Craven, Carteret to open shelters

Craven County will open four shelters, including one at Havelock High School, beginning at 6 p.m. today.

Other shelters will be at Brinson Memorial in the Grantham area, Vanceboro Farm Life Elementary School and Ben Quinn Elementary School in New Bern. The Quinn location will serve as the county's shelter for those with pets.

Carteret County has also decided to open two shelters today to give residents seeking safer ground a place to ride out the storm.

After a morning review of the latest projections for Tropical Storm Hanna, a final decision was made to open shelters at Newport Middle School and Atlantic Elementary School beginning at 4 p.m.

"We shouldn't receive hurricane force winds here but we still have to worry about tornadoes and strong tropical storm force winds," said Carteret County Emergency Services Director Jo Ann Smith.

Smith said the worst of the storm is expected to pass over the county early Saturday morning and winds gusting up to 60 mph are expected tonight and Saturday morning.

A storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is projected for south of Cape Lookout.

No evacuation plans were called for in advance of the storm but there was consensus among officials that some residents should consider moving to another location, such as those who in low-lying or flood prone areas.

The shelters give them a place to go if they feel they should relocate.

Smith said anyone planning to stay at the shelters should bring bedding, medication, clothing, and other basic necessities. If parents are bringing children, they should bring baby food and activities to entertain them. Some food will be provided but people coming to the shelter may want to bring snacks.

Newport Middle School allows pets but they must be in a carrier and the pet owner is responsible for food. If a pet is not pre-registered, owners should bring pet documentation such as vaccination information.

As Hanna approached and last-minute storm preparations were made in the county Friday, there was also a focus on help available after the storm.

A mobile kitchen operated by the Salvation Army of Morehead City is stocked and ready to go where needed, said Capt. Mark Czanderna.

"Our main focus is to feed emergency scene responders and people who have severe damage to their home and are unable to cook," he said.

Czanderna said the canteen has generator power and is self-sufficient, allowing them to travel to communities where a storm has knocked out power or left residents' homes damaged. It can feed at least 100 people three meals a day but with other resources there is typically food available for even larger numbers.

Czanderna said Salvation Army locations in Jacksonville and Wilmington also have canteens and there are 22 units available across eastern North Carolina.

He said when not needed in their home community they can mobilize to other areas as well.

"We'll hunker down during the storm and be ready to go after the storm wherever we are needed, " he said.

In the case of Hanna, approximately 60 volunteers have signed on to help the Salvation Army with its canteen and the First Presbyterian Church and St. Peter's United Methodist Church of Morehead City have each made available their church kitchens should they be needed.

With the canteen stocked and ready for use, Czanderna said they were going through the storm clean-up kits that the Salvation Army provides. The kits include bleach, mops, gloves and other essential items for cleaning up homes after a storm.