Preparing for Hurricane Season
Hurricane Season begins on Monday and ends on Nov. 30. North Carolina will be ready in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane. In addition to encouraging North Carolina's families to prepare, Gov. Perdue is working to ensure that the state is prepared to respond to a disaster. On Thursday, Gov. Perdue, cabinet officials and state emergency management officials conducted a simulation exercise, rehearsing the roles and responsibilities of each agency during a disaster.
In addition, Gov. Perdue proclaimed this week "Hurricane Preparedness Week." This year marks the 10th anniversary of the state's costliest and most destructive storm. On Sept. 16, 1999, Hurricane Floyd struck our state leaving behind 52 deaths and $6 billion in damages.
"In North Carolina we understand from experience the power and destruction of hurricanes. With hurricane season approaching, I ask us all to be prepared," said Gov. Perdue. "I urge all families, businesses and local governments to check your emergency plans and emergency kits before any disaster strikes."
North Carolina ranks second only to Florida in vulnerability to hurricanes. Citizens are urged to assemble emergency supply kits, then make and rehearse plans for where to go and what to do if a hurricane threatens the state.
Citizens are also encouraged to review and update their homeowners' insurance policies to make sure they include coverage for accidental damage and natural disasters and, if necessary, flood insurance.
Families should have an emergency plan and emergency supplies kit ready to go at all times. The kit should contain enough non-perishable food and a gallon of water per person per day to last three to seven days. The kit should also include the following essentials:
· Copies of insurance papers and identification sealed in a watertight plastic bag
· First-aid kit
· Weather radio and batteries
· Supply of prescription medicines
· Bedding
· Changes of clothes
· Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant
· Cash or checkbook
· Pet supplies including food, water, leashes, bedding, muzzle and vaccination records
People should stay informed during a storm by keeping a battery-powered radio for weather and evacuation information and should know evacuation routes in their community. They also need to heed the warnings of state and local officials and evacuate quickly when told to do so.
Citizens can evacuate their homes with small, domestic pets to specially designated pet-friendly shelters. Pet shelters will be equipped with pet crates, but people should bring feeding dishes, food and water, immunization papers and other pet supplies.
For more information on how to prepare for any type of emergency, visit www.ReadyNC.org .
Gov. Perdue Announces $62 Million in Crime Prevention Grants
Gov. Bev Perdue this week announced the awarding of $62 million in grants to state and local agencies to improve community safety and assist crime victims.
After reviewing more than 520 grant applications, the Governor's Crime Commission (GCC) made awards for 315 programs in 86 counties, five universities and six state agencies. The money will help efforts to stop gangs, fight juvenile delinquency, assist victims of domestic violence and provide updated equipment for law enforcement agencies.
"These grants are making a real difference in reducing crime and protecting our citizens," Gov. Perdue said. "We want to keep our people safe, help those who have been victimized and provide law enforcement with the additional resources to get the job done."
To see a list of the 315 grants, please see the attached document here.
Contracts Awarded to 17 Additional Transportation Recovery Projects
Contracts have been awarded for 17 additional highway projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The contracts total $102.8 million and were awarded by Transportation Secretary Gene Conti to the lowest respective bidder, as required by state law.
"These projects will help create and sustain thousands of jobs and provide needed economic development in counties throughout North Carolina," said Gov. Perdue. "They will improve critical routes to help better connect North Carolinians around the state."
The projects are in Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Cherokee, Cleveland, Cumberland, Durham, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Johnston, Mecklenburg, Nash, Rockingham, Surry, Union, Wake and Yadkin counties. Two resurfacing projects, one on U.S. 64 in Nash/Edgecombe counties and one on I-440 in Wake County, will be awarded if the low bidder demonstrates that it has met "good faith effort" requirements in attempting to reach the disadvantaged business enterprise goals set forth in the contracts.
For a list of the projects, see the attached documents here.
The bids received on all 17 economic recovery projects came in nearly 25 percent, about $36.7 million, below NCDOT estimates. Work on all contracts will start in late June or early July.
The transportation projects announced to date are expected to help create and sustain more than 20,000 jobs and generate more than $4 billion in economic development.
In addition to helping create jobs, the 17 projects awarded will complete needed infrastructure improvements. Fifteen of the projects entail resurfacing or rehabilitation of major routes across the state. One project will complete grading work for a stretch of the Fayetteville Outer Loop, and another is for a bridge replacement.
For more information about recovery funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other NCDOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov .
New National Guard Joint Force Headquarters
On Tuesday, Gov. Bev Perdue, Congressman David Price and Major General William Ingram broke ground on the new National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh. The building will also house offices for the State Highway Patrol, Division of Emergency Management and Department of Transportation. The joint operation will ease cooperation during emergency situations.
Construction of the 237,000 sq. ft. facility will create over 4,000 jobs, and $41.5 million of the $56 million projected cost will come from federal recovery funds.
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First Gentleman Eaves Donates Books to Halifax and Rutherford County Elementary Schools
First Gentleman Bob Eaves donated 500 summer reading books through the Scholastic Summer Challenge to Inborden Elementary School in Halifax County and to Harris Elementary School in Rutherford County. The Scholastic Summer Challenge is a national literacy campaign that raises awareness of the importance of summer reading among children, families, teachers and librarians.
"Summer is a time for students to relax and prepare for the upcoming school year. With that preparation comes the important task of keeping up with and improving on their reading skills," Mr. Eaves said. "I want all children to have fun while reading this summer, and I hope they enjoy these new books during the summer."
Harris Elementary School is located across the street from the birth place of Mr. Eaves' father. Mr. Eaves also wanted to donate to Halifax County in support of the current challenges the school district is correcting.
Mr. Eaves is one of more than 30 first spouses who are participating in the challenge.
The State Library of North Carolina also has a Summer Reading Program, which encouraged 136,000 individual North Carolina children and teens to register at their local libraries for the program in 2008.
The state library is part of the Collaborative Summer Library Programs, a grassroots organization of states committed to delivering high-quality summer reading programs to its children at the lowest cost possible for its public libraries. For more information, please contact Lori Special, youth services consultant for the State Library of North Carolina, at 919-807-7425.
Global Manufacturer to Expand in Eden, Relocate Headquarters to Cary
Loparex LLC, a global manufacturer of polycoated and silicone-coated papers and films, will expand its manufacturing operation in Eden and relocate its U.S. headquarters from a Chicago suburb to Cary. The company plans to invest $18.9 million and create 128 jobs -- 68 in Eden and 60 in Cary -- during the next three-and-a-half years.
"This project demonstrates clearly the unique qualities that make North Carolina a top choice for global companies looking to invest and expand," Gov. Perdue said. "We are able to provide a well-trained workforce with experience in advanced manufacturing - still a very important part of our economy - as well as top scientific talent for research and development collaboration, resulting in 128 well-paying, sustainable jobs."
Under terms of the performance-based grant, the average annual wage of the Eden jobs will be $52,323, not including benefits, significantly greater than the Rockingham County average of $29,796. The average annual wage for jobs in Cary will be $93,347, not including benefits, more than twice the Wake County average wage of $43,160.
Loparex currently has 92 employees in North Carolina, all at its Rockingham county manufacturing facility. Of the $18.9 million planned investment, $16.9 million will go to the Rockingham County expansion; $2 million will go to Wake County for the new headquarters.
For more information about Loparex, visit www.loparex.com .
Governor's schedule for the coming week
Monday, June 1
- Office Time
- Budget Meeting
Tuesday, June 2
- Senior Staff Meeting
- Council of State Meeting
- Cabinet Meeting
- Office Time
- Budget Meeting
Wednesday, June 3
- Senior Staff Meeting
- Office Time
- Press Skits
Thursday, June 4
- Senior Staff Meeting
- Governor's Crime Commission Meeting
- State Highway Patrol Graduation, Cary
- Economic Recovery Workshop, Wake Tech CC, Fuquay-Varina
- Office Time
Friday, June 5
- Economic Recovery Workshop, Wilmington
- Ashe County High School Graduation, West Jefferson