Eastern Shore of Virginia

Emergency Operations Center

Serving Accomack and Northampton Counties and the Town of Chincoteague

23201 Front Street , Accomac, Virginia 23301-0337

 


 

Coastal Nor’easter 

November 11-12-13-14, 2009

EOC STATUS:  Recovery Operations

STATE EOC STATUS:  Recovery Operations

 

The Town of Chincoteague Declared A Local Emergency for This Event

 

This Page Was Last Updated on 11/15/2009 @ 7:00 P.M.

 

LOCAL WATCHES, WARNINGS, AND MESSAGES

 

Residents and visitors should closely monitor local TV and radio stations and NOAA weather radio for updates regarding weather events.  WESR Radio (103.3 FM; 1330 AM) serves as the Eastern Shore’s primary radio station for warning information.

 

News and Local Bulletins

 

 

In response to damages from the recent Nor’Easter, the Accomack County Board of Supervisors have determined that tipping fees at the two county landfills be waived for storm debris.  This tipping fee waiver will be in effect from Saturday, November 14, to Saturday, November 21, 2009.  

 

Residents must bring their storm related debris in loads separate from their other waste.  Residents need to inform the scale operator at the landfill that they have storm debris in order to receive the fee waiver.

 

 

EVACUATIONS

No Evacuation Orders Have Been Issued At This Time

Residents Should Assess Storm Information and Plan Evacuation If Necessary.

 

SHELTERS

No Public Shelters Are Open At This Time

Special Needs Should Be Reported to the Emergency Operations Center.

Please Coordinate Alternative Sheltering With Family and Friends Where Possible.

 

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

Normal Daily Responses At This Time

 

 

STATE NEWS RELEASES

 

 

Safety important during clean up

 

RICHMOND– Homeowners should be aware of potential dangers they could encounter when they return home after a flood. Flooded property can present many hazards; homeowners should follow important safety tips.

If there has been a backflow of sewage into the house, the following measures should be taken to ensure proper clean up:

·         Walls, hard-surfaced floors and many other household surfaces must be cleaned with soap and water and disinfected with a solution of one cup of bleach to five gallons of water.

·         Thoroughly disinfect surfaces that come in contact with food and children’s play areas.

·         Wash all linens and clothing in hot water or dry-clean.

·         Items that cannot be washed or dry-cleaned, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture, must be air dried in the sun and sprayed thoroughly with a disinfectant.

·         Steam-clean all carpeting.

·         Fiberboard, fibrous insulation and disposable filters that have contacted floodwater or sewage should be replaced in your heating and air conditioning system.

·         Wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during cleanup.

·         As you clean up your home, be careful about mixing household cleaners and disinfectants, because combining certain types of products can produce toxic fumes and result in injury or death.

·         It can be difficult to throw away items in a home, particularly those with sentimental value. However, keeping certain items soaked by sewage or floodwaters may be unhealthy. In general, materials that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours should be discarded.

 

Mold

Moisture that enters buildings from leaks or flooding accelerates mold growth. Molds can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions and continue to damage materials long after the storm. Failure to control moisture and mold can present short and long-term health risks.

To protect against health risks associated with mold:

·         Remove standing water from your home or office.

·         Remove wet materials.

·         If mold growth has already occurred, carefully remove or clean the moldy material.

·         Consider using personal protective equipment when cleaning or removing mold including gloves, goggles and an N-95 particle respirator (found at most local hardware stores). Check with a health care provider before wearing a respirator. Do not use a respirator if you have heart disease or chronic lung disease such as asthma or emphysema.

·         Individuals with known mold allergies or asthma should not clean or remove moldy materials.

·         Remember to not mix cleaners and disinfectants, as hazardous gases may produce hazardous chemical reactions. Read and follow label instructions carefully. Open windows and doors to provide plenty of fresh air.

 

Drinking water

Drinking contaminated water may cause illness. Do not assume that the water in the affected area is safe to drink. Listen to local announcements on the safety of the water supply.

 

If the public water system lost pressure, a boil water notice will likely be issued for your area.

People in these areas should take precautions to avoid contaminated water, especially individuals with private wells. If your well is in a flooded area, your water may contain disease-causing organisms and may not be safe to drink.

·         Boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, washing, cooking, etc.

·         Disinfect water by adding eight drops (about one-eighth teaspoon—this would form a puddle about the size of a dime) of unscented household bleach per gallon of water, and then let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the procedure

·         Use only bottled water, especially for mixing baby formula.


After the flooding subsides

·         Disinfect your well.

·         Have your well water tested by a laboratory certified by the state.

 

Contaminated Food -- “When in doubt, throw it out!”

In the case of an electrical outage, it is important to take careful precautions to ensure food safety. The risk of food poisoning is heightened when refrigerators and ovens are inoperable. Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more and any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture.

Discard any food without a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with floodwaters. Undamaged, commercially canned foods can be saved if you remove the labels thoroughly, wash the cans, and then disinfect the cans with a solution consisting of 1/4 cup of unscented household bleach per gallon of water. Re-label your cans, including the expiration date, with a marker. Food containers with screw-caps, snap lids and home canned foods should be discarded if they have come in contact with floodwaters because they cannot be disinfected.

 

Contaminated Items

Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers. There is no way to safely clean them if they have come in contact with contaminated floodwaters. Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils with soap and hot water, and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of one-quarter cup of household bleach per gallon of water.

 

Food Safety Precautions

·         Perishable foods including meats, dairy products and eggs that haven’t been refrigerated for more than two hours should be discarded because they are no longer safe to consume.

·         Foods that have been contaminated by flooding should also be discarded.

·         Be particularly careful to thoroughly disinfect surfaces that may come in contact with food, such as counter tops, pantry shelves, pots and pans, dishes and inside refrigerators, etc.

 

Hygiene

Basic hygiene is very important during natural disaster. Always wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected and cooled. You should wash your hands:

·         Before preparing or eating food

·         After using the bathroom or changing a diaper

·         After handling uncooked food

·         After playing with a pet

·         After handling garbage

·         After tending to someone who is sick or injured

·         After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing

·         After participating in flood cleanup activities

·         After handling articles contaminated with floodwater or sewage.

GOVERNOR KAINE DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY

~ Authorizes state agencies to prepare for potential effects from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida and a coastal Nor’easter  ~

 

RICHMONDGovernor Timothy M. Kaine has this evening declared a State of Emergency for Virginia in response to the combined effects of the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida and a coastal Nor’easter. The declaration immediately directs state agencies to take necessary actions to protect the health and safety of citizens throughout the Commonwealth.

 

"With the National Weather Service indicating that eastern Virginia could experience flooding and storm surge comparable to the affects of a Category 1 hurricane, it's critical that Virginians make the necessary preparations," said Governor Kaine. "While we will continue to monitor conditions, the Commonwealth is preparing for a period of coastal flooding through at least Friday evening."  

 

Depending on rainfall amounts, there is a potential for river flooding in other areas of the state. With this evening's declaration, the Governor is delegating authority to local governments to direct mandatory evacuations of citizens in low-lying areas if such action becomes necessary.   

 

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is coordinating with local officials and state agencies as well as the National Weather Service. The Virginia State Police, Virginia National Guard, and the departments of Game and Inland Fisheries, Social Services and Transportation are preparing to assist local governments as necessary.

 

Additional measures that should be taken by citizens statewide--especially those in low-lying areas--include:

 

  • Listening to local radio and TV stations for updated weather information and instructions from emergency officials.
  • Making a plan now for travel, route, and destination in the event that an evacuation is ordered in your area.

 

Residents of coastal Virginia can determine if their homes are located in a storm surge area by visiting: www.vaemergency.com/threats/hurricane/stormsurge.cfm

 

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For more information about disaster preparedness, go to vaemergency.com.  Information is also available by calling the Virginia Public Inquiry Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 866-880-4266.

LINKS FOR WEATHER AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION

National Hurricane Center / Tropical Prediction Center

National Weather Service Forecast Office - WFO Wakefield, VA

Virginia Department of Emergency Management

Delmarva Weather Net®

OTHER LINKS –EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Center

FOR ALL EMERGENCIES, DIAL 9-1-1

EOC Non-Emergency Phone Numbers: (757) 787-0900, 824-0900, 442-0911

eoc@esva911.org

 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS

Accomack County:  Jason Loftus (757) 789-3610

Northampton County:  Hollye Carpenter (757) 678-0411

Town of Chincoteague:  E. Bryan Rush (757) 336-3138

 

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