By Michelle Bliss
09-02-10 –
North Carolina:
The American Red Cross is encouraging North Carolina residents who have evacuated to register online so that friends and family can check for updates on their loved one's whereabouts.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation's Ferry Division has suspended ferry operations at the Ocracoke, Swan Quarter, Cedar Island, Hatteras, Currituck, Cherry Branch and Pamlico River routes. The Southport-Fort Fisher route is operating normally. Operations will return to normal as soon as soon as the U.S. Coast Guard deems it safe to cross the rivers and sounds.
New Hanover County:
All after-school activities for New Hanover Schools for tonight have been cancelled.
All classes and campus events at UNCW are cancelled tonight. The university will resume normal operations tomorrow morning. UNCW officials say students are strongly advised to remain in their residence halls tonight from 8 p.m. until midnight to ensure their safety.
Onslow County:
Onslow County has opened 3 hurricane shelters at Dixon Middle School, Swansboro High School, and Jacksonville Commons which is a pet-friendly shelter.
The city of Jacksonville has declared a state of emergency. The city is opening three recreation centers adjacent to schools Friday morning so that residents can drop off their children before schools begin after a 2-hour delay. The Jacksonville Commons, the Jack Amyette and Northwoods Recreation Centers will open at 7:30 a.m.
For Friday, Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River and all tenant commands are operating on a delayed reporting schedule due to possible inclement weather. Essential personnel and shift workers should report for their next scheduled working shift.
Onslow County's United Transit Service is no longer operating today and service will resume Friday morning at 8 a.m., weather permitting.
The Jacksonville Transit service is operating on a normal schedule and will do so Friday, weather permitting.
Senior services van transportation to nutrition sites will operate on a 2-hour delay tomorrow morning.
Pender County:
Pender County Transit is running full service tonight and Friday except for in areas that flood. If vehicles are needed for an evacuation, the transit service will shut down until the evacuation is completed.