HURRICANE EARL: Emergency plans for city, county in place, just waiting on Earl

While city and county officials do not expect the worst from Hurricane Earl, they are prepared for it.

City of New Bern and Craven County managers and department heads have operations plans in place to provide customer services and safety, whether Earl proves simply to be a nuisance or causes more significant problems.

“In essence what we’ve done is just a good plan of what we need to do in case we need emergency response,” City Manager Mike Epperson said.

The city has readied an emergency operations center in city hall, where Epperson and department heads will gather to monitor conditions and assess needs throughout the storm. The center provides a place where they will communicate directly with each other, allowing for centralized decision-making, he said. The facility has a generator, computer systems and television access.

The system allows the city to remain ready to address whatever issues may arise, from public works matters to electricity issues, he said.

Both city and county officials have spent the past three days preparing for their responses. Equipment, resources and employees are in place and on stand-by.

“We are making all preparations in anticipation of Earl at least brushing Craven County and are going to look at it the same as if it would have a direct impact on Craven County,” County Manager Harold Blizzard said.

The county likely will declare a state of emergency at about noon today, Blizzard said. Such a declaration, like the one the governor declared for the area, allows for city and county entities to receive reimbursement for extraordinary costs incurred.

But first things first, Epperson said.

“We will respond to the level that we need to, then pursue every avenue to get reimbursement,” Epperson said. “Public safety comes first.”

P. Christine Smith can be reached at 252-635-5666 or pcsmith@freedomenc.com.