‘Disaster Is At The Doorstep’: Shelters Open Throughout NC

As North Carolina readies for Hurricane Florence’s arrival along the coast, shelters are opening throughout the state and thousands of National Guard soldiers prepare for active duty.

“Disaster is at the doorstep and coming in,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday.

While the coast of North Carolina will begin to “feel the blast” of the storm Thursday, central regions will see a prolonged storm that will begin Thursday night and last through the weekend, Cooper said. Western North Carolina should prepare for heavy rain, which could trigger mudslides and road closings, he said.

Cooper urged all state residents to plan on being without power for days. “This may be a marathon, not a sprint,” he said.

“Every county and every person needs to stay alert and take it seriously,” he said.

Cooper authorized 2,400 additional National Guard soldiers to join 200 already on active duty, with more on standby, he said Wednesday. They will be tasked with route clearance of roads, logistics support, among other duties aimed at preserving life and safety, he said.

North Carolina prisons and jails are also being evacuated, with hundreds of offenders being moved to larger prison facilities within the state’s prison system. All offenders under evacuation will be allowed to make a free phone call to a family member over the weekend to update them on their status, the governor’s office said.

Offenders housed in county jails in Carteret, Beaufort, Dare and Chowan counties have also been evacuated to larger jail facilities in the state prison system, Cooper’s office said.

North Carolina is closing 25 state parks by 5 p.m. Wednesday, as well as 14 historical sites. The North Carolina zoo in Asheboro, N.C. closed Wednesday through Friday, or until further notice, and the North Carolina Aquariums closed Tuesday.

“With conditions expected to begin to deteriorate Wednesday night, preparations should be completed by that time,” North Carolina Emergency Management said Tuesday evening.

Here is a list of North Carolina shelters:

• Alamance County:
• The Lamb's Chapel
• 415 Roxoboro Rd.; Open
• New River, NC 28450
• Bertie County:
• Bertie County Middle School
• 652 US 13N; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.
• Windsor, NC 27983
• Colerain Elementary School
• 202 North Academy Street; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.
• Colerain, NC 27924
• West Bertie Elementary School
• 3734 Governors Rd.; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.
• Kelford, NC 27847
• Beaufort County:
• Washington High School
• 400 Slatestone Rd, Open
• Washington, NC 27889
• Bladen County:
• West Bladen High (Medical Needs and pet friendly)
• 1600 NC 410 Hwy.; Opens Wednesday Sept. 12 at 12 noon
• Bladenboro, NC 28320
• East Bladen High
• 5600 NC 87 Hwy.; Opens Wednesday Sept. 12 at 12 noon
• Elizabethtown, NC 28337
• Bladen Lakes School
• 9554 Johnsontown Road; Opens Wednesday Sept. 12 at 12 noon
• Elizabethtown, NC 28337
• East Arcadia School
• 21451 NC Hwy 87 East; Opens Wednesday Sept. 12 at 12 noon
• Riegelwood, NC 28456
• Brunswick County:
• South Brunswick High School
• 280 Cougar Rd.; Opening date/time - To Be Determined
• Southport, NC 28461
• North Brunswick High School
• 114 Scorpion Dr NE; Opening date/time - To Be Determined
• Leland, NC 28451
• West Brunswick High School
• 550 Whiteville Rd NW; Opening date/time - To Be Determined
• Shallotte, NC 28470
• Chatham County:
• Chatham Middle School
• 2025 S 2nd Avenue Ext.; Opens Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.
• Siler City, NC 27344
• Northwood High School
• 310 Northwood High School Rd.; Opens Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.
• Pittsboro, NC 27312
• Craven County:
• Havelock High School
• 101 Webb Blvd.; Opening date/time - To Be Determined
• Havelock, NC 28352
• Brinson Elementary School
• 319 Neuse Forest Ave.; Opening date/time - To Be Determined
• New Bern, NC 28560
• Benn Quinn Elementary School *Pet Friendly*
• 4275 Martin Luther King Blvd.; Opening date/time - To Be Determined
• New Bern, NC 28562
• Farm Life Elementary School
• 2000 Farm Life Ave.; Opening date/time - To Be Determined
• Vanceboro, NC 28586
• Cumberland County: Opening additional shelters Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 3 p.m.
• National Guard Armory
• 3555 Owen Dr..; Open
• Fayetteville, NC 28306
• Durham County:
• Hillside High School
• 3727 Fayetteville Rd.; Opening Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.
• Durham, NC 27707
• Bahama Ruritan Club
• 8202 Stagville Rd; Opening Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.
• Bahama, NC 27503
• Franklin County:
• National Guard Armory
• 200 S Bickett Blvd; Open
• Louisburg, NC 27549
• Halifax County:
• National Guard Armory
• 1300 Junior High School Rd.; Open
• Scotland Neck, NC 27847
• Johnston County:
• North Johnston Middle School; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 8 pm
• 435 Oil Company Rd.
• Micro, NC 27555
• Benson Middle School; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 8 pm
• 1600 North Wall St.
• Benson, NC 27504
• West Johnston High School (Pet-Friendly) ; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 8 pm
• 3935 Raleigh Rd.
• Benson, NC 27504
• Lee County:
• National Guard Armory
• 2214 Nash St.; Open
• Sanford, NC 27331
• (Designated for coastal evacuees)

• Lenoir County: Opening three shelters on Thursday, Sept. 13 at 7 a.m. (Locations to be provided)
• Martin County: Opening shelters on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.
• Mecklenburg County: Opening five shelters Wednesday, Sept. 12. Two will open at 8 a.m., followed by two more at 12 noon, and the last one at 4 p.m.
• Moore County:
• Agricultural Building; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m.
• 707 Pinehurst Ave.
• Carthage, NC 28327

• Nash County:
• Englewood Baptist Church; Open
• 1350 S Winstead Ave.
• Rocky Mount, NC 27803
• Nash Central High School Pet friendly
• 4279 Nash Central High Rd.; Opening Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m.
• Rocky Mount, NC 27804
• Southern Nash High School
• 6446 Southern Nash High Rd.
• Bailey, NC 27807
• New Hanover County:
• Trask Middle School; Open
• 2900 N College Rd.
• Wilmington, NC 28405
• Onslow County: Opening two shelters on Wednesday, Sept. 12
• Pamlico County:
• Pamlico Community College
• 5049 NC 306 Highway South; Opening Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.
• Grantsboro, NC 28529
• Pasquotank County:
• Kermit E White Center
• 1704 Weeksville Rd.; Opening Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.
• Elizabeth City, NC 27909
• Pender County:
• Topsail Elementary School
• 17385 US-17; Open
• Hampstead, NC 28443
• Cape Fear Middle School
• 1886 NC-133; Open
• Rocky Point, NC 28457
• Malpass Corners Elementary School
• 4992 Malpass Corner Rd.; Open
• Burgaw, NC 28425
• Burgaw Middle School pet friendly
• 500 S Wright St. Open
• Burgaw, NC 28425
• Pitt County: Opening five shelters on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m. Additionally anticipate opening a Special Needs shelter for Pitt residents at the same time.
• Sampson County:
• Clinton High School; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 1 pm
• 340 Indian Town Rd.
• Clinton, NC 28328
• Union Elementary School; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 1 pm
• 10400 Taylors Bridge Highway
• Clinton, NC 28328
• Hobbton Middle School; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 1 pm
• 12081 Hobbton Highway
• Newton Grove, NC 28366
• Midway High School; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 1 pm
• 15274 Spivey’s Corner Highway
• Dunn, NC 28366
• Lakewood High School; Opens Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 1 pm
• 245 Lakewood School Rd.
• Salemburg, NC 28385
• Scotland County:
• County High School
• Opening Thursday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m.
• National Guard Armory
• 1520 South Main St.; Open
• Laurinburg, NC 28352
• Wake County:
• Garner High School
• 2141 Spring Drive; Open
• Garner, NC 27529
• Knightdale High School; Open
• 100 Bryan Chalk Ln.
• Knightdale, NC 27545
• Southeast Raleigh High School
• 2600 Rock Quarry Road; Open
• Raleigh, NC 27610
• Wilson County:
• Fike High School
• 500 Harrison Dr N; Opening Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.
• Wilson, NC 27893

Relief Fund

The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is accepting donations for Hurricane Florence damage. Contributions will be distributed by the United Way of North Carolina. You can find more information here.

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Main Image: People stand near a lifeguard stand as Hurricane Florence approaches, on September 11, 2018 in Wrightsville Beach, United States. Hurricane Florence is expected on Friday possibly as a category 4 storm along the Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina coastline. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images).