POLLOCKSVILLE, N.C. — Now that storm season has started, people in Eastern North Carolina are still ready.
“We came to Pollocksville to talk about getting ready for hurricanes.” Forecaster Erik Heden said, “It’s after Labor Day, the kids are back in school, and some of our worst storms happen in September and October.”
“So, here we are, six years after Florence, talking about being ready.” It’s important to talk about storm safety not just in May, but also in the fall. We’re only a few feet from where the water came from the river where we stand now.
When you think about storms, you should think about the damage they can do, like tornadoes and flooding.
No matter what, Heden said, “always look at all the effects, not just the storm category.” This is true whether it’s a named storm or a category storm.
What kind of storm surge is it going to be? Will there be flash flooding, river flooding, or a lot of rain?” Eighty-five percent of deaths are caused by water. That’s why we talk about water when we talk about hurricanes and tropical storms.
Eastern North Carolina is a growing area, so it’s important for newcomers to be just as ready as people who already live there.
As Heden put it, “We take it seriously, but if you’ve never been through a storm, you don’t know what to expect.” That’s why they were all done through ENC.