EMERGENCY Preparedness

Current Emergency Preparedness FAQs

Print and Keep This Guide Near Your Phone, or Within Close Reach.


Whenever anyone's safety, health or home appears to be in immediate danger, you should immediately call 9-1-1. 

If you should ever have trouble getting through on 9-1-1 because of phone problems, try calling 919-542-2911 or 919-542-2811. (Note that generally this Sheriff’s Administrative Office number is monitored only 8:00am-5:00pm).


In cases of a serious weather-based, or other, area emergency, the emergency response will be coordinated by Chatham County Emergency Management and will be provided by professionally trained responders. 


What should I do if I'm told to evacuate? In most cases, you are given instructions at the time of the evacuation orders. These instructions may be to carry certain things to a shelter with you or in some cases (such as a hazardous material leak), you may be told to leave immediately. It is extremely important that you follow directions at the time you are told to evacuate. You should be told where to go and how to get there. In some cases you may be able to drive your car; if you have special needs and need transportation to the designated emergency shelter: register ahead HERE online or contact Chatham County Emergency Management at 919-542-2811. This is the administrative phone number of the Sheriff’s Office. Generally this is only monitored 08:00 am-5:00 pm hours.


What Emergency Shelter safety precautions and protocols would be followed in the County’s temporary emergency shelters if rates of COVID-19, Flu, RSV and/or other respiratory viruses are high in the County at the time? In such instances, the County will abide by Federal and State Disease Control guidelines for reducing the spread of such viruses.


How do people get the word? By automated calls from the ALERT CHATHAM system: (https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-a-h/emergency-management/alert-chatham) To receive such alerts, you must be registered with the system. To register, click on the hot-link above.  Also, listen to the radio for further directions concerning shelter openings:  WCHL-AM (1360), WCHL-FM (97.9), WDCG-FM (105.1), WRAL-FM (101.5), WYMY-FM (La Ley 101.1 in Spanish).


Where would Fearrington Village residents be sheltered whenever the County declares an emergency?  Chatham County Emergency Management will establish facilities and procedures for protracted sheltering at several nearby schools and at several facilities of the Chatham County Council on Aging. Instructions will be provided via the County’s Alert Chatham/CodeRed calling alert system and radio stations listed just above.


Can The Gathering Place (TGP) serve as an emergency housing shelter?  No; The building is not suitable for serving in such a capacity. Emergency sheltering will be supplied by the County, which will also supply transportation to shelter centers for residents with verified special needs (“fragile persons”). We are developing guidelines for the very limited use of The Gathering Place as a temporary “Emergency Information Center,” for short-term warming/cooling, and limited short-term access to emergency generated electric power for charging small priority devises. 


What if I need special assistance during emergency sheltering at a center or at home, or if I am unable to drive myself to a shelter because of my physical condition?  Chatham County has established a voluntary disaster access and functional needs (formerly called fragile populations or special needs) registry, which allows residents to securely register the nature of their special assistance needs and to do so before a disaster strikes. Special assistance may be required for mobility problems, vision and hearing impairment, lack of transportation, critical health issues and other needs which cause unique challenges during an emergency. This database helps the emergency services to check-in with registered residents and to provide transportation to the designated long-term shelter for such residents who may need a ride to get there. Complete details on this new service and the registration link are available HERE. (https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-a-h/emergency-management/safe-chatham)

How will I know what roads are impassable? Check NCDOT’s Traffic Information Resource Site (https://drivenc.gov/#incidents) and listen to the public media. Most media outlets work with the Department of Transportation to give road condition reports. Do not call 9-1-1 to ask about road conditions; they do not have the information readily available. 9-1-1 deals only with local roads and only for emergency response purposes.


Can my household pet(s) come with me to the county-established emergency shelter?  Service animals for the hearing and visually impaired will be allowed in the shelter; however, contact Emergency Management directly before bringing your pet to any shelter (919-542-2911). Monitor social media for shelter announcements and seek shelters that are for co-locating facilities for owner and their traditional pets. Non-traditional pets such as reptiles maybe re-directed to another designated facility at the time of the incident.


What should I do if told to shelter in place? Shelter in place means that you are to stay where you are until advised to do otherwise. This could be at home, an office, at school or somewhere public. One of the best descriptions of sheltering in place and the considerations for sheltering in place at home during a storm is on the Ready NC website.


How long will my frozen food last after a power shortage? This depends on the type freezer you have (whether upright or chest type). Most freezers if not opened will keep food 24 to 72 hours. Frozen food that thaws can be cooked immediately and then refrozen. For detailed information related to specific food items, visit this US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety During Power Outage (http://bit.ly/2sGevAV) page.


Where can I get food and/or water? According to advice revised by the Federal Government’s Homeland Security Department in 2019, you should have enough food and water (1 gallon per person for 3-7 days) on hand for your family for ONE FULL WEEK as part of your preparedness. When disasters last longer, disaster control authorities will be bringing in water and setting up food stations. People in the affected areas will be informed as to the location of these two distribution places.



Check here to download a copy of the current 2024 PDF file containing this information, which could be printed for lamination or other purposes.


For more information about FHA Health, Safety, & Security:

    • Also see the Emergency Preparedness pages in the FHA printed Directory and Handbook.

Also Consider downloading and reading this DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR OLDER ADULTS prepared by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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