Tideland’s Heidi Smith began by telling us that when she visited Fairfield Harbour after Hurricane Florence, she was appalled to see so many shell-shocked residents amid so much devastation and realized that much of it might have been prevented if residents had been better prepared. She was here, she told the audience, to tell them about Tideland, and to help them prepare for a future hurricane.
When a hurricane threatens, Heidi told her audience, always prepare for an extended outage. Turn off circuit breakers if leaving, or once the power goes off, so the main circuit won’t overload when power is restored. Also, leave one breaker on that controls a light to indicate when power returns. Build up drinking water reserves, check alternate light sources and batteries and unplug sensitive electronics. The accompanying video reveals her little trick to determine food spoilage.
Heidi told the audience that every system in a water-impacted house needs to be inspected to prevent fires After Hurricane Florence struck in 2018, Tideland removed electrical meters to checkfor flood damage, a safety measure which prevented fires but angered residents who had to wait for their power to be restored.
Tideland now has BASE CAMP CONTRACT, a service which moves a mobile city to an emergency area to provide shelter, food, and other services for crews far from home.
Scam contractors try to take advantage of flood victims, and Craven County tries to foil them by requiring an HVAC and electrical system inspection after a contractor finishes work. (Our POA keeps a list of reputable contractors for just such an emergency.)
What is now called the Fairfield Harbour Substation, only a few miles away now, has a 5-megawatt battery energy storage system which services our community via two of three circuits: FH1 for our Shoreline side and FH2 for the Harbour Pointe side. And, yes, Tideland has plenty of power for us, even with all our new housing. Heidi explained that every piece of Tideland equipment bears a tag with the letters TEMC and a number which helps Tideland locate the site of a problem. Use the numbers on the tag to notify Tideland about a problem such as a downed line. After major storms, debris piles create a repair challenge. If possible, keep the area clear for repair crews.
Tideland EMC is the first in NC to offer text alerts. If your power goes out, text OUT to 85700 to report the outage, or call 252-944-2400. To sign up for outage warnings, text TEMC to 85700.
Heidi Smith, Corporate Communications Manager
800.637.1079, ext. 1140
252.944.2401
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Coastal Carolina Disaster Resiliency Agency Executive Director: Kristy Kulberg
Hurricane Florence struck on September 14, 2018, and devastated Fairfield Harbour bringing 30” of water to homes in the flood zone. Having suffered the loss of her home from flooding, Kristy Kulberg told us she want others to learn how to better prepare. “Are you at risk?” Kristy asked the audience. “If you live in Fairfield Harbour, YES!” Her message – know your risks!
A website at https://fris.nc.gov/ tells the homeowner the home’s level of flood risk. Sections of Fairfield’s properties are coded gray, yellow, or blue, with blue areas being deemed the most likely to suffer flooding.
Fairfield Harbour is in Zone A – an area considered most likely to involve evacuations. 800 homes in Fairfield Harbour flooded during Florence, and Kristy warned we needed to start preparing for the next hurricane today.
Each year at the start of hurricane season (June), assemble an important documents packet in a waterproof bag: proof of I.D., titles, deed, insurance policy(s), utility bills (to prove residence), prescriptions, important contact phone numbers, including those of doctors, pharmacies, etc. Take videos and photos of your home’s contents, and of the exterior—no trees or branches may touch the house. Trim, if necessary, and photograph. Keep the photos/videos on a flash drive/memory stick in the waterproof packet with your important documents and update annually.
Prepare your property. Get rid of loose debris and store patio furniture and other loose objects which might become airborne in a storm. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed and away from your house. Clear drainage ditches and drains.
When a hurricane threatens, be ready!
Plan for 7 days without power, water, and food stores, gasoline or propane for your generator. Have battery-operated equipment such as flashlights, plenty of batteries and enough non-perishable food so that you can stay, IF it’s safe to stay in your home.
If you are ordered to evacuate, DO SO! Don’t endanger the lives of first responders by staying!
Evacuation “to do” list:
1. Update your list of important phone numbers: doctors and other medical contacts, and family and friends who will be concerned for your safety
2. Assign tasks to household members: who gets the packet of documents, who turns off utilities, who takes the pets (and food for them)
3. Change your voicemail message to say you’re not home. Establish a “neighborhood tree” and if you evacuate, tell neighbors where you’re going. Notify friends and family. Try to save what you don’t want to lose. If you can’t take your pets with you, take them to an animal shelter. Leave a note on your door to tell First Responders they don’t have to search inside.
Flood insurance, Kristy warned, is expensive, about $800 per year, and $2000 if your home is near the water, but it’s less expensive than replacing or repairing a flooded house without it. Damage caused by as little as 1 inch of water can cost $2500 to repair. However, it’s getting difficult to obtain flood insurance because instances of flooding are increasing throughout the nation and insurance companies are hard-pressed to keep up. FEMA, if still available, she cautioned, will not replace flood insurance. FEMA funds need to be distributed widely, and it’s likely you won’t get what you need. Non-profits will do what they can, but they can do only so much. Check your insurance policy to see whether your policy covers wind and hail damage, contents, and “loss of use,” since you’ll need to pay for living space and meals if you need to evacuate. Determine what your vehicle insurance requires in case of flooding. If you don’t move your car to a safer place, your claim may be denied.
Kristy also reassured us that an insurance deductible is not an out-of-pocket expense. Any deductible is taken from the eventual payment. No need to pay up front.
When a member of the audience told Kristy that Fairfield Harbour often gets forgotten when a natural disaster occurs, she urged us to get involved with nonprofits such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and others, to make our community a “presence,” so that we won’t be overlooked in the future.
After the storm, she told us to first call our insurance agency, then FEMA, then, if still in need, her organization: the Coastal Carolina Disaster Resiliency Agency (CCDRA).
F.A.C.T.S. wishes to thank both Tideland’s Heidi Smith and CCDRA’s Kristy Kulberg for sharing their time and valuable expertise to help our community to better prepare for another hurricane. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxxoJSiDohs to watch the Hurricane Forum video presentation and learn what these experts advise Fairfield Harbour property owners to do now, before the next Hurricane Florence or Helene threatens.
Your FACTS Reporter
Helpful sites:
https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/work-with-nfip/manuals
Types of Hazards: www.disastersafety.org
Know Your Zone: https://www.ncdps.gov/knowyourzone
Be Alert and in the Know: www.ready.gov/alerts
www.cravencountync.gov/codered
Other Important Information: www.fema.gov