As of Sunday, September 16, 2018, Pitt County Emergency Management continues to monitor the gradual rise of the Contentnea Creek in Grifton, as a result of impacts from Hurricane Florence. At present, the forecast crest height will be 18.5’ to occur by Wednesday, September 19, 2018.
While this crest height is lower than the levels which contributed to the most recent hurricane-related flooding experienced during Hurricane Matthew in 2016, this still presents potentially significant impacts to the downtown out outlying areas. Additionally nearly 1,800 residents within the Grifton area are still without power, due to substation damage as a result of the storm.
In response to present condition, and anticipation of flooding impacts, Pitt County Emergency Management is continuing to monitor the Contentnea creek, and work in cooperation with management from the Town of Grifton to ensure effective response to these challenges.
POWER: Duke Power has informed the Town of Grifton that equipment is expected to arrive by Noon tomorrow, September, 17, 2018, which should serve to establish temporary electric services, until permanent repairs can be made to local infrastructure.
SAFETY: Currently, a Sacramento, CA based swiftwater rescue team has been housed in Ayden Fire / Rescue for several days, to assist with service operations in southern Pitt County. Today, this team has been working to assist Grifton Police and Fire departments in performing residence checks and documentation of evacuations.
At present, Grifton remains under a State of Emergency, declared on Tuesday, September 11, 2018. As part of this declaration, the Town has enacted a curfew from 9:00pm - 6:00am, which remains in effect. Additionally, mandatory evacuations of all businesses south of Main Street and all residences south of Queen Street and into Lenoir County began at Noon on Wednesday, September 12, 2018. For the safety of residents, businesses and first responders currently in active operations, the curfew will remain in effect, and evacuees are asked to not return to their homes until deemed safe to do so.