Hurricane Dorian: Hurricane Prep
As Hurricane Dorian approaches, make sure that you and your family are prepared. The following resources are provided by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA), the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, and The Pitt County Emergency Office.
ECU Status – Sept. 4, Noon
Based on revised Hurricane Dorian forecasts for the Greenville area and for the safety of our campus community, East Carolina University classes beginning at or after noon (12 p.m.) on Thursday, Sept. 5, and all classes on Friday, Sept. 6, are canceled. This includes face-to-face and online classes.
Campus will remain open during this weather event, and core services such as dining and housing remain in place. Normal campus operations, including football gameday preparations, are expected to resume on Saturday, Sept. 7.
It is important to remember: Class cancellation does not mean evacuation of campus. As of this message, Pitt County is NOT under a mandatory evacuation order nor is it expected to be.
For employees, beginning at noon (12 p.m.) Thursday, Sept. 5, and continuing until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, the university will operate under Condition 1 of the UNC System Adverse Weather and Emergency Event policy. Employees should check with their managers regarding schedules and alternate work locations. For details about the Adverse Weather and Emergency Event Policy and Condition levels, visit https://www.ecu.edu/prr/06/45/02 .
Forecasts project Hurricane Dorian will skirt the coast of North Carolina Thursday night and early Friday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for eastern North Carolina. The region is forecast to receive tropical storm force wind gusts and periods of heavy rainfall, which may result in flash flooding in low-lying areas and damage to trees.
Forecasts for the Greenville area call for 20-40 mph winds with higher gusts possible and 5-7 inches of rain. Some flash flooding can be expected on city streets, similar to what Greenville experiences during strong thunderstorms. Do not drive, swim or walk through floodwaters. Current forecasts anticipate the Tar River remaining below flood level, and we are monitoring this forecast closely.
Students on campus and in Greenville, as well as in other affected areas, are advised to monitor forecasts and conditions and make responsible decisions. Models vary on the timing eastern North Carolina may begin to see effects, but the strongest effects are expected late Thursday and overnight into Friday. Emergency response vehicles will not operate when sustained winds reach 40 mph.
Residence halls on our campus are substantially built and often are the safest place for students to be, especially for those students whose families reside in areas east and south of Greenville that will experience greater storm effects. Police and other personnel will be strategically positioned on campus to respond to any emergencies or needs, as well as for the safety of our students, faculty and staff.
For updates on additional campus programs and services including dining hall and retail options as well as ECU Transit, the Student Recreation Center, Student Health Services and the Student Centers on both campuses, visit https://studentaffairs.ecu.edu/ .
Conditions experienced by individuals will vary, and everyone is responsible for their actions and safety. You must make the most responsible decision for you personally; you know your circumstances and travel route best.
If you live in off-campus housing and are unsure whether your house or complex is in a low-lying area or is prone to flooding, contact your property manager now and ask.
Pitt County Emergency Management website is available here: https://studentaffairs.ecu.edu/.
ECU Physicians clinics will be open Thursday and Friday; evening clinics will be closed Thursday. Information is available on a special hotline: 252-744-5080 or 1-800-745-5181. Dental patients should call 252-737-7834 for appointments in Ross Hall or their respective Community Service Learning Centers. Staff at the Community Service Learning Centers should contact their supervisors regarding work schedules.
Please note that if the storm takes a dramatic shift or if conditions on campus are expected to worsen, the university may send out an updated message. Monitor https://studentaffairs.ecu.edu/ for updates.
National Hurricane Center Current Forecast
Read the compete forecast on NOAA’s Hurricane Center webpage.
Wednesday, Sept. 4, 8 a.m.
At 8 a.m., the center of Hurricane Dorian was located near latitude 29.5 North, longitude 79.6 West. Dorian is moving toward the north-northwest near 8 mph, and a northwest or north-northwest motion is expected through this morning. A turn toward the north is forecast by this evening, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast on Thursday morning. On this track, the core of Hurricane Dorian will move dangerously close to the Florida east coast and the Georgia coast through tonight. The center of Dorian is forecast to move near or over the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina Thursday through Friday morning.
Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is expected during the next couple of days. However, Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next few days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. The NOAA automated station at St. Augustine Beach, Florida, recently reported sustained winds of 46 mph and a wind gust of 59 mph.
The minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve Unit Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 964 mb.
Evacuation Orders
Governor Roy Cooper has issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order for North Carolina’s coastal and barrier islands. The Executive Order is effective at 8 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2019, unless a different evacuation time is ordered by local government officials. Keep up to date with current closings through the N.C. Department of Public Safety website.
| County | Mandatory | Voluntary |
|---|---|---|
| Carteret 252-222-5841 | Countywide Voluntary Evacuation. Town of Beaufort Mandatory at 1500 on Tuesday, Sept. 3. | |
| Currituck 252-232-2115 | Mandatory evacuation of Currituck Outer Banks effective 0800 on Wednesday, Sept. 4. | |
| Dare 252-475-5655 | Mandatory evacuation of all visitors starting at 1200 on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Mandatory Evacuation of all residents starting at 0600 on Wednesday, Sept. 4. | |
| Duplin 910-296-2160 | Low lying and flood prone areas. | |
| Hyde 252-926-4191 | A mandatory evacuation for Ocracoke visitors becomes effective at 0500 hours on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and the mandatory evacuation order will extend to Ocracoke residents at 0500 hours on Wednesday, Sept. 4. A mandatory evacuation of Mainland Hyde County becomes effective at 0500 hours on 9/04/2019. | |
| Jones 252-448-1697 | Voluntary Evacuation is in effect until further notice. Starting at 0800 on Wednesday, Sept. 4. | |
| New Hanover 910-798-6900 | In advance of Hurricane Dorian, a mandatory evacuation order has been issued for residents and visitors of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Figure Eight Island, which is a barrier island, beginning 0800 on Wednesday, Sept. 4. In addition, New Hanover County and City of Wilmington residents in areas prone to flooding or storm surge, as well as residents in travel trailers, mobile homes or homes still damaged from Hurricane Florence are under a voluntary evacuation beginning 0800 on Wednesday, Sept. 4. | One to three feet of storm surge, with potential of higher localized areas, is expected near the county’s major waterways including the Cape Fear River and Intracoastal Waterway, as well as inland along the county’s creeks including Pages, Howe, Bradley, Hewlett’s, Whiskey, Motts, Barnard, Burnt Mill, Smith and Ness Creeks. Residents in these areas are under a voluntary evacuation, and a more detailed list of those creeks and their locations can be found here. |
| Onslow 910-347-4270 | Voluntary evacuation for unincorporated areas in Onslow County. | |
| Pamlico 252-745-4131 | Low lying areas, flood prone areas, and areas with historic surge and storm flooding. | |
| Sampson 910-592-8996 | A voluntary evacuation order is in effect for all people residing in or visiting Franklin Township in the area located south of NC Highway 411 from the Town of Harrells to the Clear Run area as well as the area south of NC Highway 41. The voluntary evacuation order is effective as of 0800 on Wednesday, Sept. 4. | |
| Tyrrell 252-796-4516 | ||
| Washington 252-793-4114 | For low-lying residences and mobile homes. |
Evacuation routes for North Carolina residents are available online.
Local Forecasts and News
Keep up to date with the latest regional forecasts and news updates from your regional news services.
ECU Alert Information: Hurricane Safety
ECU Alert Information provides hurricane information and hurricane preparation tips in English and Spanish. Visit the ECU Alert Information Hurricane Safety webpage to learn more about preparing for a storm.
ECU Office of Environmental Health and Safety Severe Weather Plan
ECU’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety offers severe weather information and resources to students, staff and the ECU community. Visit the OEHS website for hazardous weather information, preparation resources and emergency numbers.
Hurricane Prep Checklist
Provided by NOAA and Pitt County.
The best time to prepare for a hurricane is before hurricane season begins on June 1. It is vital to understand your home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind. Here is your checklist of things to do before hurricane seasons begins.
- Know your Zone: Do you live near the Gulf or Atlantic Coasts? Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area by contacting your local government/emergency management office or by checking the evacuation site website.
- Put Together an Emergency Kit: Put together a basic emergency kit. Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters. Pitt County also provides a hurricane ready kit checklist.
- Write or Review Your Family Emergency Plan: Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster. Start at the Gov emergency plan webpage.
- Review Your Insurance Policies: Review your insurance policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your home and personal property.
- Understand NWS forecast products, especially the meaning of National Weather Service (NWS) watches and warnings.
- Preparation tips for your home from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.
- Preparation tips for those with chronic illnesses.
Pitt County Closings/Delays
Current closings:
Pitt County Schools will be closed for all students and staff on Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6 in anticipation of severe weather due to Hurricane Dorian.
Consult the Pitt County Emergency Information webpage for updated closures.
Storm Shelter Openings
Pitt County has currently opened five (5) general population shelters which have been have been identified and prepared for operation. These shelters are located at:
- Ayden Middle School, 192 W 3rd St, Ayden, NC 28513
- E.B. Aycock Middle School, 1325 Red Banks Rd, Greenville, NC 27858
- Farmville Middle School, 3914 Grimmersburg St, Farmville, NC 27828
- Hope Middle School, 2995 Mills Rd, Greenville, NC 27858
- Wellcome Middle School, 3101 N Memorial Dr, Greenville, NC 27834
All shelters will open to the public at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Full details regarding shelter operations will be made available Sept. 4 at 2 p.m., during Pitt County’s Multi-Agency Press Conference.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety provides a list of storm shelter openings for state residents.
Animal Shelter Information
Pets or other non-service animals are not allowed in general population shelters. Emergency animal sheltering options are available through Pitt County Animal Services. Priority given to pets truly in need of emergency sheltering. Pet owners are encouraged to call 252-902-1725 in advance of dropping off animals
Shelter Hours
Wednesday: 5-9 p.m.
Friday through Sunday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (depending on intake, hours may be reduced)
Ferry Schedule
North Carolina’s ferry schedule may be altered due to Hurricane Dorian. Please consult the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s N.C. Ferry System webpage for more information about schedule alterations, delays and closings.
Current Power Outages
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety provides a map of reported power outages across the state.