Drivers Could Impede Hurricane Response and Recovery

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation continues to urge drivers to stay off the roads, as the rain continues and conditions are getting worse by the hour. As of Sunday morning, there were more than 600 road closures across the state.

While residents may feel the need to check on homes and vacation properties in southeastern North Carolina, they will likely impede state and local response and recovery.

“The flooding we are seeing in our state is unprecedented and road conditions are changing rapidly,” said state Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon. “If you are not in an evacuation area, stay in place.”

While some areas might reopen some local roads and bridges later today, travel from central to southeastern North Carolina is dangerous and unreliable.

By traveling in potentially hazardous areas, drivers are putting themselves and others at risk and impeding access for critical personnel – emergency services, utilities, road crews – responding to this storm.

GPS navigation systems also are not able to keep up with the changing road closures and are directing people onto roads that are confirmed closed and/or flooded.

To get an idea on road conditions, which are rapidly changing, go to DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

Division 13 crews preparing for hurricane

RALEIGH – State transportation officials are helping with evacuations along the coast, readying emergency supplies and finalizing preparations for Hurricane Florence.

Ferries

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division evacuated 2,181 people and transported 1,074 vehicles from Ocracoke on the Hatteras, Cedar Island and Swan Quarter routes between 1 p.m. Monday and today when the last ferry left Ocracoke. The division suspended ferry operations from Ocracoke after Wednesday morning’s trips. All ferries are being placed in safe harbor and will be secured to different docks until conditions improve.

Highways

NCDOT staff in all 100 counties – including Division 13’s Burke, Rutherford, McDowell, Buncombe, Madison, Yancey and Mitchell counties – have prepared equipment for possible clearing efforts, shoulder repairs and crossline replacements that can be used in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. A total of 2,166 employees in all 14 NCDOT divisions have been preparing for Hurricane Florence.

In some areas of North Carolina, crews have staged equipment in different areas so it can be available once cleanup and recovery begins. Generators have been checked and readied, and traffic services offices are staging message boards and loading emergency trailers with barricades, signs and drums. NCDOT staff have made arrangements to have contractors on standby ready to respond to any storm-related tasks such as cutting and removing downed trees from roads.

NCDOT is also preparing active transportation projects for potential impacts. Erosion and control measures have been checked and staff are making sure earth-moving equipment and cranes are secure.

Aviation

On the Outer Banks Monday, NCDOT staff flew drones from Hatteras north to Kitty Hawk at all traditional “hot spots” to obtain overhead video of pre-storm conditions. Fifteen NCDOT drones and multiple teams of pilots are being readied for post-event damage assessment.

The division is also monitoring the status of North Carolina’s public airports.

Global TransPark

Staff at the Global TransPark, an industrial park in Kinston and a division of the NCDOT, are preparing the facility to serve as a headquarters for emergency rescue and response operations in eastern North Carolina. By Wednesday, 1,500 federal and state emergency response personnel and military crews from North Carolina and the rest of the nation will be stationed at the Global TransPark. Team members with different skill sets will respond to emergency requests for help and be deployed to help clear roads, rescue people by water, land and air and support the operation.

The emergency rescue and response facility at the Global TransPark will be fully operational by Wednesday. In addition to housing emergency response crews, the facility also will be used to store thousands of emergency supplies, including rescue boats and aircraft, meals ready to eat, and medical supplies.

The Global TransPark also served as an incident command post for emergency response operations during the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

Division of Motor Vehicles

Thirty-one driver license offices in eastern North Carolina and some in central areas of the state were closed by noon Wednesday in preparation for Hurricane Florence. Road tests and mobile office visits were canceled in those affected areas. About 25 license plate offices were expected to close by the end of the day Wednesday and could remain closed for the rest of the week, depending on the weather.

Closures and changes to office hours can be found on the office locations page of the official NCDMV website at MyNCDMV.gov. Many DMV services, including renewing driver licenses, ordering duplicate ID cards or renewing vehicle registration, can be done online.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

More than 230 employees ready in 10 westernmost counties (Division 14)

RALEIGH – State transportation officials are helping with evacuations along the coast, readying emergency supplies and finalizing preparations for Hurricane Florence.

Ferries

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division evacuated 2,181 people and transported 1,074 vehicles from Ocracoke on the Hatteras, Cedar Island and Swan Quarter routes between 1 p.m. Monday and today when the last ferry left Ocracoke. The division suspended ferry operations from Ocracoke after Wednesday morning’s trips. All ferries are being placed in safe harbor and will be secured to different docks until conditions improve.

Highways

NCDOT staff in all 100 counties have prepared equipment for possible clearing efforts, shoulder repairs and crossline replacements that can be used in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. A total of 2,166 employees in all 14 NCDOT divisions have been preparing for Hurricane Florence.

In Division 14, which includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Polk, and Transylvania counties, staff have 233 employees ready to respond with 137 chainsaws, 11 front-loaders, 10 bulldozers, 18 backhoes, 21 motor graders, 203 barricades, 114 road closed signs and 116 high water signs.

In some areas of North Carolina, crews have staged equipment in different areas so it can be available once cleanup and recovery begins. Generators have been checked and readied, and traffic services offices are staging message boards and loading emergency trailers with barricades, signs and drums. NCDOT staff have made arrangements to have contractors on standby ready to respond to any storm-related tasks such as cutting and removing downed trees from roads.

NCDOT is also preparing active transportation projects for potential impacts. Erosion and control measures have been checked and staff are making sure earth-moving equipment and cranes are secure.

Aviation

On the Outer Banks Monday, NCDOT staff flew drones from Hatteras north to Kitty Hawk at all traditional “hot spots” to obtain overhead video of pre-storm conditions. Fifteen NCDOT drones and multiple teams of pilots are being readied for post-event damage assessment.

The division is also monitoring the status of North Carolina’s public airports.

Global TransPark

Staff at the Global TransPark, an industrial park in Kinston and a division of the NCDOT, are preparing the facility to serve as a headquarters for emergency rescue and response operations in eastern North Carolina. By Wednesday, 1,500 federal and state emergency response personnel and military crews from North Carolina and the rest of the nation will be stationed at the Global TransPark. Team members with different skill sets will respond to emergency requests for help and be deployed to help clear roads, rescue people by water, land and air and support the operation.

The emergency rescue and response facility at the Global TransPark will be fully operational by Wednesday. In addition to housing emergency response crews, the facility also will be used to store thousands of emergency supplies, including rescue boats and aircraft, meals ready to eat, and medical supplies.

The Global TransPark also served as an incident command post for emergency response operations during the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

Division of Motor Vehicles

Thirty-one driver license offices in eastern North Carolina and some in central areas of the state were closed by noon Wednesday in preparation for Hurricane Florence. Road tests and mobile office visits were canceled in those affected areas. About 25 license plate offices were expected to close by the end of the day Wednesday and could remain closed for the rest of the week, depending on the weather.

Closures and changes to office hours can be found on the office locations page of the official NCDMV website at MyNCDMV.gov. Many DMV services, including renewing driver licenses, ordering duplicate ID cards or renewing vehicle registration, can be done online.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

Statewide litter sweep runs Sept. 15-29

RALEIGH – Before you get busy raking leaves this fall, join groups of volunteers from across North Carolina in keeping the state beautiful. The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program kicks off its Fall Litter Sweep on Sept. 15, and will run through Sept. 29.

Volunteers are provided cleanup supplies such as orange trash bags (reversible to blue for recyclables), gloves and orange safety vests from local NCDOT county maintenance offices. Last year’s fall litter sweep removed 76,995 pounds of litter from roads and highways. Click here to join the Litter Sweep effort.

“Our state is a more beautiful place thanks to the thousands of volunteers who give of their time every year,” says David Harris, Roadside Environmental Engineer. “This is a great opportunity to get outside with friends and family to really make a difference in our communities.”

Volunteers from local businesses, schools, non-profits and community groups work alongside NCDOT to help keep North Carolina’s roadways clean throughout the year. Adopt-A-Highway groups are encouraged to participate in the biannual litter sweeps in the spring and fall, helping to increase cleanup and encourage the community to be good stewards of the environment.

Started in 1988, the Adopt-A-Highway Program helps decrease the amount of litter on the state’s roadsides and improves the environmental beauty, quality and safety while saving taxpayer money. Roadsides can be adopted in all 100 North Carolina counties. Similarly to the annual litter sweep, groups commit to cleaning their designated roadways at least four times a year and are provided supplies by NCDOT. In 2017, more than 50,000 Adopt-A-Highway volunteers removed more than 1 million pounds of litter from more than 10,000 miles of state roadways.

Businesses, individuals and other organizations can also participate in the state’s Sponsor-A-Highway initiative. In return for sponsoring a one-mile stretch of highway, sponsors have their organization’s name or logo attached to the Sponsor-A-Highway sign.

Visit the Adopt-A-Highway or Sponsor-A-Highway websites for more information or to apply. Questions regarding the programs or applications can be directed to Kim Wheeless at 919-707-2974.