Citizens Phone Bank answers callers' questions about Earl

“I’ve never been through a hurricane before, what do I need to do?”

That question is one of the most common coming into the Citizens Phone Bank, said Angela Cole, the Onslow County pubic information officer who oversees the operation.

The Citizens Phone Bank — 910-938-2059 — was established to field any and all questions regarding Hurricane Earl, Cole said. Four to five team members will be on hand at all times to take calls through the duration of the storm.

Even though she had already taken a number of calls throughout the morning, Lisa Whitman-Grice, the Onslow County Museum director who has been part of the disaster-ready team for eight years, said as the storm escalates the calls will do the same.

“The closer we get to the storm — when they can hear the wind and the rain — the number of calls will increase,” she said.

She received calls from several Marine wives unaccustomed to hurricanes and who have infants and small children and a deployed spouse. She also had calls from employers wondering if any curfews had been issued. As of Thursday afternoon, no curfews had been issued in Onslow County. Bogue Banks towns were under an 8 p.m. curfew.

Tourists, out-of town property owners and residents on North Topsail Beach were worried about evacuations. Unlike Bogue Banks, there was no mandatory evacuation in place at Topsail Island.

There were also calls from people who have special needs.

“As part of Onslow Emergency Operations Center we have a special needs group with medical personnel being part of that group,” Cole said. “They get in touch with them and make the determination if they can go to a shelter or need a hospital type situation and they make the arrangements.”

There is also a shelter board; Cole said she will be able to see in real time how many people are at each shelter and can re-direct people to other shelters if it becomes necessary.

“I expect Dixon shelter will get really full first because of the tourists, then Swansboro shelter with folks coming out of Carteret County,” she said.

One piece of advice Cole imparts is the importance of a means of communication.

“Your cell phone is key,” she said. “It is important to keep cell phones charged.”

She can even try to help you find a place to get that spare battery.

“We get calls asking all kinds of questions, she said. “And we’ll even be directing people to the nearest gas stations, the nearest pharmacy that is open.”