News
Release:
COUNTY OFFICIALS MONITORING HURRICANE
ISABEL
September 15, 2003
COUNTY
OFFICIALS MONITORING HURRICANE ISABEL
Residents Encouraged to Make Early Plans
Southampton
County officials are closely monitoring
the track of powerful Hurricane Isabel
that will likely impact the Mid-Atlantic
Region later this week - especially Thursday
and Thursday night. Based on the current
forecast track, the threat for multiple
hazards exists in Southampton County,
including very heavy rain with the potential
for inland
flooding, damaging
winds, and isolated
tornadoes.
County
residents are encouraged to closely monitor
the progress of this storm through the
local media as it approaches the Mid-Atlantic
coast. Residents are also encouraged to
begin now in assembling a disaster
supply kit and developing their
own family
disaster plan.
If
the National
Weather Service issues a hurricane
warning for Southampton County
later this week, residents are encouraged
to:
1)
Secure or bring inside all lawn furniture
and other outside objects that could become
a projectile in high winds;
2) Protect
your windows by installing 5/8
inch plywood panels;
3) Reinforce
Retrofit - Garage Doors so that
they are able to withstand high winds;
4) If you do not live in a manufactured
home or a designated flood zone, listen
carefully to the local media for safety
instructions and move to an interior room
within your home that has no windows or
exterior doors when instructed to do so;
5) If you live in a manufactured home
or designated flood zone, make immediate
plans to evacuate your home;
6) Monitor
NOAA weather radio.
If an official hurricane
warning is issued for Southampton
County, a local shelter will be opened
at Southampton High School, 23350 Southampton
Parkway, Courtland. The shelter is open
to everyone, but residents of manufactured
homes and designated flood- prone areas
are especially encouraged to utilize it.
Pets are not permitted at the shelter
so please make advance preparations now
for your pets. You should also plan on
bringing the following items with you
to the shelter: a change of clothing,
raingear and sturdy shoes, toiletries
and personal items, blankets, pillows
and sleeping bags, identification and
other important papers, games and toys
for children, books for adults, any special
items for infants or elderly family members,
any special dietary needs, non-perishable
snacks, prescription medications, and
battery-operated radios and flashlights.
Smoking, alcoholic beverages, and weapons
of any type are not allowed at the shelter.
Other
useful, informational links associated
with preparations for Hurricane Isabel
include:
http://www.vaemergency.com/
http://www.seva.net/~redcross/
http://www.hremc.org/
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Community
News
