People across Eastern NC continue to remain hurricane prepared

POLLOCKSVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — With hurricane season underway, people around Eastern North Carolina remain prepared.

“We were here in Pollocksville to talk about hurricane preparedness. It’s after Labor Day, with our kids back in school and some our biggest storms in September and October,” Warning Coordination Meteorlogist Erik Heden said. “So, we are here talking about preparedness, six years after Florence. Where we stand today was only a few feet from where the water came from the river, so its important to talk hurricane preparedness, not just in May, but in the fall.”

With hurricanes, it is important to focus on what some of the damage they can bring, from tornadoes to flooding.

“No matter what, whether it’s a named storm or the category, always focus on all of the impacts not just the storm category,” Heden said. “Things like how much rain do we have, what is the storm surge, are we going to have flooding, flash flooding or river flooding? Eighty-five percent of people that die, do so because of water. So, it’s water when we talk tropical storms and hurricanes.”​

Being in a growing area, it is important for new citizens of Eastern North Carolina to be just as prepared as locals.

“We take it serious, but if you have not been through a storm, you don’t know what to expect, so that is why we are doing these all through ENC,” Heden said.

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