Hurricane Florence Targets Major East Coast Logging Operations in NC

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-Press Release, North Carolina Loggers Association

As Hurricane Florence’s wind speeds currently surpass 130 mph, North Carolina loggers are bracing for the hurricane expected to make landfall on the Carolina coast Thursday night as a Category 4 or 5 storm. Major lumber and paper mills powering the state’s $29.4 billion dollar forestry business, along with the loggers harvesting its abundant natural resource, currently lie directly in its path.

Recent massive rainstorms across the state the past month have already slowed logging operations. Hurricane Florence is expected to compound the issue.

North Carolina has about 18.8 million acres of timberland. According to North Carolina State University, the forest products community leads the manufacturing sector within the state. Forest products impact the state’s economy, with more than 1,000 companies directly contributing to North Carolina’s forest industry that employs more than 70,000 individuals.

Photo of Brett McHenry with Brett McHenry’s Logging (Photo Credit Ed Lallo)

“It’s essential, first and foremost, for our loggers and mill operators to be out of harms way by the time the storm hits land,” said Ewell Smith, Executive Director of the Carolina Loggers Association, a non-profit corporation organized to promote logging professionalism and business opportunities for the state’s forest products network. “Currently, the loggers are in the process of securing job sites and bringing in as many logs as possible to the mills to keep them going in the wake of the storm. As one of the state’s largest business sectors vital to our economy, any major disruption in production will definitely create a significant economic ripple for small and large businesses alike.”

According to Smith, the wood and paper mills are just the tip of usage for forestry products. There are numerous other products that are dependent on the same resource and will be impacted from the storm; glass on cell phones, toothpaste, gum for chewing and gluing, as well as America’s favorite McDonalds McFlurry with Oreo Cookies.

Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, along with his counterparts in South Carolina and Virginia, has already declared a state of emergency. The governor has signed an executive order that waives truck weight limits for “crops ready to be harvested” which includes timber.

The office of North Carolina’s Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is continuing to watch the path of Hurricane Florence that has the potential to be a powerful and devastating storm.

“Our state has witnessed the destructive effects of hurricane-force winds and heavy rains in the past, so we know we need to be prepared,” said the Agriculture Commissioner. “Farmers and timber owners need to review their emergency plans, stock up on supplies, compile emergency contact information and monitor weather updates to keep their families safe. We are prepared to work with our state and local partners to help our agriculture and forestry community if the need arises.”

Sitting 116 miles from the coast, Brett McHenry Logging in Wilson, NC has been hit by multiple storms in the past. “Wilson’s my community,” said owner Brett McHenry. “This will definitely be the worst storm we’ve ever had to prepare for. We just finished cutting and now we’re picking up any logs and squaring up our sites and equipment.”

According to Smith, “Hurricane Florence has the potential to bring a vast amount of rain and wind,” he said. “Flooded and saturated lands only compound the issues with the increased safety risks for our loggers while cleaning up fallen trees. Again the number one issue right now is for our logging and forestry communities, as well as people living in wooded areas, to get out of harm’s way of Hurricane Florence.”

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Contact: Ewell Smith

504-884-4585 esmith@ncloggers.com

The CLA is a nonprofit corporation organized to promote professionalism and business opportunities for members. The CLA is a 501(c)(6) non-profit business league. CLA focuses on regional, state and national business issues

Ewell Smith was the former Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board who has weathered four disastrous hurricanes including Hurricane Katrina.

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Second Thursday Food Distribution at Farmers Market Canceled for Sept.

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Information courtesy The First Baptist Church, Henderson

The second Thursday Food Distribution at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market originally scheduled for this Thursday, September 13, has been canceled due to anticipated weather conditions.

Vance Co. Court Sessions Canceled for Sept 13 & 14

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-Information courtesy Henry L. Gupton, Clerk of Superior Court, Vance County

Vance County court sessions scheduled for Thursday, September 13 and Friday, September 14 have been canceled at this time.

As of now, the office of Henry L. Gupton, Clerk of Superior Court, Vance County, will still be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  This may change depending on the weather forecast.

Maria Parham Health Initiates Emergency Response Plan for Florence

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-Press Release, Maria Parham Health

Effective immediately, Maria Parham Health has initiated its emergency response plan and is proactively taking steps to prepare for the potential impact of Hurricane Florence. The facility’s top priority is to continue providing the highest quality care possible while ensuring the safety of patients and their families, employees and providers – especially in a potentially emergent situation.

As part of its emergency response plan, Maria Parham Health is diligently preparing employees and providers to ensure they are well-equipped to serve the community during this critical time of need. Extra staff will be available to accommodate higher patient volumes and to support the transfer of patients to neighboring facilities, as needed. Hospital leaders are working around the clock to ensure that the facility will have the appropriate capacity and supplies to continue caring for patients and supporting staff in the days ahead.

Maria Parham is closely collaborating with the Emergency Management office in North Carolina and Vance County to stay abreast of the latest storm developments, collaborate on appropriate response protocols and provide updates to the community. The facility intends to share regular updates via media alerts, its website and social media platforms regarding potential facility challenges that may impact certain patient care services in the immediate days ahead. The community should be advised that in the event of a widespread power outage, the hospital has the ability to generate its own power, as needed.

At this time, the hospital and its Emergency Department remain open and are fully operational. If you have an appointment scheduled this week with a provider in one of the hospital’s clinics, please call that office directly to confirm if they will be open.

Please be sure to check the hospital’s website at mariaparham.com and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MariaParhamHealth frequently for updates throughout the duration of the storm.

H-V Emergency Operations

Brian Short H-V Dir Emergency Management 11am 9-12-18

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Recorded Live at 11 a.m. on 9-12-18 for presentation here at this time.  Update on local impacts from Hurricane Florence.  This is an audio file only, and can be found also on our Facebook and Twitter Pages.

City of Henderson Logo

City of Henderson Provides Tips to Reduce Flooding Potential

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-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson

Due to the impending hurricane, City crews are doing all they can to reduce flooding and other hazardous situations throughout the City.

During this time, our Public Safety, Public Works and other crews will be receiving a large call volume so please limit your calls to true emergencies. Work will be prioritized according to the greatest need.

YOU can help:

  1. Remove litter that will clog the drainage system
  2. Make sure the storm drains are kept free of debris
  3. Do not leave your garbage and/or recycling containers out at the road or anyplace where they can be blown around. Notification will be made relative to your sanitation pick up.
  4. Make sure any unsecured items that can become airborne or end up in the storm sewer system are either properly secured or brought inside. Do not bring unsafe items inside (e.g. propane tanks). Items that end up in the storm sewer such as basketballs, soccer balls, flower arrangements, etc. can cause blockage and potential flooding.
  5. Please be patient as City crews may be delayed in reaching you due to downed power lines, trees or other issues.

Other:

  1. Stay away from windows. Flying glass from broken windows could injure you and emergency services may not be able to reach you.
  2. Turn your refrigerator or freezer to the coldest setting and open only when necessary.

All Campuses of Vance-Granville Community College Closed Sept. 13-16

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-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

Due to the threat of inclement weather, all campuses of Vance-Granville Community College will be closed and all classes and activities are canceled Thursday through Sunday, September 13-16.

Vance Co. Schools Closed Sept. 13 & 14

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools will be closed on Thursday, September 13 and Friday, September 14 for all students and staff members. The schools are operating on a regular schedule today, September 12.

All evening activities at all schools are canceled for today. The Evening Academy will be closed today.

Future announcements about our schools’ schedules will be placed on the school system’s Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as listed on the district website and announced on local television and radio stations.

News 09/12/18

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9-11 Pentagon Survivors Share Their Experience in Honor of Patriot Day

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In the midst of continuous Hurricane Florence coverage and updates, WIZS was honored to speak with two 9-11 survivors this Patriot Day.

Today marks the 17th anniversary of the day hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, VA and a field in Shanksville, PA. The 9-11 attacks killed 2,996 people, making it the deadliest foreign attack ever on U.S. soil.

Two survivors from the attack on the Pentagon, husband and wife David and Evelyn Woodson, were on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss their experience on that fateful day.

The Woodson’s were working in the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001 – he with the U.S. Navy and she with the Marine Corp. “It was a regular Tuesday morning,” said David. “We got up like everyone else, got our coffee and went to work.”

David and Evelyn Woodson in the WIZS studio to share their experience as survivors of the 9-11 Pentagon attack.

Little did they know that hours later, 189 people would be killed in the Pentagon attack alone; 64 from American Airlines Flight 77 that crashed into the building.

According to David, Evelyn called him around 9:15 a.m. that morning to ask if he was near a television and had he seen what was going on in New York. At that time, David was in his office on the fifth floor and Evelyn was in the Pentagon’s clinic for a routine weekly physical.

David quickly found a group standing around a tv right before the second plane crashed into the World Trade Center. “When the second plane hit, everyone was glued to the screen. By that point, everyone knew we were under attack. It became quiet as we all watched in amazement, really.”

As David watched the horror unfold he remembers thinking that the Pentagon had always been a target in the past and that he and co-workers previously worried about bombings. “While I’m standing there contemplating that, I hear screams and yells coming through the corridor and a police officer said, ‘Everybody out, evacuate the building now!’”

“When I exited the building and turned around, I could tell the plane came in near my office and I worried about my staff and supervisors,” said David. “I was also waiting for Evelyn to come around the corner to know that she was safe.”

For her part, Evelyn said her thoughts evacuating the building were on her two children and how she could let them know she was alive in a time before the majority of people owned cell phones.

“You’re trained for this but never expect to have to use your training,” Evelyn said. “I suffer from PTSD because I came in the next day and you have all the bodies that they found lying in the middle of the courtyard covered with white tarp. It was very traumatic for me.”

In some ways, David believes returning to work immediately following the attack helped the couple regain a sense of normalcy. “It helped us to go back to work the next day and see the recovery efforts start immediately.”

When asked how they cope with such an experience, David responded “I think God has given me peace about this. It’s almost like someone breaks into your house and robs you of more than just your possessions. I’ve never had a feeling like that before.”

“It’s our faith in God that has gotten us through this.”