Chesapeake City Council on Friday afternoon approved a local emergency declaration and was to have a partial activation of its emergency operations center at 7 p.m. Key city departments will be making final preparations and monitoring the storm’s approach.
At 7 p.m. Friday, Oscar Smith High School was to open as a shelter. The school, located at 1994 Tiger Drive, will open to residents who want to leave their homes during the storm. Those coming to the shelter need to bring food, water, medical supplies, comfort and bedding items for each person. Pets are not permitted in the shelter.
On Saturday, all community centers and parks will be closed and all youth sports programs and classes at community centers and the senior center will be canceled.
No evacuations have been ordered.
Virginia Beach was to open a shelter for residents or visitors at Birdneck Elementary School, 957 S. Birdneck Road, at 8 p.m. Friday. Plans called for the shelter to remain open until 6 p.m. Saturday.
Elizabeth City, Pasquotank and Camden Counties in North Carolina declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon and activated its emergency operations center. A shelter was to open in Knobbs Creek Recreation Center at 7 p.m. Friday. The Red Cross will man the shelter and we will provide a police officer and Parks and Recreation staff members to supplement them.
In Southampton County, a shelter was to open at 8 p.m. Friday at Southampton High School, 23350 Southampton Parkway, Courtland. The shelter is open to everyone, but residents of manufactured homes and designated flood-prone areas are encouraged to use it.
Pets are not permitted at the shelter. Anyone using the shelter should also bring a change of clothing, raingear, sturdy shoes, toiletries, personal items, blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, identification, important papers, games and toys for children, books for adults, special items for infants or elderly family members, anything for special dietary needs, non-perishable snacks, prescription medications and battery-operated radios and flashlights.
No food service was to be available at the shelter Friday night. Smoking, alcoholic beverages and weapons of any type are not allowed at the shelter.
County Administrator Mike Johnson declared a local state of emergency for Southampton County at noon Friday.
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Good job
Glad to see the cities have their act together. This might be a dry run and training for a small storm, but is reassuring that the cities are up to speed on if a real emergency were to happen in the future.