♪
I'M KELLY MCCULLEN.
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA IS
FLOODED, AND THE SITUATION WILL
DETERIORATE FOR THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN THE COMING DAYS.
WE ARE HERE TO COMPLEMENT THE
COVERAGE YOU MIGHT BE RECEIVING
FROM YOUR LOCAL NEWS
OUTLETS, RADIO OR
NEWSPAPER OR TELEVISION.
IT'S PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO
PUBLIC SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED
HELP OR INFORMATION.
WE'VE COLLECTED INTERVIEWS AND
VIDEO FOOTAGE.
MITCH LEWIS AND ALAN BROWN ARE
WITH THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER
AND COLLEAGUES AT WRAL SHARED
VIDEO AND BROUGHT GOVERNOR PAT
McCRORY'S NEWS CONFERENCE.
LET'S BEGIN WITH THAT.
>> I'M HONORED TO BE JOINED BY
THE INCREDIBLE TEAM IN
CUMBERLAND COUNTY AND
FAYETTEVILLE.
THIS CITY HAS BEEN THROUGH AN
AWFUL LOT IN THE PAST SEVERAL
WEEKS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE HURTING RIGHT
NOW IN THIS REGION.
A CHURCH RIGHT NOW, THEIR ENTIRE
FLOOR IS BUCKLED, TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO
WITH THE CHURCH.
WE'VE GOT STATE ROADS IN
CONDITIONS NO LONGER SAFE.
I JUST WENT TO A ST. PAUL
SHELTER WHERE I MET WITH AN
80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO
JUST LOST EVERYTHING.
AND SHE'S SITTING IN A SCHOOL
CAFETERIA AT THIS POINT IN TIME
CRYING, AND WONDERING WHAT HER
LIFE IS GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT.
AND WHILE WE'RE DEALING WITH THE
REMNANTS OF HURRICANE MATTHEW,
HERE IN FAYETTEVILLE AND
CUMBERLAND, WE'RE STILL RESCUING
PEOPLE AS WE SPEAK RIGHT
DOWN THE STREET
AND IN LUMBERTON RIGHT NOW, IT'S
GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME.
WE HAD A -- WE DON'T KNOW IF
IT'S A BREACH BUT A LOT OF WATER
COMING THROUGH A DAM, AND WE'RE
RESCUING ABOUT 2,000 PEOPLE.
THE WATER WAS UP TO THEIR
KNEES, BUT PEOPLE WERE
ON ROOFS THIS MORNING.
WE STAYED OUT OF THE AIR SPACE
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO
INTERFERE WITH THE AIR SPACE.
I-95 IS STILL CLOSED.
WE FLEW OVER THE I-95 SITUATIO.
WE'RE HAVING EVERYONE LOOKING
FOR A SHORT CUT AROUND IT, AND
THE SHORT CUT GOES INTO WATER.
AND WHAT WE DON'T WANT ANYONE
ELSE TO DO IS LOSE THEIR LIFE
GOING THROUGH WATER.
AND WE'RE AFRAID THAT AS PEOPLE
ARE COMING FROM VIRGINIA AND
OTHER STATES DOWN I-95, THEY
MIGHT NOT REALIZE HOW DEEP THAT
WATER IS, SO WE'RE DOING
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET OUR
HIGHWAY PATROL HERE TO MAKE SURE
WE BLOCK ANY SHORT CUTS THAT
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIND
AROUND THAT WATER.
WE'RE EXTREMELY STILL CONCERNED
ABOUT THE LOSS OF LIFE.
SADLY I THINK WE LOST ANOTHER
INDIVIDUAL DUE TO WATER, AND WE
DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY MORE.
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW IMPRESSED
I WAS WITH YOUR MAYOR, YOUR
ACTING POLICE CHIEF, YOUR FIRE
CHIEF, THE COUNTY MANAGEMENT HAS
JUST DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB
RECOGNIZING THEY HAVE HAD TWO OF
THE WORSE FLOODS IN THEIR CITY
AND STATE'S HISTORY AND THEY
HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND
SO HAVE YOUR CITIZENS.
NEXT DOOR,
NEXT DOOR IN
LUMBERTON THEY ARE STILL GOING
THROUGH IT AND WE'RE GOING DO
EVERYTHING TO HELP THEM.
THE TOWN IS FLOODED SIMILAR TO
FAYETTEVILLE A DAY AGO, AND NOW
NEXT IS KINSTON, GREENVILLE,
ROCKY MOUNT,
ANYWHERE YOU'RE ALONG A
RIVER YOU'RE GOING
TO GET HIT.
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A
PROLONGED HURRICANE FOR US, EVEN
THOUGH THE SKIES ARE BLUE.
AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO
IS EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO PREVENT LIFE.
WE'VE GOT THE NATIONAL GUARD.
I'M PROUD OF THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
THEY SAVED LIVES DOWN THE
STREET FROM HERE AND LET'S
NEVER FORGET THAT.
AND THEY ARE SAVING LIVES
AS WE SPEAK.
THERE'S A LOT OF FATIGUE.
MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN
BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT
OF THE FATIGUE.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING 24
HOURS STRAIGHT.
BUT WE CANNOT LET ANYONE ELSE GO
MISSING AND WE'RE GOING TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO SAVE PEOPLE.
BUT I CONTINUE TO
SEND THAT MESSAGE.
PLEASE BE SAFE.
AND DON'T DO ANYTHING FOOLISH
AND PUT YOU OR YOUR FAMILY IN
HARM'S WAY OR OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS IN HARM'S WAY.
AND PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE
NOW FURTHER EAST
NEUSE RIVER IS GOING TO BE
VERY, VERY HIGH.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE
SOME RECORD FLOODS.
AND WE'RE REAL WORRIED ABOUT TE
TOWNS ALONG THAT RIVER.
AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.
NORTH CAROLINA IS
RESILIENT AND STRONG.
OUR PEOPLE ARE STRONG.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.
SO WITH THAT LET'S TAKE
A FEW QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR
AND POLICE CHIEF AND COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS HERE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION.
>> YES, SIR.
>> I OWN THIS BUSINESS RIGHT
HERE.
>> YES, SIR.
>> THIS BUILDING.
SERIOUS TROUBLE.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.
>> YOU GOT TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE
IT.
>> YES, YOU DO.
WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME HELP.
REGULATIONS, RED TAPE, GIVE SOME
HELP AS QUICK AS YOU CAN.
I'M ASKING FOR HELP NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.
THE CHURCH ACROSS THE STREET
ALSO HAS GOTTEN HIT PRETTY HARD.
AND YESTERDAY I SIGNED
EMERGENCY DECLARATION.
I TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT TWICE.
OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS FOR THOSE
BUSINESSES AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS
THAT DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.
AND FLOOD INSURANCE.
AND A LOT OF THEM WEREN'T IN
FLOOD PLAINS SO WHY WOULD THEY
HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE?
THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST CONCERNED
ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S WHY I SIGNED FOR THAT
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AND WE'RE
GOING TO BE WORKING AS FAST AS
WE CAN TO INDIVIDUALS AND TO
REPAIR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
I'M PROUD MY BUDGET DIRECTOR AND
STATE LEGISLATURE PROVED TO HAVE
A RAINY DAY FUND, NEVER DID WE
REALIZE IT WOULD BE THIS MUCH
RAIN BUT THANK GOD WE'VE GOT
MORE IN OUR RESEARCHES THAN
WE'VE HAD IN OUR STATE HISTORY.
BELIEVE ME, THERE WERE
TEMPTATIONS BY POLITICIANS TO
SPEND THAT MONEY, AND PUT THAT
IN OTHER RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY
DURING ELECTION YEAR BUT
WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
I WANT TO THANK MY
REPRESENTATIVES FOR AGREEING TO
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT'S
GOOD NEWS.
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A
RAINY DAY FUND.
[APPLAUSE]
NEVER DID I IMAGINE IT WOULD BE
THIS KIND OF RAIN IN OUR
HISTORY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO
RESOLVE AND WORK ON THIS.
AND I APPRECIATE THE PRESIDENT
AND THE FEDERAL HELP ALSO.
>> HOW MUCH IS IN THAT FUND?
>> RIGHT NOW WE INITIALLY HAD
$12 MILLION, PROBABLY DOWN TO $8
OR $9 MILLION, DEPLETED QUICKLY.
THER --
THE STORM FUND WAS
$12 MILLION, THE MOST
IN STATE HISTORY.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ROAD
WORK, BY THE WAY.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE OVER A BILLION
DOLLARS IN RESERVES.
>> ANY ROUGH ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE?
>> NO, WE'RE NOT GIVING YOU MORE
NOW BECAUSE THE STANDING IS
STILL OCCURRING AS WE TALK.
THIS STORM IS NOT OVER IN
NORTH CAROLINA.
AND JUST BECAUSE CNN OR OTHER
PEOPLE, NATIONAL PEOPLE HAVE
LEFT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THIS
STORM IS STILL IMPACTING NORTH
CAROLINA A GREAT DEAL.
PART OF THE REASON WHY IS ALL
THE RAIN IN FAYETTEVILLE, THAT
CAME UP FROM CHARLESTON, YOU
KNOW, THE STORM TURNED INWARD
WHEN ALL THE MODELS SAID IT WAS
GOING TO GO OUT TO THE OCEAN.
BUT IT TURNED INWARD, AND WITH
ALL THIS RAIN IN FAYETTEVILLE
AND RALEIGH, RECORD AMOUNTS, NOW
THAT RAIN IS GOING DOWNSTREAM,
AND DOWNSTREAM IN THREE MAJOR
RIVERS, AND EVERY DOWN IS --
TOWN IS IN DANGER.
WE HAVE COMMUTER MODELS, WE'RE
DOING EVACUATIONS AS WE SPEAK.
THE OTHER DANGER IS WE HAVE THE
CREEKS AND STREAMS ARE THE OTHER
DANGER, WHERE YOU HAVE DAMS THAT
AREN'T HOLDING UP.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
LUMBERTON AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND THOSE PEOPLE GOT HIT EARLY
THIS MORNING.
I KNOW I GOT A PHONE CALL EARLY
THIS MORNING SAYING WE'VE GOT A
PROBLEM, GOVERNOR.
AND IT'S ABOUT 2,000
PEOPLE BEING
IN WATER.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY ARE LEFT
AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
>> I THINK IT'S A LEVEE, DID
THAT BREACH?
>> THE LATEST I'VE GOT INITIALLY
WAS WE GOT THE LEVEE DID BREACH
BUT I TALKED TO THE MAYOR JUST
RECENTLY AND HE SAYS HE DIDN'T
THINK IT BREACHED, BUT IT
WENT AROUND.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO GO AROUND AT
A CERTAIN LEVEL.
SO THE RESULTS ARE THE SAME.
AND SO TO THOSE NEIGHBORS IT
DOESN'T MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE, TO
THE PEOPLE BELOW THE LEVEE.
THEY ARE FLOODED OUT AT THIS
POINT IN TIME.
AGAIN, I JUST WENT TO A ST. PAUL
SHELTER RIGHT NEXT TO LUMBERTON,
IT BREAKS YOUR HEART SEEING
THESE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE LOST EVERYTHING.
THEIR CARS, THEIR HOMES, THEIR
APARTMENTS, THE ONE LADY I
TALKED TO THE ONLY THING SHE HAS
IS A BOTTLE OF MEDICINE.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING SHE GOT
OUT OF HER HOUSE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO HELP THEM BUT IT'S GOING
TO BE A LONG, TOUGH JOURNEY
RIGHT NOW.
>> HOW SOON CAN THEY EXPECT TO
GET HELP?
>> SIR, IF I COULD GIVE YOU
THAT, WE'RE GIVING THEM HELP
RIGHT NOW AT THE SHELTER.
THE LONG-TERM PLAN HAS GOT TO BE
RESOLVED ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE
HURRICANE THAT WILL HAVE AN
IMPACT THROUGH THE WEEK AND
MAYBE THIS WEEKEND.
>> EVERYTHING YOU'VE SEEN OVER
THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND
TODAY IN YOUR TOURING, IS THERE
ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU
REMEMBER THAT STAND OUT?
>> IT JUST HAPPENED TO ME IN THE
ST. PAUL SHELTER, WHEN YOU SEE
AN ELDERLY LADY, A SENIOR
CITIZEN, BREAKING DOWN IN TEARS
AND HUGGING YOU, THAT'S REALLY
HAD AN IMPACT ON ME BECAUSE YOU
KNOW THEY'VE LOST EVERYTHING.
AND SHE'S SITTING IN A HIGH
SCHOOL CAFETERIA AS WE SPEAK,
GOING, WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN TO MY LIFE?
AND SHE'S LOST EVERYTHING.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY IMPACTING ME
MORE THAN THE SIGHTS AND EVEN
THE ODOR THAT YOU HAVE IN THE --
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN WINDSOR LAST
WEEK, WINDSOR IS GETTING
FLOODED AS WE SPEAK.
THEY FLOODED LAST YEAR.
>> A YEAR AGO I REMEMBER YOU
STANDING IN A PEANUT FIELD
TALKING ABOUT THE FARM CROP AT
THAT POINT.
HAVE YOU TALKED TO FARMERS?
>> YES, THE FARMERS ARE
DECIMATED RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVEN'T YET SEEN EVERYTHING.
THE FARMERS ESPECIALLY NORTHEAST
NORTH CAROLINA, THE PEANUT
FARMERS, SWEET POTATO FARMERS,
COTTON FARMERS, WE'RE CONCERNED
THEY ARE LOSING THEIR CROPS,
PEANUTS ESPECIALLY, YOU SAW THE
DANGER OUTSIDE WINDSOR.
RIGHT NOW MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS
KINSTON AND ROCKY MOUNT AND TAR
HEEL AND GREENVILLE.
AND ANY TOWN ALONG THE THREE
MAJOR RIVERS IS MY MAIN CONCERN.
THE MAYORS LIKE THIS GREAT MAYOR
ARE DOING GOOD JOBS DOWN THERE
RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE JUST GOT TO -- I ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE IF THERE'S A CHANCE, IF
THE WATER IS COMING,
LEAVE EARLY.
DON'T WAIT.
TAKE WHAT YOU CAN WITH YOU BUT
GET OUT OF THERE AND SAVE YOUR
LIFE AND DON'T PUT EMERGENCY
PERSONNEL AT RISK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> ANY REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH
FARMERS (INAUDIBLE).
>> WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCERNS, WE'RE LOOKING AT
WATER, SEWER, AGRICULTURE, AND
WE'RE REVIEWING UTILITY ISSUES
WITH THE ENVIRONMENT RIGHT
NOW AS WE SPEAK.
AND WE PROBABLY WILL NOT KNOW
THE FULL IMPACT UNTIL THE HIGH
WATER MARK OF THE FLOODS.
WE'VE NOT HIT THE MOST SERIOUS
POINT OF THIS FLOOD IN NORTH
CAROLINA AS OF YET.
AND WE PREDICTED THREE DAYS AGO
WHEN THE HURRICANE TOOK THE TURN
INWARD AND THE NATIONAL MEDIA
WAS GOING, WELL, IT'S
DOWNGRADEDDED FROM A 4 TO
1, NO PROBLEM.
NO, THAT 1, RAIN KILLS.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE, FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, TO CHANGE HOW WE
GRADE THE HURRICANE BECAUSE THE
GRADE IS ONLY ON THE WIND.
THAT'S A VERY
MISCHARACTERIZATION
OF THE DANGER.
I THINK THEY NEED TO START
INCLUDING BOTH WIND AND WATER IN
THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE
RAINING OF THESE HURRICANES
BECAUSE THE MINUTE HEADLINES SAY
HURRICANE NOW DOWN TO TROPICAL
STORM 1, PEOPLE RELAX.
AND THEY SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT
GOING TO BE ANY PROBLEM.
SO I'M GOING TO MAKE THAT
RECOMMENDATION TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ONCE WE GET THROUGH
WITH THIS NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AND
FRANKLY FOR SOME
PEOPLE NEXT YEAR.
WITH THAT I'D LIKE TO THANK
AGAIN THE LEADERS OF THIS AREA.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE
PEOPLE OF THIS AREA FOR
HELPING EACH OTHER.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
GIVE TO THE RED CROSS AND THE
SALVATION ARMY.
YOUR MAYOR WAS RIGHT ON TOP OF
THIS.
HE KNEW MY CELL PHONE AND
BELIEVED ME HE CALLED IT A LOST
IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR DAYS,
AND LAST WEEK.
IN FACT, HE EVEN CAME TO RALEIGH
LAST WEEK TO HELP WITH THE LAST
FLOOD, SO YOUR LEADERS HAVE DONE
A GREAT JOB.
YOUR CITY MANAGERS, YOUR
MAYOR, YOUR POLICE CHIEF,
YOUR FIRE CHIEF.
AND UTILITY CREWS ALSO.
BUT YOU'RE STILL DEALING WITH
SOME WATER ISSUES HERE, RIGHT?
SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH
THAT RIGHT NOW.
GOD BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IS THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF
RESCUE OPERATIONS CONDUCTED
ACROSS SEVERAL COUNTIES SINCE
FLOODING BEGAN THIS WEEKEND.
THERE ARE LOCAL OPERATIONS WITH
LOCAL RESCUERS BUT STATE
OFFICIALS ARE STANDING BEHIND
THEM AS RELIEF EFFORTS BEGIN
AND CONTINUE.
MITCH LEWIS SPEAKS WITH BRIAN
BARNES, HE TRACKS EMERGENCY
SERVICES FROM RALEIGH.
>> BRIAN, YOU HAVE HAD A VERY
BUSY SEVERAL DAYS, AND I KNOW
YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN EVERYTHING
THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
BUT TELL US ABOUT THE CERTAIN
ELEMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE
RESCUES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE,
AGENCIES INVOLVED.
>> MOST RESOURCES ARE LOCAL
RESOURCES THAT WE SUPPORT WITH
STATE SEARCH AND RESCUE PROGRAM
AND WE'VE BEEN SURGING FROM THE
WESTERN PART OF THE STATE
PUSHING THEM EAST TO THE
AFFECTED AREA.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE
LATE TO NEED.
THAT'S BEEN OUR BIGGEST PUSH,
GET FOLKS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE,
TO BE EFFECTIVE AND THERE AT THE
RIGHT TIME.
>> HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT
DETERMINING WHERE THE
GREATEST NEED IS?
>> SO, OUR FLOOD PLAIN MANAGERS
WORKED DILIGENTLY OVER TEN YEARS
TO BUILD DIGITAL FLOOD PLAIN
MANAGEMENT TO PREDICT WHERE THE
PROBLEMS WILL BE BASED ON
WEATHER INFORMATION FROM THE
WEATHER SERVICE AND OUR OWN
METEOROLOGISTS, DRIVING
RESOURCES, WHERE WE PLACE THEM
AS WELL AS HISTORY.
MOST PEOPLE REMEMBER HURRICANE
FLOYD AND OTHER MAIN EVENTS THAT
HELPED US IMPROVE OVER TIME
>> YOU CAN'T GIVE AN EXACT
NUMBER BUT THERE
HAVE BEEN PLENTY.
HOW MANY RESCUE EVENTS
HAVE YOU HAD SINCE THE
MATTHEW EVENT STARTED?
>> YES, SIR.
AS OF THIS MORNING WE HAD OVER
1400 RESCUES GOING DOWN AS WELL
AS THE LUMBERTON EVENT WHERE
THEY ARE STILL WORKING NOW.
THEY EXPECT TO MAKE RESCUES IN
LUMBERTON UNTIL MIDNIGHT OR
LATER, 60% DONE WITH GETTING
PEOPLE OUT OF LUMBERTON AND THEY
HAVE BEEN SO ENGAGED TODAY WE
HAVEN'T WANTED TO BOTHER THEM
GETTING NUMBERS.
WE'LL GET THOSE NUMBERS TONIGHT
AND SHOULD HAVE A NEW NUMBER
IN THE MORNING.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST
RESPONDERS, COMING INTO THESE
EVENTS, I KNOW PEOPLE WONDER HOW
THEY GET TRAINED AND IT SEEMS
LIKE SOME PEOPLE I'VE BEEN
TALKING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS
IS WHAT WE TRAIN FOR BECAUSE
I'VE SEEN LIKE IN THE NEWS, ONE
RESPONDER TRYING -- WELL,
RESCUING THREE PEOPLE AT A TIME.
IT'S LIKE HOW DO YOU TRAIN AND
KEEP THAT KIND OF STAMINA GOING?
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR
THESE GUYS AND GIRLS IS PASSION
TO DO THE JOB.
THEY WANT TO HELP THEIR
COMMUNITY AND THEIR STATE, AND
RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF THE MOST
TRYING TIMES IN A LOT OF THESE
FOLKS' LIFETIME, MOST REMEMBER
FLOYD BUT SOME WERE CHILDREN
WHEN THAT OCCURRED.
GETTING THOSE FOLKS OUT THERE.
THEY HAVE A PASSION TO MAKE AN
IMPACT AND TO SAVE LIVES AND
ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP THE
COMMUNITY IS WHAT DRIVES THEM.
>> WHAT ARE THE MOST
TYPICAL TYPES OF RESCUES
THAT YOU'VE SEEN?
IS IT IN THE WATER, RESCUING
PEOPLE FROM HOUSE TOPS, WHAT ARE
THE BIGGEST RESCUES YOU'VE
BEEN EXPERIENCING?
>> IT'S BEEN A COMBINATION
OF THOSE.
THERE'S SOME FLASH FLOODING THAT
OCCURRED ESPECIALLY YESTERDAY
WHEN THE RAIN WAS COMING DOWN,
AND THAT CAUSED PEOPLE TO GET ON
ROOFS AND PORCHES OR ANYWHERE
THEY COULD GET.
WE'VE ALSO STILL HAVE CHALLENGES
WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO DRIVE
THROUGH FLOOD WATER, THE MOST
DISHEARTENING BECAUSE YOU DON'T
HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT, MOST
CASES THERE'S NO NEED TO PUT
YOURSELF AT RISK.
THERE'S BAD OUTCOMES, THAT'S OUR
BIGGEST CHALLENGE.
>> THIS QUESTION, I HATE TO ASK.
I KNOW YOUR PRIORITY IS SAVING
LIVES OF PEOPLE, BUT AS WE'VE
LOOKED ON TELEVISION AND SEVERAL
PLACES YOU'VE HAD A SITUATION
WHERE THERE ARE
ANIMALS AND PETS.
HOW DO YOU MAKE THE
DETERMINATION OF SAVING A PET,
SAY, VERSUS A PERSON.
>> OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE NUMBER
ONE PRIORITY.
BUT MOST PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE
WON'T EVACUATE WITHOUT THEIR
ANIMALS SO WE NEED TO GET THEM
TO AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN
BOTH BE SAFE IN SHELTERS.
WE'LL TRY TO RESCUE THEIR
ANIMALS, CATS AND DOGS AND THOSE
KIND OF THINGS, AND TRY TO DO
THE BEST WE CAN TO GET EVERYBODY
AND ALL THE ANIMALS OUT OF THOSE
AFFECTED AREAS.
>> AND ANOTHER THING ON SOME
INSTANCES DEALING WITH
LIVESTOCK, HOW DO YOU
DEAL WITH THAT?
>> YES, SIR.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS
EXTREMELY ENGAGED IN THAT AND
TRYING TO LOOK AHEAD AT WHERE
THE WATER IS GOING AND TRYING TO
GET LIVESTOCK OUT OF THE WAY AS
WELL AS ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS
AS THEY POP UP.
AND THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF
TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS
AND SUPPORT THE SEARCH AND
RESCUE TEAMS BECAUSE SOME DON'T
HAVE AS MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH
LIVESTOCK OBVIOUSLY AS PRESENTS
UNIQUE CHALLENGES.
>> NOW, OF COURSE, WE'VE HAD A
LOT OF WARNINGS PRIOR TO MATTHEW
HITTING, AFTER MATTHEW HITTING,
SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T
HEED THE WARNINGS.
WHAT TYPE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU
HAVE FOR FOLKS RIGHT NOW?
>> OUR BIGGEST THING IS TO NOT
PUT OUR RESCUERS IN RISK THAT'S
NOT NECESSARY.
SO WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH
FLOODWATERS OR TAKING RISK
THAT'S NOT NEEDED, YOU'RE
PUTTING RESCUERS AT RISK.
WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE ALL
OF THEM COME HOME AS WELL.
DO WHAT YOU CAN TO MINIMIZE THE
RISK TO RESCUERS AND YOURSELF BY
STAYING OUT OF THE
FLOODED STREETS, OUT
OF FLOODED COMMUNITIES.
DON'T DRIVE THROUGH TO SEE THE
DAMAGE.
WAIT UNTIL RESCUES CAN BE DONE
AND WATER GOES AWAY AND WORRY
ABOUT THOSE THINGS BUT LET THE
PROFESSIONALS DO THEIR WORK.
STAY HOME IF YOU CAN.
ALLOW SOME TIME FOR THE RESCUERS
TO DO THEIR JOB.
>> YOU HAD MENTIONED THE HOME.
WHAT IF YOU'RE IN A SITUATION
WHERE, OKAY, EVERYTHING IS FINE,
NO SIGNS OF WATER, BUT THEN THE
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
BEING FLOODED.
WHAT TYPE OF STEPS SHOULD
SOMEONE TAKE IN ORDER TO
TRY TO GET RESCUED?
>> OBVIOUSLY NOTIFYING PEOPLE OF
THE ISSUE IS THE FIRST THING.
THAT CAN BE A CHALLENGE IF THE
PHONE LINES WITH DOWN, CELL
PHONES AROUND WORKING BUT TRY TO
NOTIFY SOMEONE OF THE INCIDENT.
GET TO HIGHER GROUND, A HIGHER
PART OF THE HOUSE.
DON'T TRY TO WADE THROUGH
FLOODED STREETS OR MOVING WATER,
IT'S RELENTLESS, THAT GETS
PEOPLE KILLED TRYING TO GO
INTO THE WATER.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER
OPTIONS THAT MAY BE YOUR BEST
CHOICE BUT THAT SHOULD BE YOUR
ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT.
>> AND IF THEY SEE THEMSELVES
IN A SITUATION, WHO
SHOULD THEY CONTACT?
>> CALL THEIR LOCAL 911 AND THAT
911 SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE THEM
SERVICES JUST LIKE THEY
DO DAY TO DAY.
THERE MAY BE SOME VOLUME COMING
IN SO THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO
GET TO THEM AS QUICK
AS THEY CAN.
BE PATIENT.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
WE UNDERSTAND THEIR EMERGENCY IS
IMPORTANT AS WELL.
WE'RE GETTING TO THEM AS
FAST AS WE CAN.
>> THE DAMAGE IS WIDESPREAD, IT
WILL KEEP INSURANCE COMPANIES
BUSY HANDLING CLAIMS.
UNC-TV'S JEFF SMITH SPOKE WITH
NORTH CAROLINA INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER WAYNE GOODWIN.
>> THERE'S STILL AFTER-EFFECTS
HAPPENING WITH THE FLOODING,
STILL DAMS BREAKING, LEVEES
BREAKING, WATER STILL
COULD COME UP.
WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW TO
BE READY JUST IN CASE AS WE
CONTINUE TO LET THE
WATER GO AWAY?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, JUST
BECAUSE THE MAPS SHOW A STORM
MOVED ON, THE WATERS WILL
CONTINUE TO CREST AND WILL BE
SEVERAL MORE DAYS.
DON'T ASSUME THE WORST
IS OVER YET.
SO FIRST I'D RECOMMEND BE SAFE.
AND MEANWHILE, TAKE CARE OF
YOURSELF AND FAMILY, DOCUMENT
DAMAGE AS BEST YOU CAN BY
PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE.
MOST FOLKS HAVE SMARTPHONES,
TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AND MAKE LISTS.
SECONDLY CONTACT YOUR
INSURANCE ADJUSTOR.
WE HAVE GREAT RESOURCES
AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT
OF INSURANCE.
THERE'S A TOLL FREE NUMBER.
855-408-1212.
OR YOU CAN GO TO ONE OF TWO
WEBSITES, ncdoi.com, OR
nchurriclaims.com.
>> FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T
EVEN GET TO ACCESS THEIR
PROPERTY, MAYBE THEY EVACUATED,
TRYING TO COME BACK, WHAT DO
THEY NEED TO KNOW WHEN COMING
BACK, IS IT START TAKING
PICTURES AS SOON AS
THEY GET BACK?
START WRITING THINGS DOWN?
CALL THEIR INSURANCE
COMPANY FIRST?
PEOPLE FORGET WHAT TO DO WHEN
THEY PANIC WHEN THE SITUATION IS
LIKE THIS.
>> THIS APPLIES TO EVERYBODY
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE STORMS
LIKE THIS EVERY DAY.
OF COURSE, THIS IS QUITE
UNPRECEDENTED
WITH THE FLOODWATERS THAT
ARE INVOLVED.
IF YOU CAN REACH IT SAFELY,
DOCUMENT.
IF THE WATERS HAVEN'T CRESTED
WHERE YOUR PROPERTY IS OR IF
LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS SAY DO NOT
APPROACH THE PROPERTY YET THEN
CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE AGENT SO
THAT THE CLAIM CAN BE OPENED AND
THAT AN ADJUSTOR CAN BE ASSIGNED
FOR YOU TO HAVE AN INSURANCE
CLAIM, APPROPRIATELY REVIEWED
AND PAID UPON, THERE NEEDS TO BE
AN ADJUSTOR ASSIGNED TO THAT SO
THAT WILL NECESSITATE CONTACTING
YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.
>> FOR THOSE PEOPLE WITHOUT
FLOOD INSURANCE, DIDN'T LIVE IN
THE FLOOD PLAIN, WHAT CAN THEY
DO WHEN THEY GET BACK?
>> IF SOMEONE DOES NOT HAVE
FLOOD INSURANCE FEMA WILL NEED
TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT BUT
YOU CAN CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT
OF INSURANCE ATncdoi.com OR
855-408-1212 AND OF COURSE EVERY
YEAR WE RECOMMEND THAT FOLKS
REVIEW THEIR COVERAGES AND SINCE
THE STORM HAS ALREADY COME AND
GONE IT'S INTO LATE TO GET FLOOD
INSURANCE COVERAGE
FOR THIS LOSS.
IF YOU HAVE COVERAGE CONTACT THE
AGENT AND COMPANY.
THE FLOOD INSURANCE IS THROUGH
THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM IN MOST INSTANCES,
THERE'S CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR THAT.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE FLOOD
INSURANCE CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE AND WE WILL CONNECT
YOU WITH THE APPROPRIATE
PERSON AT FEMA.
>> HOW BIG IS THIS FOR THE
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT, HOW BIG OF
AN ISSUE IS THIS, THE
CLAIMS YOU'RE DEALING WITH,
TYPE OF MONEY?
IS THERE EVEN A START OF LOOKING
AT HOW BIG THIS IS GOING TO BE
FINANCIALLY FROM
THE INSURANCE SIDE?
>> IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO TELL.
AS INDICATED, THE WATERS WILL
NOT CREST FOR A FEW MORE DAYS.
AND EVEN THOUGH FLOOD INSURANCE
AND FLOOD DAMAGE COMES THROUGH
OTHER REGULATED AGENCIES, THERE
STILL WILL BE CLAIMS, STILL
CONSUMERS IMPACTED AND PROPERTY
DAMAGE, SO IT WILL BE WEEKS AND
MONTHS BEFORE WE HAVE A GRIP AS
TO HOW FAR AND WIDE THE DAMAGE
IS, BUT FROM ALL I'VE HEARD FROM
BOTH THE INSURANCE SIDE OF MY
SHOP AS WELL AS STATE FIRE
MARSHAL SIDE, I'M ALSO THE STATE
FIRE MARSHAL, THE FLOODING IS
UNPRECEDENTED AND CERTAINLY
SURPASSES RECORDS SET BY
HURRICANE FLOYD AND BY THE STORM
THAT WE USE AS A BAROMETER,
HURRICANE HAZEL.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE FIRE
MARSHAL SIDE OF THINGS.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY
EXTREMELY BIG FIRE ISSUES GOING
ON UNLIKE THE ONE IN SOUTH
CAROLINA, MYRTLE BEACH AREA.
BUT PEOPLE WILL BE COMING BACK,
ELECTRICITY IS COMING BACK ON.
WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO TO BE SAFE
ON THAT END EVEN TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE NOT PLUGGING IN THINGS
INTO A WET WALL, WET SOCKETS AND
UNGROUNDED CABLES MAYBE.
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION.
IF YOUR HOME HAS BEEN DAMAGED,
HIGH FLOODWATERS, CONTACT YOUR
LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, CONTACT
YOUR LOCAL ELECTRICIAN OR ANY
OTHER FOLKS WHO CAN HELP
ENSURE THAT YOUR PRODUCT IS
SAFE TO ENTER.
THERE'S STILL MANY FOLKS WHO DO
NOT HAVE POWER YET.
SO AS WE LEARN THE EXTENT OF
POWER LINES THAT HAVE FALLEN,
EXTENT OF TREES THAT HAVE FALLEN
ON HOMES AND DAMAGED ELECTRICAL
LINES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
CONTACT EXPERTS SO YOU CAN GO
HOME SAFELY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT AS WE
WERE AWAITING THE INSURANCE
NUMBERS TO BEGIN ARRIVING, I
HAVE DEPLOYED BY STATE FIRE
MARSHAL'S OFFICE TEAM TO THE
AFFECTED COUNTIES.
AND WE'RE ASSISTING COUNTIES
THAT HAVE REQUESTED OUR HELP.
THERE ARE MANY FIRE DEPARTMENTS
AND RESCUE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE NUMBER
OF RESCUES.
I THINK Y'ALL HAVE COVERED THE
FACT THAT DUE TO FLOODING PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM THEIR
BUSINESSES, FROM THEIR HOMES,
FROM THEIR MOBILE HOMES.
AND WE ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE
NOT ONLY FROM MY SHOP BUT
COORDINATING WITH OTHER FIRE
DEPARTMENTS, FROM COUNTIES FROM
THE WEST, WHO ARE HEADING TO THE
EAST TO ASSIST.
>> EVEN INCLUDES PEOPLE TRYING
TO DRIVE THROUGH IT.
AUTO INSURANCE AS WELL AS
SAFETY SIDE OF THINGS.
DRIVING IN THIS STUFF
IS NOT SMART.
>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK, OH,
IT WON'T HAPPEN TO ME.
THEY WILL DRIVE THEIR CAR INTO
WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS A SMALL
PUDDLE OF WATER WHICH WINDS
UP BEING MUCH DEEPER
THAN THEY ANTICIPATED.
BEST THING IS STAY OFF THE ROADS
THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED, OFF THE
ROADS WHERE THEY HAVE
SIGNIFICANT FLOODING.
CHECK YOUR LOCAL NEWS REPORTS.
TALK WITH YOUR LOCAL POLICE AND
OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS AND BE
SMART ABOUT IT.
MOST OF THE INJURIES WE HEAR
ABOUT CAN BE PREVENTED.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, OUR PRAYERS
GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE
LOST LOVED ONES
DURING THE STORM.
BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME DAYS AND
WEEKS TO GO BEFORE WE HAVE A
GOOD GRIP ASS TO WHAT
THE IMPACT IS.
>> FOR THOSE WHO CAN GET TO THE
WEBSITE, THE INFORMATION IS ON
THE WEBSITE, ALL THE
DIFFERENT NUMBERS.
FEMA'S INFORMATION AS WELL.
>> YES.
>> YOU CAN LOOK UP YOUR
INSURANCE AGENT, IF YOU LOST
YOUR PAPERWORK YOU HAVE THOSE
THINGS ON YOUR WEBSITE.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE GO THERE TO FIND SOURCES
TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A
STARTING POINT?
>> IT'S BEST TO HAVE A ONE-STOP
SHOP, ONE WEBSITE ADDRESS AND
TOLL-FREE NUMBER.
IF YOU GO TO THAT WEBSITE OR
NUMBER YOU CAN FIND ALL THE
OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION FOR
WHATEVER DIRECTION YOU HAVE TO
GO DEPENDING ON THE
LOSS YOU'VE GOT.
THE TOLL FREE NUMBER IS
855-408-1212.
AND THE WEBSITE FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE IS
ncdoi.com.
PARALLEL TO THAT THERE IS IT A
WEBSITE, RELATED TO THIS
WEBSITE, CALLED
nchurriclaims.com.
BUT REMEMBER ncdoi.com, THAT
WILL PROVIDE RESOURCE
INFORMATION AND CONTACT
INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO NOT
ONLY THROUGH THIS TIME OF
RECOVERY BUT TO HELP US DURING
THE REBUILDING PROS ET CETERA.
>> OUR COLLEAGUES AT WRAL-TV ARE
SHARING THEIR DRAWN VIDEO
FOOTAGE OF MONDAY'S
FLY-OVER, THIS FOOTAGE IS
FROM ROBISON COUNTY.
IT'S RAW FOOTAGE WITHOUT
NARRATION SO YOU SEE THE VIDEO
AS NEWS REPORTERS FIRST SAW IT.
♪
♪
♪
>> THERE'S HOTLINE ACTIVATED
THE UNITED WAY OF NORTH
CAROLINA IS PROMOTING.
IF YOU NEED HELP IN THE
AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MATTHEW,
211, MITCH LEWIS LEARNED ABOUT
IT FROM THE UNITED WAY
STATE DIRECTOR.
HE MET LAURA MARX EARLIER.
>> WE'RE DEALING WITH THE
REMNANTS OF HURRICANE MATTHEW.
>> UH-HUH.
>> HOW DOES THE UNITED WAY
FIT INTO THE PROCESS
OF SERVING PEOPLE?
>> UNITED WAY OF NORTH CAROLINA
IS THE MEMBER ASSOCIATION FOR
ALL THE ALL 55 UNITED WAYS
ACROSS THE STATE.
ONE THING WE DO BESIDES
SUPPORTING THEM DAY DAY TO DAYS
RUN THE 211 SYSTEM.
>> EXPLAIN THE 211 SYSTEM.
SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE.
>> 211 IS INFORMATION AND
REFERRAL HOTLINE.
PEOPLE CALL US IN TIMES OF
DISASTER AND EVERY SINGLE DAY
FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
NEEDS, 211 CAN BE DIALED.
IT'S FREE.
IT'S CONFIDENTIAL.
WE HAVE MULTI-LANGUAGES,
170 LANGUAGES WE CAN
HELP PEOPLE WITH.
AND WE DIRECT THEM TO THE
BEST RESOURCE THE FIRST TIME,
I LIKE TO SAY.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
RIGHT NOW YOU'RE GETTING CALLS
FOR IN REFERENCE TO THE
REMNANTS OF MATTHEW?
>> SURE.
SO WE'VE KIND OF -- STILL
SHELTERING CALLS, PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN IN HOTELS FOR A WHILE,
FEELING THE PINCH FINANCIALLY,
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR NEW
SHELTER INFORMATION.
HOW TO GET THERE, A LOT OF ROAD
QUESTIONS, JUST, YOU KNOW, HARD
TO GET AROUND.
FOOD IS THE BIGGEST CALL TODAY
ANYWAY BECAUSE PEOPLE -- THE
FOOD THEY HAVE HAD IN THEIR
HOUSE IS STARTING TO DIMINISH
A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE HELPING THEM GET TO FOOD
PANTRIES OR HAVE BLOCK PARTIES
AND SHARE FOOD OR JUST BE
CREATIVE AND GET PEOPLE THROUGH
THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
>> AS YOU GO ALONG YOU SAY THE
PRIORITY IS FOOD.
WHAT FOLLOWS AFTER THAT?
WHAT ARE SOME.
OF THE OTHER PRIORITIES?
>> DEBRIS CLEANUP, MUCK OUT,
CONNECTING THEM WITH OTHER
FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE
IN THE COMMUNITY WHO REALLY WITH
HELP THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY GET
BACK ON THEIR FEET IN A
SPEEDY SORT OF WAY.
CONNECTING THEM TO DIFFERENT
COUNSELING SERVICES AND DISASTER
CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, SO
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG HAUL FOR
PEOPLE AND THEY WILL NEED TO
REALLY HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT TO
GET THROUGH THIS.
>> AND ONCE AGAIN, IF PEOPLE
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT 211,
WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO?
>> GO TO NC211.ORG, OR
THEY CAN JUST DIAL 211 AND
TRY IT OUT.
>> lET'S HEAD BACK TO THE
MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS CENTER
WHERE MITCH LEWIS SPEAKS WITH
COLONEL CHRIS WHITMIRE
OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE
>>> YOU'RE WITH THE AIR FORCE,
WHEN THERE ARE EMERGENCIES THAT
HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY WHAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH, YOU HEAR A LOT
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?
>> MY ROLE, AND I WORK VERY
CLOSE WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD,
AND FOR THAT MATTER ALL THE
PARTNERS OF THE STATE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM WHICH IS LED BY
THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, I'M A FEDERAL
ENTITY, WHEN I'M HERE, AND AS A
LIAISON WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE IS STATES HAVE PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
WELL-BEING OF THEIR CITIZENS.
AND WITH THAT, OUR STATE SETS
THE BAR ON ITS ABILITY AND HOW
IT HANDLES EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
IT DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB AND
MANY STATES COME HERE TO EMULATE
HOW WE DO IT.
WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE YOU
CAN'T HAVE AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF
CAPABILITIES FROM A BUDGET
STANDPOINT, SO WE ARE
WELL-PREPARED TO HANDLE MOST
THINGS MOTHER NATURE THROWS US.
BUT WHEN WE SEE THAT WE HAVE
GAPS AND MAYBE JUST LIKE THIS
OPERATION HERE, AFTER SEVERAL
DAYS OF USING ALL KINDS OF OUR
RESOURCES YOU START TO RUN THIN.
SO WHEN IT COMMENTS TO THAT, THE
STATE REQUEST THROUGH FEMA,ER
WHO THE FEDERAL AGENCY IS, IN
THIS CASE IT'S FEMA, A CERTAIN
CAPABILITY, MANY TIMES BECAUSE
DOD HAS SO MANY ASSETS, SO MANY
UNIQUE CAPABILITIES, DOD GETS AS
IT TASKED.
ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS
MYSELF, WE HAVE AN ARMY, MARINE,
AIR FORCE LIAISON, WE FIND WAYS
TO FILL THOSE GAPS IN AS TIMELY
OF A WAY AS POSSIBLE.
>> NOW, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, IT
SEEMS LIKE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF
COGS TO MAKE THIS
PROCESS WORK SMOOTHLY.
WHEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION, AN
EMERGENCY SITUATION COME UP, HOW
DO YOU GO ABOUT, ESPECIALLY WHEN
YOU'RE LOOKING AT FLOODING, FOR
EXAMPLE, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT
ASSESSING THE DAMAGE?
WHAT'S THAT PROCESS LIKE?
>> OKAY, EVERY DISASTER HAS ITS
OWN CHARACTERISTICS.
A HURRICANE, WE HAVE THE LUXURY
OF KNOWING IT'S HEADED OUR WAY.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES AND
ESPECIALLY WHEN MOTHER NATURE
THROWS YOU A COUPLE CURVE BALLS,
SOMETIMES THE LUXURY OF
TIME IS SHORTENED.
SO HOW TO SHORTEN THE RESPONSE
TO NEED IS VERY KEY, AND IN
TERMS OF ME AS AN AIR LIAISON,
AS AN EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE WAYS
THAT DIFFERENT CAPABILITIES ARE
HERE TO HELP NORTH CAROLINA, WE
HAVE COAST GUARD CAPABILITIES
THAT HAVE A DAY TO DAY SEARCH
AND RESCUE MISSION, THEY ARE
EARNING THEIR PAY IN SPADES.
THE NATIONAL GUARD AND HIGHWAY
PATROL ARE KEY DOING HOIST
RESCUES, BEING ABLE TO SEE THE
DAMAGE OUT THERE.
NOT EVERY PLACE IS HURT AS
BAD AS ANOTHER.
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS TELL FROM THE
GROUND OR AIR BUT YOU NEED A WAY
TO FIGURE OUT BEST PRIORITIZING
WHERE WE NEED TO PUT OUR
RESPONDERS FIRST FOR
LIFE AND LIMB.
I'LL ALSO MENTION THE CIVIL AIR
PATROL, MOST PEOPLE SEE IT AS AN
ORGANIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS,
IT IS DOING TREMENDOUS
UTILITY RIGHT NOW.
I LOST COUNT OF THE MISSIONS, I
HAVEN'T CHECKED IN THE LAST
COUPLE HOURS, BUT THEY HAVE 13
AIRCRAFT FLYING MULTIPLE
MISSIONS JUST TODAY AND WHAT
THEY ARE DOING IS THEY ARE DOING
ANYTHING FROM SPOTTING
FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY
POSSIBLY BE MISSING.
THEY ARE LOOKING AT DAMAGE TO
SEE WHERE DAMS THAT MAY BE
VULNERABLE, WHAT CONDITION
AERIAL -- YOU KNOW, WHAT DO THEY
SEE, WHAT PICTURES CAN THEY SEND
BACK, AND THEY ALSO ARE DOING
SOME CRITICAL NEED, CARGO AND
PASTURE TRANSPORT, SO MANY
MOVING PARTS IN THE AIR PICTURE.
AS A FEDERAL PARTNERS, WE'RE
ABLE TO HELP WITH.
AGAIN, WE'RE IN A SUPPORT ROLE.
WE'RE NOT IN A COMMAND
OR CONTROL, WE'RE
IN A SUPPORT ROLE.
>> YOU TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER.
AS FAR AS NORTH CAROLINA IS
CONCERNED, WHERE DO WE STAND
WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONDING TO
EMERGENCIES, ESPECIALLY COMPARED
TO OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY.
>> WELL, I WILL SAY FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF BEING IN THIS
BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS, AND
MAYBE I'M A LITTLE BIASED
BECAUSE IT IS MY STATE, MY HOME
STATE, BUT NORTH CAROLINA
GENERALLY SETS THE BAR AS TO HOW
THEY DO EMERGENCY RESPONSE, HOW
THEY HAVE INTERAGENCY
COORDINATION.
AND ALSO HOW THEY LEVERAGE
LOCAL, STATE AND WHEN NEEDED
FEDERAL CAPABILITIES, AND I WILL
SAY THAT THE INFORMATION,
COMMUNICATION, TASKING, BEING A
GOOD STEWARD OF TAXPAYERS'
MONEY, I HAVE HEARD MANY PEOPLE
FROM MULTIPLE FEDERAL AND STATE
CIRCLES COMPLIMENTARY, AND THEY
SHOULD BE, OF HOW GOVERNOR
McCRORY IS HANDLING THINGS,
MIKE SPRAYBERRY, THE NORTH
CAROLINA GUARD AND ALL THE
PLAYERS, STATE HIGHWAY PATROL,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THEY
HAVE KEY PLAYERS HERE.
AND, AGAIN, THERE'S NOT JUST
STATE AND PAID FOLKS, THERE'S
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS.
I THINK BAPTIST MEN IS GETTING
READY TO SET UP TO HAVE A MASS
FEEDING OPERATION IF IT'S NEEDED
IN A COUPLE OF THESE PLACES THAT
ARE CERTAINLY IN A
VULNERABLE SITUATION.
>> WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT
MUCH, BUT I MEAN IT IS QUITE
OBVIOUS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT MATTHEW ARRIVING,
THERE WAS A LOT OF
PRE-PREPARATION.
WHAT IS YOUR DAY LIKE?
I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE WORKING
BEYOND LIKE A NINE-TO-FIVE OF
COURSE, BUT WHAT TYPE OF
SCHEDULE ARE YOU ALL ON?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, YOU TRY TO
HAVE ECONOMY OF RESOURCES AND
TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE.
SO MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY
TIME FRAME THERE WAS MAYBE A
NEED TO START INCREASING THE
HOURS, BUT I'VE LOST TRACK OF
WHAT EVEN DAY OF THE WEEK
IT IS RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE ON 24-HOUR OPS.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH BY AND LARGE
MOST PEOPLE BEHIND THESE WALLS,
THERE'S SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SPENT A COUPLE HOURS ON A COT,
GOTTEN BACK UP, BECAUSE THEY
WERE -- AND, AGAIN, YOU TRY TO
MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT SOME
BACKFILL, BUT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING
IN VERY LONG HOURS, AND, YOU
KNOW, OVER TIME YOU START
TO WEAR DOWN.
BUT REGARDLESS, THIS IS
ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WHO DO
EMERGENCY RESPONSE, NO MATTER
WHAT ROLE THEY ARE IN,
THIS IS GAME TIME.
IF YOU WANT TO USE THAT ANALOGY.
AND YOU DO WHAT IT TAKES.
SO THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOME PEOPLE PULLING SOME
VERY LONG HOURS.
WHEN I SAY LONG, 14-HOUR DAY IS
NOT THAT LONG OF A DAY.
THERE'S SOME DOING
MORE THAN THAT.
THEY ARE WORKING HARD.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO
TALK WITH US AND ALSO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU
>>> LATER THIS WEEK WE'RE TRYING
TO MAKE A TRIP DOWN TO SAMPSON
COUNTY, LOTS OF ROADS ARE WASHED
OUT, THE ONLY RADIO STATION WAS
OFF THE AIR THIS WEEK.
A SMALL TV STUDIO THEY USE FOR
LOCAL PROGRAMS WAS REPURPOSED AS
OFFICE SPACE BECAUSE A
BUILDING FLOODED AND THEY
NEEDED DESK ROOM.
THE NORTH CAROLINA BAPTIST MEN
IS COORDINATING TO START
CLEANING UP OUR STATE.
GALEN MOSS LEADS DISASTER RELIEF
EFFORTS AND SPOKE WITH MITCH.
>> NOW, TELL ME WHAT IS
THE PURPOSE OR MISSION
OF YOUR ORGANIZATION.
>> OUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE
PEOPLE IN NEED, SO WE USE OUR
DESIRE TO SERVE PEOPLE, OUR
FAITH, IN ORDER TO EXERCISE THAT
IN A TIME OF DISASTER.
>> AND ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S
GONE ON, WHAT'S LEFT OF
HURRICANE MATTHEW, WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE
PREPARING FOR NOW?
>> YEAH, THANKS, MITCH.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE PREPARING
KITCHENS, FILLED KITCHENS THAT
CAN PRODUCE TWENTY AND THIRTY
THOUSAND MEALS A DAY, SO WE'VE
GOT KITCHEN SET UP IN
FAYETTEVILLE, WE'LL HAVE ONE IN
LUMBERTON, OVER IN KINSTON
AND GREENVILLE ALSO.
>> HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY GO ABOUT
PREPARING 30,000 MEALS A DAY?
>> SURE.
IT'S A LOT OF MEALS.
WE HAVE VERY GOOD VOLUNTEERS
THAT TRAIN IN THE OFF-SEASON AND
PREPARE FOR EVENTS JUST LIKE
THIS SO THEY CAN PREPARE A LOT
OF FOOD AT ONE TIME.
>> SO ONCE YOU GET THE CALL,
WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL OR ORDER TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO THE THINGS
THAT YOU NEED TO DO?
>> SO WE COORDINATE OUR
ACTIVITIES WITH OUR PARTNERS,
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS,
SALVATION ARMY, REALLY ANY
PARTNER THAT WANTS TO HELP
ANYBODY IN TIME OF NEED.
WE COORDINATE ON PURCHASE OF
FOOD, AS WE PREPARE AND DELIVER
THE FOOD SO WE ARE ABLE
TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.
>> I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF
YOUR PARTICIPANTS AND
MEMBERS ARE VOLUNTEERS.
ARE THERE VOLUNTEERS THAT
YOU NEED TO PERHAPS PREPARE
OR DO OTHER THINGS?
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU NEED?
>> RIGHT.
SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE PREPARING
FOR VOLUNTEERS TO DO A LOT OF
THE CLEANUP EFFORT, A LOT OF
LABOR INVOLVED IN A FLOOD EVENT
CLEANING UP THE HOMES.
AND SO WE HELP MANAGE VOLUNTEERS
TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT EVENT.
>> SO YOU'RE NOT ONLY
FEEDING, YOU'RE ALSO DOING
CLEANUP AFTER THAT.
WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU?
WHAT IS THE SATISFACTION IN
DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME WHEN
PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH, SAY,
PERHAPS A LOW POINT
IN THEIR LIVES?
>> YEAH, SO WE LIKE TO SAY THAT
DISASTER BRINGS A LOT OF
DIFFICULTY AND DARKNESS IN A
PERSON'S LIFE.
THEY REALLY LOSE HOPE.
WHEN VOLUNTEERS COME IN AND
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND LET THEM
KNOW THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN,
WHEN A VOLUNTEER SAYS I TOOK OFF
VACATION TO COME AND BE WITH YOU
AND HELP YOU IN YOUR TIME OF
NEED, IT GIVES THEM HOPE.
WHEN THEY HAVE HOPE,
THEY'VE GOT A FUTURE.
SO WE'RE THERE TO PROVIDE THAT,
PROBABLY MORE SO THAN CLEANING
THE HOUSE, JUST GIVING THEM A
CHANCE, YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
THAT MAKES THE
BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.
>> AND RURAL AREAS, THE CLEANUP
MIGHT COME FAIRLY QUICKLY BUT
ROAD REPAIRS WILL CERTAINLY
REQUIRE MONTHS OF WORK AND
MONTHS OF INCONVENIENCE
FOR TRAVELERS.
WE HERE AT THE NORTH CAROLINA
CHANNEL WILL BE BRINGING YOU
INFORMATION YOU CAN ADD TO DAILY
NEWS CONSUMPTION AND TELL YOU
THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE OUT
THERE WHO WILL MOST DEFINITELY
BRING EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA BACK.
GOOD-BYE FOR NOW.
AND THANK YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS.