- Category 2 Hurricane Florence is approaching the coast of N.C., its outer rain bands already reaching Kitty Hawk to Jacksonville. In Hoke County winds should increase throughout the day, with tropical force winds arriving as early as late afternoon or as late as midnight. Highest winds, just over 50 mph, are forecast for tomorrow morning in the 9 a.m. range, with a slow decrease until Monday. Rainfall is forecast to begin in the morning and continue, sometimes torrentially, until Sunday night, with continued showers possible Monday.
-Local concerns for Florence include:
*Heavy rainfall, causing flooding
*Strong winds
*Downed trees causing power outages
*Potential issues with McLauchlin Lakes' lower lake breaching the privately owned dam and washing out part of Rockfish Road (workers are trying to get a pump in to lower the water level).
-Hoke County now has two shelters open: one at DON STEED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL located at 800 Philippi Church Road; and one at SANDY GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL located at 300 Chason Road in Lumber Bridge.
The shelter at DON STEED ELEMENTARY has a pet shelter for people staying there and will have cages, food and water for dogs and cats.
The shelter at SANDY GROVE MIDDLE does NOT accept pets and cannot provide special needs assistance.
For details on what items to bring/not to bring when coming to a shelter, visit http://readyhoke.org/.
-Transportation to the shelter, particularly for the elderly or disabled, is available through Hoke Area Transportation (HATS), until/unless worsening weather conditions make it impossible to operate. Those with transportation needs should call (910) 848-4646 and ask for the Transportation Coordinator.
- For help with storm related questions or other information, call the automated information line at (910) 848-4645 or to speak with a staff member, call (910) 848-4646.
Hoke County Emergency Management Director Bryan Marley warned citizens that during the storm, the emergency operations center (EOC) team will do their best to help people with questions but that they expect a high call volume.
-A reminder from county officials: do not call 911 if your power goes out. Call your power company to report the outage. 911 cannot do anything about power outages.
Duke Energy: 800-419-6356 | Lumbee River EMC: 800-683-5571
-Gas stations are running low, and some are running out of fuel ahead of the storm. This is more widespread in Cumberland County at the moment.
-Hoke County will be under a curfew every night from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. until the state of emergency declaration is lifted. See details on the curfew here: https://www.facebook.com/HokeEmergencyManagement/posts/468298257007226
-Hoke County Schools and Hoke County government offices are closed Thursday, September 13 and Friday, September 14. The Raeford Post Office will also be closed Thursday, and Walmart at 4545 Fayetteville Road will be closing at 5 p.m. today. ETA @ 9:19 a.m.: The City of Raeford will be closing today at noon and will be closed Friday. (If you know of another local closing and want us to post it with our next update, let us know in a comment or email cshepard@thenews-journal.com !)
-You can sign up for automated emergency telephone notifications from Hoke County by going here: https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736721708#/login The county used its automated phone system yesterday afternoon to make Hoke residents aware of the storm and the shelters available.
-The North Carolina Fall Festival has been rescheduled for November 1-3. The Turkey Bowl football game (and other school sporting events) have been moved to next week.
-We welcome your storm news and photos, you can submit them at https://form.jotform.com/82524715657160 and view all storm updates at https://thenews-journal.blogspot.com/
-Because mail delivery is uncertain, and for the benefit of everyone who would like to read it, we're making this week's paper free to everyone online. Follow this link:
Read The News-Journal free this week
(We do hope everyone will subscribe, because not only will you keep informed through the year about Hoke County issues, you'll be supporting our mission. Thanks) Subscribe here: https://form.jotform.com/81356381257157
-Ken and Catharin
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