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Public Notices

FEMA establishes Disaster Recovery Centers in Pender County

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 rejects aerial spraying for mosquitoes for now

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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Worried About Mosquitoes? Remember to Tip, Toss and Cover…

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:

English Flyer

Mosquito hanger ENG

 

Spanish Flyer

Mosquito hangerSPAN

Shuttle buses available to Burgaw for applying for assistance

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:

  • Pickup at Food Lion in Rocky Point at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
  • Pickup at Hampstead Annex at 1 pm only

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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Small Business Administration low-interest loans available to homeowners, renters

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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Building Inspections to Transition to Normal Operations

PENDER COUNTY –  With the ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Florence, Pender County Inspections and Permitting has been working with victims of Hurricane Florence to assure building and electrical safety to assist with recovery.

“Beginning Friday, Sept. 28, Pender County Inspections and Permitting will accept inspection requests for currently permitted projects,” said Scott Henry, Pender County Inspections and Permitting director.

A request has been made to State WebEOC for five building inspectors and five electrical inspectors to complete building evaluations of structures that sustained major and destroyed damage as documented through the Rapid Assessment process. The request, which was granted, will allow the inspectors to begin Monday, Oct. 1, through Friday, Oct. 5.

“With state forces assisting with building evaluations, our staff of four can focus on normal permitting and inspections duties to provide a service level expectation pre-storm,” said Henry.

To contact Pender County Inspections and Permitting call 910- 259-1201.

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Mandatory evacuation lifted, curfew is in place

PENDER COUNTY – The mandatory evacuation for the Black River and Northeast Cape Fear River, tributaries, creeks and stream areas, has been lifted.

Due to flood waters on the roads and damaged roads, a curfew for the Black River, Northeast Cape Fear River, tributaries, creeks, and stream areas, has been amended. The curfew, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., went into effect Sept. 28.

“The curfew is in place for the safety of residents and property,” stated Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith. “The roads are damaged, and some water remains on the roadways.”

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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Gov. Cooper Announces $18.5 Million to Provide Temporary Recovery Jobs to North Carolinians Affected by Hurricane Florence

RALEIGH: North Carolina has won $18.5 million to hire North Carolinians from areas hit hard by Hurricane Florence to work on recovery efforts, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

The funds come from a grant requested by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions and awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Hurricane Florence has devastated communities and hurt livelihoods,” Gov. Cooper said. “Putting people to work on recovery efforts can help North Carolinians get back on their feet while we work together to recover.”

Through the Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant, residents of counties declared national disaster areas will be employed in jobs that support either clean-up and recovery from the storm’s devastation or humanitarian assistance to residents of the affected areas. Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Dislocated Worker Grants fund temporary jobs in response to large, unexpected events that cause significant job losses.

The 28 counties currently included in the program are: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Lee, Lenoir, Jones, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Wayne and Wilson counties.

“This grant is welcome news for communities that have been devastated by this deadly storm, and we will use these resources to put people back to work and help rebuild the in a smart, comprehensive way,” said Anthony M. Copeland, Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce.

These counties were declared eligible for certain types of assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If additional counties are declared eligible by FEMA, they will be added to the project.

Participants in the grant would be employed by nonprofits and government agencies for up to 12 months. Worksites must generally be on either public property or land owned by not-for-profit agencies.

Workers may be eligible for jobs under the grant by being temporarily or permanently laid off as a consequence of the hurricane, or by meeting certain other criteria.

The Commerce Department’s Workforce Solutions division has recent experience administering a federal grant of this type, in partnership with local workforce development boards. A grant approved in response to Hurricane Matthew in 2016 is set to expire on Sept. 30 and has provided temporary employment to 668 people.

To apply for the Hurricane Florence temporary employment program, residents should visit their local NCWorks Career Center, which can be found by visiting ncworks.gov.

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Shuttle buses available to Burgaw for applying for assistance

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,” beginning Friday, Sept. 28.

“Residents can begin signing up for assistance starting this week,” said Carolyn Moser, Pender County Health and Human Services director. “The sign up will take place in the Pender County Agricultural Building, 801 S. Walker St. in Burgaw. Because we know this could be a travel hardship for residents, we are offering a shuttle from the Hampstead Annex to Burgaw and back.”

The bus schedule for Sept. 28, 29, and Oct. 1-6 is as follows:

Depart Hampstead Annex                           Depart Ag. Building

7 a.m.                                                             8 a.m.

9 a.m.                                                            10 a.m.

11 a.m.                                                          12 p.m.

1 p.m.                                                             2 p.m.

4 p.m. if needed.

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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Help Buying Food after Hurricane Florence through assistance programs

BURGAW –  Governor Roy Cooper 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,” beginning Friday.

“Residents can begin signing up for assistance starting this week,” said Carolyn Moser, Pender County Health and Human Services director.

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.

To be eligible, a person must:

  • Live in one of 27 counties: Bladen, Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Wayne, and Wilson.
  • Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Florence, such as damage to property, loss of income or food loss.
  • Have proof of identity and proof of residency (if available).
  • Have income and resources below certain levels.
  • Not currently be receiving help buying food through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program. People receiving FNS can also get extra help buying food, but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. They can get more information about how to get the extra help here.

Pender County residents who want to apply for help buying food related to Hurricane Florence can only do so in person at Pender County’s designated application site:

Pender County Department of Social Services will accept applications on the following dates at the Pender County Agricultural Building, 801 S. Walker St. in Burgaw:

  • Friday, Sept. 28, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 29 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Monday, Oct. 1 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 2 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 3 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 4 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 5 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 6 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

While Pender County residents are encouraged to apply at the application site listed above, they can also apply in person in any of the 27 eligible counties. As all application sites are finalized, DHHS will post information on locations and hours of the sites in each county on its website, pendercountync.gov. People can also dial 2-1-1 for information on application sites in their county.

The state Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging people to complete their application ahead of time and bring it with them by downloading the form in English HERE or in Spanish HERE.

People who may have a disability or are physically unable to go in-person to apply for help can complete this form and send an authorized representative in their place.

Wait times should be anticipated due to the volume of people expected to apply. County officials will do everything they can to process applications as quickly as possible.

D-SNAP FAQ (9-26-18)_vFINAL_FOR WEB

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