Taking out the trash

After riding the storm out, clearing out debris is a team effort.

High water levels in rivers can result in tree limbs and other debris getting stuck under bridges, possibly creating more flooding than originally expected. Debris can also block roads, making it impossible for emergency vehicles and other traffic to get through.

Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Roger Dail said his department follows timelines when dealing with a storm. Once a storm is approximately 24 hours from landfall, Dail says his team will have a meeting with Kinston's mayor, the chairman of the Lenoir County comissioners and various control groups to discuss projections.

"For example, if the (Neuse) River is high, we'll know to expect flooding," said Dail. "Representatives from local hospitals, police and fire departments and the NCDOT will be stationed at our Emergency Operation Center. When a call for help comes in to our center, we'll have people here that can best dispatch that help."

In the event of roads being blocked by debris, the Department of Transportation will clear any state owned roads. For municipal roads, Lenoir County has a contract with local fire departments to clear the way for emergency vehicles. If local resources are not enough to handle the load, each county has signed a mutual aid agreement.

For example, if Lenoir County needed a five-man chainsaw crew and Craven County had a team available, that team could assist Lenoir County in debris removal and Lenoir County would reimburse Craven County. If the president declared Lenoir County a disaster area, then federal funds would be available for the reimbursement.

Mark Goodman of Onslow County Emergency Management says his department has 1,100 first responders at their disposal. A large amount of that resource is routinely stationed at debris reduction sites that will turn fallen trees into mulch, which is usually given away.

Craven County has 745 personnel ready to respond once a hurricane hits, but he said even one person can do just as well when it comes to cleaning up after a storm.

"The best way to protect yourself against a hurricane is to be prepared," he said.

Dail said better planning on the state level would help make debris removal a quicker process.

"What is in place is a good system," he said, "but if the procedures were written down and followed uniformly it could save precious time."