Summer Storm Season Message from FHA Health, Safety, & Security Director

Summer Storm Season Has Arrived Storm season in Fearrington Village has arrived! While we very rarely experience hurricanes here, we often experience strong storms and occasionally hurricane remnants. Power outages may result, lasting hours to days. It is time to prepare. Emergency preparation guidelines can be found on page 10 of the Fearrington Village Directory and Handbook or on the FHA website. (Remember to log in first.)

Your FHA has updated The Gathering Place to serve as a cooling station for those choosing to remain in their homes during these outages. The Gathering Place is powered by a generator. Multiple outlets will be provided for electronics charging; refrigeration is available for medicine storage; first aid kits are available for minor injuries; and energy bars are available. The Gathering Place is not an emergency shelter. If you choose to go to a shelter, these will be established by the NC Department of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross in locations outside of Fearrington Village. If you have questions, please contact Steve Stewart, director of Health, Safety, & Security. His contact information is below, on the FHA website, and in the Directory.

—Warren Ort, Director, Health, Safety, & Security, healthsafetysecurity@fhaboard.org 

Hurricane Season Preparation Advice from NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey

 

Don't let hurricane season catch you off guard, says Commissioner Causey

As today marks the official start of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is urging residents to prepare now and to arm themselves with important knowledge for if and when a storm makes landfall. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, experts have forecast 2023 to be an above-normal season of activity.

NOAA Predicts a Near-normal 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Press Conference on May 25, 2023

Website: https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/2023-atlantic-hurricane-season-outlook

Chatham County (NC) Prepares for Height of Hurricane Season Amid COVID-19

Chatham County (NC) Posted this Notice on Their Website on 09/01/2020 12:15 PM PITTSBORO, NC – As Chatham County prepares for the height of hurricane season, it is also taking measures to reduce the possible spread of COVID-19 to ensure residents remain safe from incoming storms and the virus. Chatham County residents are also encouraged to plan ahead by making an emergency plan, building a kit (a “go bag”) and preparing for power outages that could last for several days. “This hurricane season brings us additional challenges that are quite unprecedented. Not only is an above-normal to extremely active season predicted, but we continue to respond to the coronavirus and must take necessary precautions in our emergency planning,” said Chatham County Emergency Management Director Steve Newton. “Due to COVID-19 still being present in our community, residents are advised to utilize an emergency shelter as a last resort and should make plans in advance to stay with a family member, friend, or another safe place.” Emergency Shelter Plans Depending on the forecasted impact, emergency management officials may recommend Sheltering in Place instead of opening a disaster shelter. Chatham County will not open a pre-landfall shelter, before a storm hits, except under imminent direct threat of an extreme event (forecast of direct, sustained, significant impact less than 24 hours out). If congregate sheltering is required, Chatham County’s strategy will be to open one facility. A second facility will be considered if the first shelter reaches 75% of its COVID-19 capacity. Chatham County may pre-position, and possibly deploy equipment and supplies in to one or more designated shelter facilities – but keep the facilities closed until impact and demand is known. Members of the public should exercise additional caution when traveling to a shelter as trees and power lines may have fallen, and roads may be flooded. Residents should obey road closed signs and follow directional signs when checking in to a shelter. Emergency Shelter Safety Precautions Shelter(s) open in Chatham County will abide by strict guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. All clients, staff, and volunteers are required to wear face coverings and physical distance will be monitored and enforced among individuals who are not part of not in the same household. Each client will have their temperature checked and must complete a questionnaire related to the coronavirus; those who are confirmed positive or are symptomatic must remain isolated from other shelter clients. The use of cots will be limited to those clients with medical issues, and six feet of distance must be maintained from individuals who are not part of the same household. Meals and snacks will likely be individually packaged, such as boxed or bag lunches, heater meals, and/or Meals-Ready-To-Eat (MRE). Cleanliness will be key at Chatham County emergency shelters. Facilities will be cleaned often, and staff and clients must wash their hands and use hand sanitizer often. Make an Emergency Plan and Kit Residents are advised to make an emergency plan and create a kit now. An emergency kit should include the following items: Water (1 gallon/person for 3-7 days) Food (non-perishable) Cell phone and charger Blanket and pillow Seasonal changes of clothes and sturdy shoes Prescription drugs and first aid kit Toiletries Flashlight and extra batteries NOAA weather radio Cash Important documents Families with infants or pets should include food, medication and other necessary items for them. “As we approach the height of hurricane season, it’s critical more than ever this year that Chatham County residents plan ahead for their families and not wait until a major storm is on its path toward North Carolina with potential impacts on our community,” added Newton.  

For more information on preparing for hurricane season during COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit chathamnc.org/ready-chatham. When the Emergency Operations Center is activated, residents with questions may call the EOC at 919-545-8181. 

Preparing Older Adults for 2020 Hurricane Season

Older Adults Hurricane Season.pdf

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Severe Weather Preparedness & Recovery During COVID-19

Severe Weather Preparedness and Recovery During COVID-19 - Convergence of Climate-Health-Vulnerabilities

This post is part of a series on the convergence of COVID-19 and weather/climate. Each post covers only part of the complex, evolving situation we all are trying to prepare for, respond to, and learn from. Therefore, any recommendations should be considered within your individual geographic, economic, and social context.

Emergency Preparedness FAQs -- Important Information

Emergency FAQs.Dec2019.pdf

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National Weather Service 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Prediction Outlook

Climate Prediction Center - Atlantic Hurricane Outlook

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season outlook is an official product of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC). The outlook is produced in collaboration with hurricane experts from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Hurricane Research Division (HRD).

2017 Hurricane season June 1–Nov. 30

Above-normal Atlantic hurricane season is most likely this year

For the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, forecasters predict a 45 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 35 percent chance of a near-normal season, and only a 20 percent chance of a below-normal season.

If your power goes out, visit Duke Energy's outage page (using a cell phone if you have no Internet home Internet access) to report an outage, and also learn more about what to do during outages. You can also use this link to sign up for proactive outage notifications.