In response to Hurricane Florence, the Health Department has Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) and Tetanus Diphtheria Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccines available to disaster survivors and emergency response workers free of charge. Call 910-259-1230 for more information.
PENDER COUNTY – Due to the potential impacts of Hurricane Michael, a State of Emergency has been issued for Pender County.
Pender County Chairman George Brown on behalf of the board of county commissioners issued the declaration effective noon, Oct. 9.
“Pender County has been severely impacted by Hurricane Florence,” said Brown. “Additional rainfall, high winds, and storm surge from Hurricane Michael will impact already saturated areas of the county.”
“We urge our residents to secure tarps on their rooftops,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager. “Secure lawn furniture and items that could become flying debris.”
Collins warned residents whose homes were damaged in Hurricane Florence to be mindful of weakened structures.
“When the ground is this saturated, trees fall. Power lines are taken down,” he said. “If you are sheltering in place, prepare for periods of being without power. Stock up on fresh water and refresh your emergency kits.”
Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the county’s website pendercountync.gov. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.
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The system pressure advisory for water consumers of Pender County Utilities in the areas between 8605 to 11335 US 117 South is NO LONGER IN EFFECT. Testing results indicate that the water in this area is safe to drink.
The lifting of this advisory is issued at 7:09pm on October 8, 2018 by:
Kenny Keel, Director
Pender County Utilities
910-259-0212
The water consumers of Pender County Utilities, in Pender County in the following areas:
are experiencing periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system due to a 12” water main break. Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system.
Therefore, when water service is restored consumers are advised to boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation) or use bottled water.
Vigorous boiling for one (1) minute should kill any disease-causing organisms that may be present in the water.
Water customers are strongly urged to conserve water whenever possible. This advisory remains in effect until further written notification is issued.
The water consumers of Pender County Utilities, in Pender County along the 9000 block of US 117 South, Lacy Padgett Road, Bridgeside Road, Fallbrook Lane, West Tumbling Waters Road, East Tumbling Waters Road, Babbling Creek Road, East Strawberry Lane, Tarwolf Trail, West Strawberry Lane, Camellia Drive, Rose Drive, and Magnolia Drive are experiencing periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system due to a 12” water main break. Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system.
Therefore, when water service is restored consumers are advised to boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation) or use bottled water.
Vigorous boiling for one (1) minute should kill any disease-causing organisms that may be present in the water.
Water customers are strongly urged to conserve water whenever possible. This advisory remains in effect until further written notification is issued.
This advisory issued on October 6, 2018 by:
Kenny Keel, Director
Pender County Utilities
910-259-0212
PENDER COUNTY – Immediately following Hurricane Florence, Pender County Emergency Management and the Pender County Commissioners requested FEMA Disaster Relief Centers (DRCs) to assist our residents with assistance.
Today FEMA announced 8a Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) is available for individuals who need closer access or who have lost Internet capabilities. The MDRC is located at 801 S. Walker St., in Burgaw, TODAY at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will be there through Sat., Oct. 6.
FEMA established a DRC at Caswell Presbyterian Church in Atkinson. The DRC will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A longer-term Disaster Recovery Center site for the county will open soon. However, Pender County continues their request for a Mobile Disaster Center for the Hampstead, Scotts Hill, Surf City and Topsail Beach area.
According to FEMA, in the three weeks since the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Florence, Pender County residents have received more than $20 million in state and federal funds and more than $9.2 million in state and federal grants to nearly 1,900 homeowners and renters.
More than $2.8 million in claims paid to more than 1,000 National Flood Insurance Program policyholders, according to FEMA. More than $8.2 million in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans approved for 142 homeowners and renters and five businesses in Pender County.
Regarding individual assistance, 5,631 home inspections were issued with approximately 90 percent of home inspections completed.
An estimated 490 inspections have an “Inaccessible” status. This is the number of applicants who had an initial meeting with an inspector who determined that the dwelling is inaccessible. These applicants need to contact FEMA to reschedule an inspection when their homes are accessible.
In regard to Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA), 942 interactions with survivors by FEMA have been conducted. As of Oct. 4, there are two DSA crews working in Pender County, including a Mobile Registration Intake Center which opened when more than 4,000 residents applied for food stamp assistance at the county agricultural building with our department of social services. The FEMA intake center is tentatively slated to close Oct. 6.
Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the county’s website www.pendercountync/.gov. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.
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PENDER COUNTY – Pender County Health and Human Services, department of Environmental Health, is actively spraying for mosquitoes following Hurricane Florence.
“We started spraying immediately,” said Carolyn Moser, Pender County Health and Human Services director. “We are using a larvicide that kills mosquito eggs and we are spraying to kill adult mosquitoes.”
Some counties are opting for aerial mosquito spraying. According to FEMA, counties using aerial spraying must meet specific requirements including restrictions on spraying state and federal managed areas, water bodies, rivers and streams, schools, organic farms, bee hives, and aquaculture sites.
“We value our beekeepers, organic farms, and our natural resources,” said Moser. “An aerial spray may not provide the targeted treatment Pender County needs right now.”
“A vector (aerial) spray would be costly,” said Moser. “The aerial spray may last four days, depending on weather, and it kills adult mosquitoes only. It doesn’t include larvicidal applications that kill mosquito eggs.”
Spraying by truck offers both the chemical and larvicidal applications. The chemical applications work for seven days.
The environmental health department started spraying as soon as the storm ended in accessible areas and increased the treatments as roads began to open to travel.
“We have received additional state funding to continue our program,” said Moser.
“However, residents can help control mosquitoes by ‘tip and toss’,” said Moser.
Tip and Toss is a process of tipping standing water in birdbaths, buckets, wading pools, old tires, and items where water gathers and becomes stagnant and tossing old items that you don’t need such as outdated children’s toys, old tires, and cans.”
“We’re addressing the mosquito problem,” said Moser. “We are spraying all areas of the county, four hours in the morning and four hours in the evening.”
Watch Pender County’s website at pendercountync.gov or Pender County’s Facebook page for storm recovery updates. Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the website http://www.penderem.com. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.
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ONCE A WEEK…
TIP CONTAINERS- drain standing water from garbage cans, pet bowls, birdbaths, flower pots, gutters, pool covers or any other container that has collected standing water. Mosquitoes breed in standing water.
TOSS- old tires, drums, bottles and other outdoor items that are outside and are not being used.
EMPTY AND SCRUB-birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.
ONCE A MONTH…
MAINTAIN– apply a larvicide to standing water that cannot be emptied or drained. Larvicides can be found at home improvement and hardware stores.
COVER YOUR SKIN WITH…
CLOTHING: Wear long, loose, and light colored clothing and shoes and socks.
REPELLENT: Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Always use repellents according to the label.
For more information contact Pender County Health Department Mosquito Control Division
910-259-1326
Please see the following flyers and click the links below for a printer friendly version:
Mosquito hanger ENGMosquito hangerSPAN
PENDER COUNTY – The Pender County Department of Health and Human Services announced that residents in Pender County will be able to apply for help buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or “D-SNAP,” began Sept. 28. Applications will continue through Saturday, Oct. 6.
“The sign-up will take place in the Pender County Agricultural Building, 801 S. Walker St. in Burgaw,” said Carolyn Moser, Pender County Health and Human Services director. “Because we know this could be a travel hardship for residents, we are offering a shuttle from the Hampstead Annex to Burgaw and back.”
Moser said each applicant must bring some form of identification.
The bus schedule starting Oct. 2-6 is as follows:
Eligible households will receive a one-time benefit on a special debit card (called an EBT card) to help buy food. The exact amount will depend on household size, but a family of one would receive $192, a family of four would receive $640 and larger families would receive more.
Residents already receiving food assistance will automatically receive food replacement money on their cards.
For more information call the Pender County Department of Health and Human Services at 910-259-1240.
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PENDER COUNTY – Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses, and non-profit organizations of all sizes that were affected by Hurricane Florence.
SBA offers disaster assistance loans up to $200,000 to homeowners for the repair or replacement of disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are also eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property. Automobiles that were damaged by the disaster are also eligible for disaster assistance loans.
Businesses and private non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, the SBA offers the Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by Hurricane Florence. Economic Injury disaster loans are available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
The disaster loans interest rates are as low as 2 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.5 percent for non-profit organizations and 3.675 percent for businesses and economic injury, with terms up to 30 years to repay the disaster loan. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
The application filing deadline is Nov. 13. To apply, go online to https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Watch Pender County’s website at pendercountync.gov or Pender County’s Facebook page for storm recovery updates. Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the website http://www.penderem.com. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.
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