Local agencies prepared for Hanna or whatever big storm comes next

By Jessie Burchette

jburchette@salisburypost.com

Be vigilant, be prepared — if Hanna doesn't hit Rowan, something else brewing in the tropics may be headed this way.

Representatives of nearly 50 governmental agencies, organizations and companies who are on the front line of dealing with hurricanes met Wednesday morning to make sure they are ready.

"The next 24 hours is critical," said Frank Thomason, Rowan County's emergency services director. While current tracks show Hanna moving east of Raleigh, Thomason warned that a slight wobble could put Rowan and the Piedmont in the crosshairs.

"Don't be lulled into a false sense of security," he said.

After a briefing with the National Weather Service on Wednesday, Thomason said the strength and course of Hanna should be clearer by noon today. The storm is projected to hit the Southeast coast Friday night or early Saturday.

The top message from city and county emergency services officials: Don't drive through flooded streets.

Thomason said the problems caused last week by heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Fay taxed emergency resources almost to the breaking point.

Law enforcement officials say they will act quickly to put up barricades to keep drivers out of flooded areas.

To be ready, county agencies, volunteer organizations and Duke Energy officials said they are keeping crews and volunteers here instead of sending more resources to the Gulf Coast to deal with the problems caused by Hurricane Gustav. Pending a more certain forecast, they are also holding off on staging resources to help in eastern North Carolina.

Thomason said many Rowan resources may be deployed to the eastern part of the state if the situation dictates.

In an hour-long meeting at the Rowan County Agriculture Center on Old Concord Road, representatives of various organizations discussed their status and services that will be available as needed.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service said Rowan could get as little as a half-inch of rain from Hanna.

Here's a summary of the meeting:

- Duke Energy is well prepared to deal with outages, said Randy Welch, the company's Salisbury executive.

Welch noted that the first priority for restoring power will be critical facilities, including hospitals and wastewater treatment facilities. The next priority will be areas where the most customers are affected.

- A decision on opening shelters will likely be made midday. Primary shelters include the Hefner VA Medical Center and four YMCAs, but smaller shelters are located across the county.

A Red Cross official noted two-thirds of the agency's local volunteers have gone to the Gulf Coast and that will limit the number of shelters the agency can help operate.

- Shelters don't take pets.

- If shelters are opened, EMS, law enforcement and the news media will be notified about the locations.

- Anyone with questions about shelters, transportation or other non-emergency services should call 211.

- The Rowan-Salisbury School System is ready to use school buses for evacuations if needed.

Rowan County Senior Services will also provide transportation. Its vans are equipped with lift devices to assist people in wheelchairs.

- If needed, Rowan County Emergency Medical Service will bring in additional resources for Saturday morning, including assistance from the Rowan Rescue Squad.

- Rowan Regional Medical Center is working with other Novant network hospitals through the incident command system at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte.

A spokesman noted that a clinic sustained some flooding last week but any damage has been repaired.

- The Hefner VA Medical Center will be ready to serve as a shelter. If the storm hits eastern N.C., patients from other VA facilities will likely come to Salisbury.

- Agencies, including the Highway Patrol, Rowan County Sheriff's Office and Salisbury Police Department, are ready to call in additional staff as needed.

- The Rowan Rescue Squad will have its swift water rescue teams at the station ready to deploy Friday night and Saturday.

- The N.C. Department of Transportation is ready to deal with potential problems here and has been advised to be ready to send men and equipment to eastern North Carolina if needed.

- Officials in several departments and municipalities reported generators have been filled and are ready to provide electricity for shelters, wastewater pumps and emergency communication systems.

- Thomason noted the Hess service station on South Main Street at Airport Road was built to hook up a portable generator. The county will provide a generator to ensure emergency vehicles will have a fuel supply.

- A Kannapolis police officer was able to joke about the 11-plus inches of rain some areas got last week. "Most of our problems washed away last week."

- If Hanna goes east of Raleigh, that will suit the folks in Granite Quarry just fine. The town's annual celebration, Granite Fest, is scheduled for Saturday. Hanna isn't invited.

- If Hanna misses Rowan, all the preparations will be just as good for Josephine or whatever is next.