Public Notices

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Driest November in 90 years and conditions may remain through winter

RALEIGH – North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has expanded its Severe Drought category for portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains through the Sandhills, most of the southern coastal plains, and along the entire eastern coastal area.

Severe Drought (D2 classification) now covers more than half of the state after another dry week added to precipitation deficits over the past three to six months. Severe drought is the second category of the four drought classifications based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Last May, portions of six counties were briefly classified as severe. Prior to that time, severe drought occurred during the month of October 2019.

Other areas, such as the Triangle, Triad and Piedmont have been elevated to a Moderate Drought category (D1 classification), from last week’s Abnormally Dry designation (D0). The area east of the mountains that had been in the normal category previously has been downgraded to Abnormally Dry status.

Virtually all the State, except a few localized areas near the western Virginia border, are experiencing dry conditions based on factors including streamflow, groundwater levels, reservoir levels, soil moisture, and fire danger.

“Much of the state has been in a dry pattern over the past three to six months, with generally above-normal temperatures and few to no tropical systems bringing widespread rainfall relief,” said Corey Davis, Assistant State Climatologist with the NC State Climate Office. “The dryness has been especially pronounced since early October. Less than one inch of rain fell in most areas last month. It’s the driest November in 90 years in North Carolina.”

DMAC publishes its drought map every Thursday morning. It is updated and submitted on the Tuesday prior for inclusion in U.S. Drought Monitor. Any rainfall that occurs after 8 a.m. Tuesdays is considered in analyzing the following week’s map. However, the rain in the current forecast is not expected to make much impact on the drought status since it may only provide 0.5 inches to 1.0 inches which is the normal amount expected for this time of year. The gradual deficit in October and more extreme shortfall in November has resulted in many areas being four to seven inches below normal over the last three months. 

The DMAC says current conditions and forecast models which reflect the warm, dry conditions that a La Nina weather pattern often brings, could lead to drought conditions continuing through the winter months.

To learn more, visit https://www.ncdrought.org/education.

Pender County Fire Marshal Mark Haraway announced the lifting of the County burning ban effective today, Wednesday, Dec. 8, at noon.

“The fire threat has greatly reduced from the rainfall from today’s rain showers,” said Haraway.

Fire officials recommend that anyone who must burn items should have resources immediately available to control their fire. Those resources include water hoses, buckets of water, and hand tools.  Should a fire become out of control, individuals need to immediately contact the local fire department for assistance by calling 911.

The lifting of the burning ban will allow for individuals to utilize open burning for the disposal of vegetative debris that has been generated on their property.  This includes items such as leaves, straw, lawn clippings, shrubbery clippings, and sticks and branches.  Garbage, lumber, building materials, and rubber are never allowed to be burned.  These items must be disposed of at solid waste convenience sites located throughout the county.

Persons needing more information about open burning regulations in Pender County can contact the Pender County Fire Marshal at 910-259-1210.

BURGAW – Pender County Emergency Management recently announced the hiring of Mark Haraway as Fire Marshal.

A native of Danville, Virginia, Haraway is no stranger to Southeastern North Carolina where he has served as a firefighter, training officer, deputy fire marshal, special operations coordinator, fire chief, deputy fire chief, and now fire marshal.

He started his public service career in May 1979 as a teenager.

“My entire family was involved in public safety.  My grandfather was a police officer for 32 years, my dad was in the volunteer rescue squad and a career firefighter for 37 years, my uncle was a career firefighter, so it was kind of like the family business,” said Haraway. “I started in the volunteer rescue squad at age 16, was a Red Cross CPR and First Aid instructor at 16, joined the volunteer fire department at 18, and have been in the fire service ever since.”

Haraway’s experience has impacted several state-appointed boards, including Hazardous Materials Regulatory Control, North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) Rescue Development program, NCDOI Universal Commercial Code (UCC) Training Group, North Carolina Emergency Management Traffic Incident Management Systems (TIMS) Development Committee, and the North Carolina Emergency Management All-Hazard Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Development Committee.

“I retired in 2014 and moved to Tennessee, where I continued to work as Deputy Fire Marshal for Sevier and Knox Counties, then as the Deputy Fire Chief for the 134th Aire Refueling Wing for the Air National Guard,” said Haraway.

The strong draw of family pulled him away from retirement and Tennessee, he said.

“My wife and I decided we wanted to move back ‘home’ to North Carolina to be closer to our son and grandkids. Pender County is a place we are familiar with and wanted to come back to,” Haraway stated.

“Mark has influenced many young firefighters and EMTs through his training,” said Tommy Batson, Pender County Emergency Director. “Mark is a published author of a teaching text, Large Scale Incident Management. We are very pleased to have him on staff in Pender County.”

Haraway said in his “free time” he enjoys teaching fire science and Incident Command System (ICS) classes.

“I especially enjoy spending time with my grandkids and working in my woodshop,” Haraway added.

HAMPSTEAD – Beginning Dec. 7, Pender County residents can register to vote and the many other services provided by the Pender County Board of Elections.

“Board of Elections staff will be available at the Hampstead Annex every Tuesday and Thursday starting Dec. 7 in Suite 116,” Susan Williams, Pender County Board of Elections director, said.

“Our Hours will be from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.,” added Williams.

From the Hampstead Annex, the Pender County Board of Elections will offer voter registration forms, candidate filing, campaign finance assistance, absentee requests, and information requests.

The Hampstead Annex is located at 15060 US Hwy 17.

For voter and candidate information, call the Pender County Board of Elections at 910-259-1220.

BURGAW- Pender County Fire Marshal’s Office issued a Burning Ban effective Tuesday, Nov. 30, beginning at 8 a.m. This is a result of extreme dry conditions across the area.

“The area has received little, to no rainfall in the past few weeks. Additionally, the forecast has with no foreseeable significant rain in sight.” Tommy Batson, Pender County Emergency Director.

During the past few months with little rain and large amounts of dry leaf litter, the fire threat is growing. Weather patterns are forecasted to be dry with low humidity across southeastern North Carolina. This weather pattern will continue for some time.

The citizens of Pender County are urged to do everything possible to minimize the risk of fire during this period.

This restriction shall extend outward from all residential structures 100 feet. This proclamation does not prohibit outdoor charcoal or gas grills provided precautions are taken to prevent fire from escaping those appliances.