Environment, public health

At least 1.4 million people in North Carolina experiencing drinking water shortage, uncertainty after hurricane

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5 hours ago
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More than 1.4 million people on public and community water systems don’t have reliable drinking water, as of Tuesday afternoon. The problems are plaguing 219 of the state’s 481 permitted systems. Source: Department of Public Safety

Low water pressure, no water, potentially contaminated water: More than 1.4 million people in North Carolina don’t have a reliable source of water from their public systems, according to the NC Department of Public Safety.

This figure doesn’t include people who are on private drinking water wells and whose systems could be polluted or shut off because of flooding. The safety of private wells is under the Department of Health and Human Services.

Forty-six percent of 481 public and community systems — such as those serving mobile home parks — are not fully functioning.

(Scroll to the bottom of the story for a comprehensive list, broken out by reason for the outage, name of the system and number of customers affected.)

Affected cities and towns include Rockingham, Oak Island and Grifton. Morgan Elementary School in Gold Hill, near Salisbury, has no water because the system has failed to operate

Of the affected people on public water, more than 38,000 are customers of public and/or community systems that can’t produce any water and are essentially closed.

Another 270,000 people are experiencing low water pressure; 19,000 are waiting for test results on their water to determine whether it is safe to drink. More than 1 million people are on water systems that are operating off emergency interconnections — borrowing water from other suppliers — are on backup power or are using only stored water. The McCain Correctional Hospital, in Raeford,  is among the systems using an emergency interconnect.

And a half-million people are under boil water orders or advisories, according to environmental officials.

CLOSED: SYSTEM NOT PRODUCING WATER 
NameTotal number of customers
ATLANTIC MHP113
ATLANTIC MHP II106
BIG RIDGE MHP50
BILLY K CAMPGROUND180
BLADEN BLUFFS WATER SYSTEM4589
BOLTON, TOWN OF750
CAMERON BOYS CAMP75
CAMP DON-LEE200
CASTLE CREEK MEMORY CARE86
CIRCLE D MHP91
COVIA CORPORATION43
DOWN EAST MHP107
GOOSE CREEK RESORT1600
GREEN ACRES MHP229
HUNTING ESTATES80
INTERNATIONAL PAPER ADMINISTATIVE SYSTEM30
INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY750
INTERNATIONAL PAPER- NEW BERN MILL375
LAKE ROAD MHP40
LEA`S WATERFRONT MHP99
LIGHTHOUSE WAY MHP & APTS38
MAYSVILLE, TOWN OF1100
MCAS BT11-PINEY ISLAND25
MORGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL539
NATIONAL SPINNING COMPANY WHITEVILLE275
NEWPORT RIDGE MHP71
NORRIS MHP91
OCEAN SPRAY MH S/D368
PERDUE FOODS LLC2000
PORT OF MOREHEAD CITY174
PORT OF WILMINGTON280
RIVERSTONE99
SANDERSON FARMS1300
SEA SCAPE60
SMITHFIELD FRESH MEATS CORP - TAR HEEL4589
SURF CITY, TOWN OF5606
THE VILLAGE OF BALD HEAD ISLAND3254
TOPSAIL BEACH, TOWN OF3198
USMC LEJEUNE--ONSLOW BEACH320
WILLOW POINT MOBILE HOME PARK22
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH WATER SYST5212
Total number of systems 41
Total number of customers 38214
Water pressure problems 
Name of systemNo. of customers
BELVEDERE PLANTATION3195
BRAGG ESTATES WATER SYSTEM363
BROOKWOOD COMM WTR SYSTEM15665
BRUNSWICK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM95739
CHANDA`S RIDGE70
CLARENDON GARDENS S/D276
GRAY`S CREEK MHP212
HARKERS VILLAGE S/D94
JONES COUNTY WATER SYSTEM8999
KINSTON, CITY OF27475
LAURINBURG, CITY OF17242
OAK ISLAND, TOWN OF23635
ROBESON COUNTY WATER SYSTEM64295
SAMPSON CO WTR DIST I-ROSEBORO148
SCOTLAN CO WATER-NORTH2566
SCOTLAND CO WATER-SOUTH3424
SEAGATE IV105
SOUTHPORT CITY OF6447
WRIGHTSBORO S/D100
Total no. of systems19
Total no. of customers
270050
Needs testing to clear advisory 
Name of systemNo. customers
ALBANY ACRES S/D81
ALTICE ESTATES S/D320
BELLA VISTA S/D25
CAMELOT S/D604
CREEKSTONE S/D498
FAIRFIELD HARBOUR4610
HARDSCRABBLE S/D640
HUNTER`S RIDGE S/D92
LEGEND HILLS S/D81
MAXTON, TOWN OF3125
NOTTINGHAM FOREST S/D543
OCEAN ISLE BEACH, TOWN OF7051
OLDE MILLS LAKE S/D96
PACEVILLE S/D58
RED MOUNTAIN S/D173
ROYAL ACRES S/D63
STANLEY STONE ESTATES52
STEPHANIE WOODS S/D245
SWEET BRIAR S/D143
THORNBURG S/D165
TIMBERLINE SHORES210
WEYERHAEUSER-SOUTHERN LUMBER185
Total no. of systems: 22
Total no. of customers: 19060
No Power 
NameNo. of customers
EAGLE`S NEST #124
EAGLE`S NEST #224
HARBOR HOUSE S/D142
JACKSON HEIGHTS MHP200
LEA ACRES WATER CO INC120
MELBILLE HEIGHTS96
MISSION PARK B&L TRAILER COURT65
OAKLEY MHP92
OSPREY COVE 1475
OYSTER POINT S/D99
RHA HOWELL CARE CENTER CLEAR CREEK302
ROBINFIELD ESTATES S/D124
SHADY HAVEN MHP46
SHERWOOD MHP353
SPERANZA`S MHP90
No. of systems affected 15
No. of customers2252
Operating off emergency interconnect 
NameNo. of customers
DOC-MCCAIN HOSPITAL850
DUBLIN, TOWN OF447
EAST ARCADIA, TOWN OF609
GREENFIELD HEIGHTS S/D145
GRIFTON, TOWN OF2800
JASON WATER CORPORATION331
PARKTON, TOWN OF487
RIEGELWOOD SANITARY DISTRICT460
ROCKINGHAM, CITY OF13159
SHINE WATER CORPORATION447
TAR HEEL WATER CORP250
TURKEY, TOWN OF300
Total No. of systems12
Total no. of customers20285
Operating backup power 
NameNo. of customers
ABERDEEN, TOWN OF9935
ATLANTIC BEACH, TOWN OF6380
AURORA WATER SYSTEM502
BALLOU MHP95
BEAUFORT CO SOUTHSIDE9203
BEAUFORT, TOWN OF4539
BEULAVILLE, TOWN OF1326
BISHOPS RIDGE S/D170
BLADEN CO WTR DIST-EAST BLADEN3853
BLADEN CO WTR DIST-WEST BLADEN11844
BOGUE BANKS WATER CORPORATION4995
BRANDYWINE BAY2189
BURGAW, TOWN OF4250
CABARRUS ACRES WATER SYSTEM46
CALYPSO, TOWN OF660
CAMERON, TOWN OF490
CAROLINA BEACH WATER SYSTEM10632
CFPUA/MONTEREY HEIGHTS8202
CFPUA/NHC29052
CFPUA-WILMINGTON137414
CHADWICK MHP90
CHINQUAPIN WATER ASSOCIATION4686
CHOCOWINITY WATER SYSTEM2550
CLARKTON, TOWN OF1500
CLINTON, CITY OF12410
CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM32500
DOT-CEDAR ISLAND FERRY TERM200
DUPLIN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM17000
EASTMAN CREEK LANDING S/D335
ELIZABETHTOWN, TOWN OF5212
FIGURE 8 ISLAND999
FREMONT, TOWN OF1463
GLYNNWOOD MHP208
GREENEVERS, TOWN OF1390
GRIMESLAND, TOWN OF610
HARKERS ISLAND SANITARY DIST2358
HARNETT CO DEPT OF PUBLIC UTIL98905
HARRELLS WATER CORP1633
HAVELOCK WATER SYSTEM14246
JACKSONVILLE CITY OF45598
KENANSVILLE, TOWN OF876
KURE BEACH WATER SYSTEM5110
LAURADALE S/D2527
LUMBERTON, CITY OF25590
MANN`S MHP40
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT17144
MCAS ATLANTIC FIELD32
MERRIMON WATER SYSTEM71
MINTZ CHRISTIAN ACADEMY150
MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF9420
MOUNTAINBROOK S/D152
NEUSE REGIONAL WTR & SWR AUTH93238
NEW BERN, CITY OF30070
NEWPORT WATER SYSTEM4827
NORTH RIVER/MILL CREEK WATER SERVICE DIS2800
NORTHWEST ONSLOW WATER ASSOC1890
ONSLOW WTR AND SEWER AUTHORITY126761
ORIENTAL WATER SYSTEM903
PAMLICO COUNTY WATER15546
PEMBROKE, TOWN OF4111
PENDER COUNTY UTILITIES18000
PIKEVILLE, TOWN OF714
PINE KNOLL SHORES3861
POTTERS HILL WATER ASSOCIATION94
PRUITT HEALTH AT SEA LEVEL102
RED SPRINGS, TOWN OF4493
ROSE HILL, TOWN OF1862
ROWLAND, TOWN OF1341
SALEMBURG, TOWN OF850
SAMPSON CO WTR DIST II8670
SANDERSON`S MHP34
SEAGATE I345
SIDBURY`S MHP101
SNUG HARBOR ON NELSON BAY108
SOUTHERN PINES, TOWN OF17379
STERLINGSHIRE S/D147
THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM9728
TOPSAIL GREENS S/D549
TOWN OF ATKINSON301
TREASURE COVE S/D760
USMC LEJEUNE-DEVIL DOG-VERONA LOOP800
USMC LEJEUNE--HADNOT POINT37500
USMC LEJEUNE--HOLCOMB BLVD17000
USMC LEJEUNE--NEW RIVER AIR ST11500
USMC LEJEUNE--RIFLE RANGE750
WADE, TOWN OF835
WAGRAM, TOWN OF801
WALLACE, TOWN OF5825
WALNUT CREEK VILLAGE990
WARSAW, TOWN OF3151
WAYNE WATER DISTRICTS32426
WAYNE WATER DISTRICTS PURCHASE16302
WEST CARTERET WATER CORP15311
WHITE LAKE, TOWN OF2500
WHITE STREET INDUSTRIAL PARK800
Total no. systems 95
Total no. customers 1046858
Using stored water only 
NameNo. of customers
BRUNSWICK REGIONAL WATER AND SEWER H2GO25583
CASTLE BAY S/D685
HOLDEN BEACH, TOWN OF6200
SIMMONS HEIGHTS APARTMENTS35
Environment, News, Trump Administration

Report: With North Carolina reeling from Hurricane Florence, Trump to visit Wednesday

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6 hours ago
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In Environment, News, Trump Administration
Donald Trump speaking

President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump will visit North Carolina Wednesday in the wake of Hurricane Florence’s devastating impact last week, multiple media outlets are reporting.

It wasn’t clear what areas Trump will tour, but the president’s arrival comes with swollen rivers across the state expected to crest in the coming days, forcing thousands out of their homes after the storm dumped double-digit rain amounts.

The president has had a tortured history with disaster relief, given his ongoing bickering with critics over the federal government’s failures in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria last year.

From CNBC:

Trump will visit areas affected by the hurricane, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday, though it wasn’t immediately clear which specific spots are on the president’s list. Sanders told CNBC that more details would be forthcoming.

Some North Carolina residents have begun to return to the towns they fled in advance of the storm. Florence had strengthened to a Category 4 storm with wind speeds as high as 140 miles per hour before slowing down by the time it made landfall late last week.

But days after the wind and rain had subsided, water levels continued to rise in some areas of the state, putting more homes and lives at risk.

The hurricane has claimed at least 32 lives, officials said, including 25 in North Carolina. Some measures of the storm’s damage are estimated at $2.5 billion in total insured losses alone.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Monday that “catastrophic flooding and tornadoes are still claiming lives and property.”

Trump has used his Twitter account to focus mainly on the hurricane in recent days, largely avoiding other issues such as special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation and the upcoming midterm elections.

Environment

Dozens of rivers forecast to crest at record levels tonight through end of week

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9 hours ago
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In Environment

Located between Jacksonville and Goldsboro, a mansion and its grounds are flooded after Hurricane Florence on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (Photo: Lisa Sorg)

Two days after the worst of Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina, and many rivers are cresting at record levels throughout eastern and southeastern parts of the state. This has prompted evacuations of thousands of peoples from their homes, including in Wilmington, New Bern, Fayetteville and Lumberton.

According to the National Weather Service, 10 river gauges in North Carolina have shown major flooding. Other river levels in the moderate and minor category could be upgraded over the next several days.

Here are the expected peak times, the forecast levels and for comparison, the historical records, designated in parentheses:

Tuesday evening/Wednesday

  • Northeast Cape Fear River near Burgaw: 25.4 feet (22.5)
  • NE Cape Fear near Chinquapin: 27.2 (23.5)
  • Contentnea Creek at Hookerton: 18.2 (18.05)
  • Neuse River near Goldsboro: 27 (29.7)
  • Little River at Manchester: 36.6 (32.2)*
  • Cape Fear River at Fayetteville: 61.6 (68.9)
  • Cape Fear River at Huske Lock 69 (75.5)
  • Lumber River at Lumberton 24.3 (record not listed, but flood stage is 13 feet) Cape Fear River at Elizabethtown 39.9 (43.2)

 

A neighborhood in Jacksonville (Photo: Lisa Sorg)

 

 

Friday night/Saturday

  • Cape Fear River at Lock 1: 29.7 feet (29.8)
  • Neuse River at Kinston: 24.6 (28.3)*The most recent gauge reading is 35.95, recorded yesterday. However, the operating limits of the gauge have either been exceeded and/or flood water has damaged the gauge.

Major flooding is indicated by purple circles; red is moderate and orange, minor. (National Weather Service)

 

News

Disaster unemployment insurance now available in at least eight NC counties

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10 hours ago
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Here’s the news release from the Division of Employment Security:

The Division of Employment Security (DES) has announced that the following counties have been approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) due to the effects of Hurricane Florence: Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico and Pender. Additional counties may be added to the DUA availability designation at a later date.

Individuals from these counties who are affected by the disaster, and are unable to continue working, must file an application for benefits within 30 days from today – or, by October 17, 2018.

Workers who became unemployed as a direct result of the effects of Hurricane Florence impacting North Carolina, may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits under the DUA program. Business owners affected by the storm may also qualify for benefits.

Workers or business owners meeting the following criteria may be eligible for benefits:

  • Individuals who are unemployed due to the disaster, and do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits.
  • Self-employed individuals and small business owners who lost income due to the disaster.
  • Individuals who were prevented from working due to an injury caused by the disaster.
  • Individuals who have become the major supplier of household income due to the disaster-related death or injury of the previous major supplier of household income.
  • Individuals who are unable to reach their jobs or self-employment locations, because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster.
  • Individuals who were to commence employment or self-employment, but were prevented from doing so by the disaster.

DUA is funded entirely by the federal government. Individuals need to file first for regular unemployment insurance. If an individual is determined ineligible for regular unemployment insurance, or has exhausted their regular unemployment insurance benefits, a DUA claim can then be filed. Individuals will need their Social Security number, copies of their most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs, or documentation to support they were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed.

DUA is available for weeks of employment beginning with the week starting September 9, 2018, and may last for up to 26 weeks, as long as the claimant’s unemployment continues to be as a result of Hurricane Florence.

Individuals may contact DES by calling 1-866-795-8877 from 8AM to 5PM to apply for DUA benefits. If you have additional questions, you may email DES at des.dua@nccommerce.com or go to our website at des.nc.gov.

For an updated list of counties that have been approved, please visit the News and Highlights section at des.nc.gov.

Courts & the Law, Defending Democracy, News

NC NAACP to facilitate absentee voting in hurricane-impacted counties; State Board still assessing impacts

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15 hours ago
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The North Carolina NAACP announced Monday that it would facilitate providing absentee ballot applications to registered voters in Hurricane Florence-impacted counties.

“It is imperative that while our communities struggle to recover from the devastating flooding and other destruction from this storm, citizen’s right to vote should not be impaired,” said the Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, President of the organization. “The NAACP has long advocated for the right to vote and we know from the experience of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 that flood-impacted areas had depressed voter turnout.”

The counties hit hardest by Hurricane Florence have some of the largest percentages of African-American and Latino populations in the state, according to a news release from the NAACP.

The State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement was conducting preliminary assessments of storm damage Monday, reaching out to all 100 county board of elections directors for updates on conditions on the ground.

“As you probably know, flooding is expected to get worse in some areas before it gets better,” said spokesman Pat Gannon in an email.

State Board Executive Director Kim Westbrook Strach also sent a letter Monday to all five political party directors to help address upcoming challenges as a result of the hurricane.

“Our thoughts are with so many affected by Hurricane Florence across our state,” the letter states. “Like you, we are closely monitoring the evolving situation as we work to guarantee the continuity of elections administration through this period of disruption. As party leaders, you are often first to hear of disruptions affecting particular communities. We want to partner with you to address challenges that may impact critical components of election administration and deadlines over the coming weeks.”

Most county boards of elections have been and will continue to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters who have requested them, according to the State Board. Its office is stepping in to send out ballots for several counties that are unable to do so because their operations are affected by flooding, power and internet outages or inaccessible due to the storm.

“We are assessing emergency options, and our team is committed to assisting county boards and voters in the affected areas,” Strach said.

Lenoir County was one of the hardest hit areas by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and is again facing widespread flooding after Hurricane Florence. It is too early to tell how county voting will be affected from this weather event, but you can read more about how flooding affected early voting there in 2016 here.

The NAACP is planning to try and offset early voting issues by encouraging absentee voting. According to the State Board, any registered North Carolina voter can request an absentee ballot by mail, and no excuse is needed to vote by absentee.

“To request an absentee ballot, complete the North Carolina Absentee Ballot Request Form,” according to the State Board. “The Absentee Ballot Request Form may only be signed by the voter or a voter’s near relative or legal guardian. According to the law, a ‘near relative’ can be any of the following: spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild of the voter. A completed Absentee Ballot Request Form may be scanned and emailed, faxed, or mailed to the county board of elections.”

Anyone not registered to vote at their current address may send in their updated voter registration form along with the absentee ballot application, but that must be done by Friday, October 12 — the last day to register by mail to vote in the November 6 election this year.

Spearman said the absentee ballot campaign is keeping with the organization’s commitment to civic engagement.

The State Board is also reminding voters that they can vote by mail (with no excuse needed); vote early in person from Oct. 17 through Nov. 3; vote on Election Day, November 6. The regular voter registration deadline is 5 p.m. October 12. Eligible individuals may also register during the early voting period.

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