The Town of Topsail Beach has canceled Thursday’s trash pickup and Friday’s bulk pick-up items.
Various Carolina Beach departments are preparing by lowering the lake level and strategically drawing down ponds, according to rain predictions. The town also is fueling up all vehicles and ensuring its reserves as part of its emergency plan. The town does not plan to close Snows Cut bridge unless it has sustained winds (not gusts) of 45 miles per hour or more. If this were to happen, town staff would notify residents.
The state’s transportation department is urging people to pay close attention to Debby’s path of heavy rainfall and wind gusts. North Carolina Department of Transportation crews are readying equipment to prepare, with more than 2,000 employees statewide set to respond.
“NCDOT is fueling up and testing equipment and vehicles, including about 1,500 chainsaws and trucks, and nearly 600 backhoes, graders and front-end loaders. Agency crews are also prepared to keep people safe after the storm,” it noted Monday afternoon in a release. “The department has thousands of road closure and high-water signs, as well as barricades.”
The department is advising everyone to postpone unnecessary travel during the storm.
Many towns, counties and the state also have emergency notification systems or sites with information for residents to enroll in as Debby approaches; click on the name below to access:
[Check back for updates from area towns regarding preparations they’re making for this week’s storm.]
Assess the home
In addition to staying up to date from each municipality or state emergency system, it’s importance that residents begin taking action to safely secure their homes.
- Tie down or stow away loose items from the yard or anywhere in the home’s vicinity — lawn furniture, trash receptacles, swings, sports equipment, etc.
- Move vehicles to less-prone flooding areas
- Shut off breakers to any docks, under-home storage and garage areas susceptible to flooding and unplug items near flood zones to prevent fire hazards
- Anchor propane tanks and turn them off as need be
- Fill sand bags to align areas around the home also prone to flooding (do not remove sand from local beaches to create the bags)
- Complete an inventory of everything valuable with photos and videos in case disaster strikes; move important documentation to safe places
Build an emergency kit
An emergency kit is imperative to remain prepared for the hurricane season, which runs until Nov. 30; the peak of the season is September. Below are a list of items to add to the kit:
- First-aid kit
- A week worth of food, particularly nonperishables, and manual can-opener
- Weather radio and batteries
- Battery-powered light sources
- Prescription medicines
- Sleeping bag or blankets
- Change of clothes
- Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant
- Cash
- Pet supplies including food, water, bedding, leashes, muzzle and vaccination records
- Face masks and hand-sanitizer
- If you have a generator, remember to use it outdoors only and stock up on gas to refill it
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