Emergency Operations at Wrightsville

Emergency Operations...
Why is this an important issue for TOWB?

At stake here is the Town government's ability to function through the challenges of catastrophic emergencies. Hurricanes, Tsunami, Tornado, Blackout, Grounded Ships and Marine Spills are all in the realm of possible. Not your every day occurrence (Thank God). Being able to cope with such events is a matter of planning, training and capabilities. This is how you minimize loss of life and property and enable getting life back to a normal. While the TOWB has an Emergency Operations Plan that is aligned with State, County and neighboring communities we have a few key elements that makes us more vulnerable to failure.

Wrightsville Beach is at sea level... we are surrounded by water...we have one bridge to get us to the mainland...any major tidal surge (whether hurricane or tsunami based) could catastrophically level us...in whole or in part.

The current TOWB plan is to move temporary government emergency operations to the attic of the First Citizens Bank, off Eastwood Road. Generally you don't go to the attic in a hurricane!This location may suffice in minor storms but, what is critical to understand, is the buildings structural design integrity for storms and that the surrounding area is not prone to flood. If the Town Government needs to evacuate, from the bank, there is no place to go...essentially the Government disbands until some time on the future. It is fundamental that you don't occupy a building that is not designed to handle the forces (the Attic???)...you evacuate!

So what does that mean...disband the government? It means, there is no government. We are each on our own! It means, that sometime after the storm we can hope that the TOWB Government can get back together physically and re-institute themselves and get Emergency Recovery Operations underway. As both Alderman Bill Sisson and Holiday Inn Owner Consultant Sue Bulluck have stated...Communication before, during and after is critical to minimize our loss.

The issue on the table for the TOWB Board of Alderman is deciding to fund the town's participation in the New Hanover County Emergency Operations Center.
The EOC is a storm proof designed facility (off Racine near Home Depot) capable of withstanding Category 2-3 storms. It is a leading edge communication center and it hosues both New Hanover County and City of Wilmington Emergency management staff. Proximity, Communication, Coordination..get the picture?

This is a contentious issue and has been for sometime. Previous boards have all sought other options to avoid paying the price, but to no avail. The options are nil and the County EOC represents a viable solution.

There are 3 options on the table:

1. Pay upfront $70k
2. Finance $70K at low interest (through the county or otherwise)
3. 10 year least (+/-)

There is not a 4th option to sustain the status quo it risks too much.

Thus far the current Board has not been able to agree on one of these options. The solution is at hand. It is no longer valid to let this issue drift as the consequences of not properly managing a catastrophic event are of life and death  and billion dollar magnitude. The video (in 2 parts) of this Alderman meeting where they fail to reach a decision will show you the stonewalling, living in the past, not stepping up to responsibilities and dealing with this strategic matter.

You can decide from this video who are the serious government officials and who are not. To use a George Will expression "it would take and expertly used precision calipher to determine" which of the 3 muddling Alderman demonstrate  the most ignorance, arrogance and stupidity on this matter.

You can not hide from the reality of the threat potential we face 

as a beach community... because the 

ocean is where hurricanes and tsunamis 

are born and amplified!

Video stream of TOWB BOA Mtg Sept 13, 2012 
Part 1 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovNP7dxVREw

Part 2

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAzG8R7CDvI&feature=player_detailpage

Don't let our world unravel. Thanks for reading. Please make a difference, contact our town government and let them know where you stand on strategic issues.

Neal Briggi and  the many members and supporters of the Henderson League for the Environment & Responsible Government

Further Relevant Emergency Management Information Below:

1.)YouTube Time Lapse of EOC during Hurricane Irene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9tLbmaw1UY
2.)New Hanover County Emergency Management
http://www.nhcgov.com/em911/Pages/default.aspx
3.)New hanover County Emergency Operations Plan (pdf 118 pages)
http://www.nhcgov.com/EM911/Documents/NHC%20EOP%20AUGUST%202011.pdf
4.Emergency Simulation Event in NHC Emergency Ops Center
http://www.wwaytv3.com/2012/05/01/1-month-to-go-emergency-agencies-practice-for-hurricane-season#.UGL_pbJlTa4
5.)New Hanover County Tsunami Ready Plan
http://www.townofkurebeach.org/Data/Sites/1/media/emergency/TsunamiReadyPlanNHC031008.pdf
6.)Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
https://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/showCert.do?id=43901
    "The New Hanover CERT Program's mission is to assist citizens in
becoming self-sufficient for up to 96 hours following a disaster"