Franklin County Solid Waste Facilities to Close Friday, September 14
As a safety precaution for residents, haulers and staff, Franklin County’s twelve solid waste and recycling convenience centers and Solid Waste Transfer Station will be closed on Friday, September 14 due to the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Florence and potential for high winds, downed trees and power lines and flooded roadways.
Franklin County Administrators, Emergency Management officials and Solid Waste Department staff will monitor severe weather conditions and impacts of Hurricane Florence to determine when it will be safe to reopen the convenience centers and the Transfer Station. For updates on when the solid waste facilities will reopen and disposal options, please call the 919-340-4670 or visit www.franklincountync.us/recycles.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0056_Franklin-County-NC.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-13 16:57:582018-09-13 16:57:58Franklin Co. Solid Waste Facilities Will be Closed Friday
-Information courtesy Henry L. Gupton, Clerk of Superior Court, Vance County
All Vance County Government buildings will be closed tomorrow, Friday, September 14. The Clerk of Court’s Office will also be closed and will plan to reopen on Monday, September 17.
Vance County court sessions scheduled for Thursday, September 13 and Friday, September 14 have also been canceled.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Vance-County-Logo.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-13 16:50:152018-09-13 16:50:15Vance Co. Government Buildings Closed on Friday
-Information courtesy Kristen King, Clerk to the Board, Franklin County
Franklin County will reopen the shelter at the Louisburg Senior Center today, September 13, at 3 p.m. The shelter will be located at 127 Shannon Village in Louisburg. Citizens are encouraged to bring any medications or special items they may need.
The Franklin County Animal Shelter located at 351 T. Kemp Road in Louisburg is open and housing pets.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0056_Franklin-County-NC.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-13 12:44:492018-09-13 12:44:49Louisburg Senior Center to Open as Hurricane Shelter This Afternoon
Information courtesy Peggy Roark, Sexual Assault Advocate & PREA Coordinator, Families Living Violence Free
Families Living Violence Free offices will close today, September 13, at 12:30 p.m. and be closed tomorrow, Friday, September 14, all day as well.
If you are in a domestic violence or sexual assault situation and need immediate help, please call 911.
Our crisis lines will be open 24/7 – English 919-693-5700 or Spanish 919-690-0888
Please take precautions and stay safe during the storms.
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-Information courtesy Brian K. Short, Director of Emergency Operations, Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations
In preparation for Hurricane Florence, Vance County will be opening an emergency shelter at the former Eaton Johnson Middle School building, located on Beckford Drive in Henderson at 5 p.m. today. Please do not arrive prior to that time and please eat before you arrive as food may not be available at typical meal times.
If you have a pet that you wish to shelter, you will need to take them to the Vance County Animal Shelter, located on Brodie Road in Henderson. Your pet will remain there and you will report to the emergency shelter at the school. You and your pet will be reunited after the storm.
Please remember to bring essential items with you, such as necessary medications, a change of clothes, toiletry items, a pillow and blanket, snacks and other comfort items. These items will not be provided to you, so pack smart. If you are a resident with special needs, you will need to bring essential, life-sustaining items with you to the shelter and your caregiver will need to remain in the shelter with you through the storm.
NO WEAPONS OF ANY KIND WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE SHELTER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE PRESENT.
This is an emergency shelter only that is being established for the storm and it will promptly close as soon as the winds subside and conditions are safe to do so.
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-Information courtesy Lynn Allred, Public Information Officer/Grants Coordinator, County of Granville
Notice from Granville County Emergency Management:
In discussion with National Weather Service officials, based on the latest forecast for minimal impacts here in Granville County, and the need for resources elsewhere in harder hit areas, we have decided to suspend our current plans for the shelter at Northern Granville Middle School.
If predicted conditions change, we can quickly set up sheltering capacity locally again, but for now, there WILL NOT be a public shelter opened in Granville County. We feel that everyone will be safe to stay in their own homes for the duration of this event.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0062_granvillecountyseal.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-13 09:22:102018-09-13 09:22:10Granville Co. Will NOT Open Public Shelter at Northern Granville Middle
-Information courtesy Brian K. Short, Director of Emergency Operations, Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations
PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
The following Proclamation is issued by the Mayor of the City of Henderson and the Chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners:
WHEREAS, information from the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other sources indicate that a significant tropical weather system is approaching North Carolina and is likely to produce considerable wind and rain; and
WHEREAS, this wind and rain may cause local and widespread flooding and flash flooding, and may also cause downed trees and power outages; and
WHEREAS, there is a high probability that this storm will create travel and other hazards for the citizens of Vance County and the City of Henderson within the next several hours; and
WHEREAS, the weather conditions associated with this tropical system are such as to constitute a potential and imminent threat to life and property;
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority contained in Article 1 of N.C.G.S. Chapter 166A, Article 36A of N.C.G.S. Chapter 14, and Section 5 of the Local Emergency Management Ordinance, I, Eddie Ellington, Mayor of the City of Henderson, and I, Thomas S. Hester, Chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim that a State of Emergency exists within the City of Henderson and County of Vance.
I further proclaim that the ordinances set forth below, which are contained in Section 5 of the Local Emergency Management Ordinance of Vance County are necessary in order to maintain an acceptable level of public order, services, and protection of lives, safety and property during this emergency, and that the same shall be in effect within the City of Henderson and County of Vance until this Proclamation expires or is rescinded. I hereby order all City and County law enforcement officers, public safety personnel and all other emergency management personnel subject to my control to cooperate in the enforcement and implementation of the emergency ordinances set forth below.
A.
General Emergency Protective Measures are in place. No public restrictions are imposed at this time
I further proclaim that the Emergency Operations Plan adopted by the City of Henderson and County of Vance, and all applicable mutual assistance compacts and agreements are in effect and shall remain in effect until this proclamation expires or is rescinded. All emergency personnel are hereby ordered to cooperate in the implementation of the provisions of the Emergency Operations Plan and all applicable mutual assistance compacts and agreements and to furnish assistance thereunder.
I direct that copies of this Proclamation be disseminated to the mass communications media for publication and broadcast and that a copy of this Proclamation be posted in City Hall as well as the Vance County Courthouse and other public buildings as appropriate.
This Proclamation shall be effective immediately and shall remain in effect for a period of five days unless sooner rescinded pursuant to G.S. 14-288.16.
Proclaimed this the 12th day of September 2018 at 4 p.m.
Eddie Ellington, Mayor, City of Henderson
Thomas Hester, Jr., Chairman, Vance County Board of Commissioners
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WIZS will be bringing you updates on Hurricane Florence as new information is received. Please check the WIZS website, Facebook page and listen live to WIZS 1450 AM and 100.1 FM for updates throughout the week. The latest briefing from the National Weather Service can be found any time by clicking here.
Information is provided courtesy Brian K. Short, director of Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations.
Brian K. Short, director of Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS Town Talk program to provide updates on Hurricane Florence as of 11 a.m. Florence has taken a more southerly turn and, at the moment, presents less of a threat to the local area.
“It’s safe to say our situation looks significantly better than it did 24 hours ago,” said Short. “If the storm takes the south or southwest track that they think it will, our impact will be much, much less than expected this time yesterday.”
Short urges caution even with an improved forecast, “It will still make impact as a major storm. I don’t believe we need to let our guard down because things can change with little or no notice.”
The present forecast shows wind gusts of approximately 25-35 mph and rainfall of 3-5 inches for the local area. The likelihood of flooding and flash flooding has also decreased over recent hours.
Florence is currently expected to make landfall around mid-afternoon on Friday but so much still depends on the speed at which it moves. “The forward momentum of the storm has picked up, but it is expected to stall later today or tomorrow,” Short said.
Yesterday, officials discussed opening the former Eaton Johnson Middle School building, 500 N. Beckford Dr., Henderson, mid-day on Thursday. According to Short, the change in forecast may prompt the shelter to be opened as late as Thursday evening, Friday morning, or, depending on Florence’s path, not at all.
If opened, the shelter would provide physical refuge from the storm but would not provide food, clothing or supplies. “This would be a place to stay only. You would need to bring the things you could not live without but don’t pack like you’re going on vacation,” said Short.
A decision about the shelter’s opening is expected later today.
-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.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NC-Loggers-Association.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-12 16:56:452018-09-12 16:56:45Hurricane Florence Targets Major East Coast Logging Operations in NC
-Information courtesy Michael S. Felts, Granville County Manager
As a precaution, Granville County Government declared a State of Emergency effective this morning, September 12, 2018. This is a measure that allows government officials to enact specific emergency plans and to take additional measures to move resources more freely to ensure the safety of our citizens.
In order to allow Granville County employees time to take care of their personal property and prepare for the potential impacts of this storm, Granville County offices will close at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 13 and will remain closed on Friday, September 14 due to impending inclement weather. The libraries will close on Saturday and Sunday also.
The 5 a.m. advisory now indicates the storm may come on shore at the NC/SC border and track along our southern NC border or just south of the border. A word of caution at this point, though….do not get confident of a lesser impact to our area.
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