HANNA LEAVES MARK ON GREENWAYS IN CARY

Minimal damage on streets and trees

CARY, NC – Tropical Storm Hanna left Cary with minimal damage, for the most part —including only five downed trees in the public rights-of-way and one storm-related traffic accident; however, several greenways are closed until further notice due to flooding.  MacDonald Woods Park and Marla Dorrel Park are closed as well as the following greenways: White Oak Greenway between Jenks Road and Parkscene Drive ; Oxford Hunt Greenway; and multiple sections of the Black Creek Greenway and Southbridge Greenway.  The Town is also temporarily suspending boat rentals at the Fred G. Bond Metro Park .

Overnight, staff with the Town’s Fire, Police, Engineering, and Public Works and Utilities departments monitored conditions throughout Cary and responded to calls for service as needed.  For the first time, the Town was able to let citizens know about road hazards real-time using its comprehensive traveler information Web site, wink.  Images from wink’s traffic cameras were also carried live throughout the event on the Town’s government access channel, Cary TV 11.

“Hanna was a great opportunity for the Town to test our emergency preparedness, and I’m happy to say that we got an A,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jay Poole.

All Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources programs are being held as scheduled today.

Severe weather preparedness information is always available at www.townofcary.org. While at our Web site, consider subscribing to the Town’s electronic mailing list service to receive news releases the moment they are issued to the media.

This is the final Hanna update.

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TOWN OF CARY READY FOR HANNA

Citizens encouraged to secure carts, light-weight items this evening

CARY , NC –Whichever way the winds blow, the Town of Cary is prepared for Tropical Storm Hanna and other tropical systems headed our way; Town crews have completed safety briefings and secured Town facilities, and Town staff will be standing by throughout the event to deal with whatever comes Cary ’s way. With Town crews collecting solid waste as scheduled today in about 25 percent of Cary , residents should be sure to bring in solid waste carts, recycling bins, and other light-weight items early this evening to ensure that the items don’t become unintended and harmful Hanna projectiles.

"While nearly every type of significant weather event includes some degree of uncertainty, the Town of Cary is prepared for Hanna,” said Town of Cary Deputy Fire Chief Jay Poole , who helps oversee the Town’s emergency management efforts.  “We encourage our citizens to complete any last minute tasks so that they will also be prepared, especially with several storms potentially following Hanna in the coming days."   Poole added that given the possibility of tornados with this type of storm, citizens are encouraged to designate a safe space within their homes and businesses now should warnings be issued.

As is always the case in severe weather events, the Town is reminding citizens to call (919) 469-4090 for storm-related, non-emergency issues.  Please do not call 911 unless there is an emergency posing an immediate threat to life, health, or property.

Whenever citizens encounter trees downed during storms on roads, sidewalks or other public areas, they should call the Town’s non-emergency line rather than trying to handle them on their own since in addition to being heavy and difficult to manage, trees and limbs often come into contact with dangerous, live electrical wires.

The Town of Cary ’s Great Big Gone concert scheduled for Saturday, September 6 at Sertoma Amphitheatre has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 5 at 3 p.m.   However, the Carolina RailHawks game against Charleston Battery on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. will be played as scheduled at WakeMed Soccer Park .  Persons with questions regarding Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources sports activities should call the weather line at (919) 319-4500 x 505.  For all other programs, events or PRCR classes, please contact the facility where the class or event is being held.

Cary ’s C-Tran door-to-door and fixed route services continue to operate on normal schedule.  If you have questions regarding schedules in case of inclement weather, please call C-Tran at (919) 481-2020 to confirm that service will be available.  

Visit the Town’s Severe Weather page at www.townofcary.org or visit www.readync.org   for detailed emergency preparedness information.

The next Hanna update will be issued on Saturday afternoon unless changing conditions warrant sooner action.

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TOWN OF CARY READIES FOR HANNA

Citizens Encouraged to Get Prepared

CARY , NC –With weather forecasters calling for Tropical Storm Hanna’s arrival along the east coast later this week, Town of Cary crews are getting ready for the worst and encouraging citizens to do the same.  More than half of all the families in Cary would not be prepared if disaster were to strike today, according to the results of the Town of Cary’s 2008 Biennial Citizen Survey taken in February.  More than 50 percent of Cary households lack a complete 3-Day Emergency Kit, and 50 percent don’t have a plan for how to reunite should tragedy strike during work or school hours. 

“Now is the time to get emergency plans and provisions in order,” said Town of Cary Deputy Fire Chief Jay Poole , who helps oversee the Town’s emergency preparedness activities.  “If you don’t already have a 3-day emergency kit and plans to reunite with family following a disaster, it’s not too late to take steps to protect you and your loved ones.”  Poole also noted that families should include preparations for pets as part of the plan.

Citizens can visit the Town’s Severe Weather page at www.townofcary.org or visit www.readync.org   for detailed emergency preparedness information.

For its part, the Town is visiting all Town facilities, including parks, to ensure that any loose items are secured.  Throughout this week, crews will attend safety briefings on working in flooded areas and using related equipment such as chainsaws for debris removal.  In addition, crews are checking storm drains and culverts for and removing any debris along more than 450 miles of streets to ensure that flood waters can drain quickly.  Citizens are also urged to remove any debris such as grass clippings, limbs and twigs from catch basins over storm drains in front of their homes.  

“We’re getting in shape early on, in hopes that our community can weather the storm should it hit this area,” said Public Works Director Mike Bajorek.  “As always, we’re constantly tracking the storm and adjusting our preparations accordingly.”

The Town is also reminding citizens that if they encounter trees or limbs on a street or sidewalk, please do not attempt to remove them.  In addition to being heavy and difficult to manage, these trees and limbs often come into contact with live electrical wires and can cause injury or death.  Citizens should call the Town at (919) 469-4090 to report these hazards.  Please do not call 911 unless there is an emergency posing an immediate threat to life, health, or property.

Currently, all solid waste collection remains on schedule for this week.

Cary ’s C-Tran door-to-door and fixed route services continue to operate on normal schedule.  If you questions regarding schedules in case of inclement weather, please call C-Tran at (919) 481-2020 to confirm that service will be available.  

Persons with questions regarding Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources sporting events should call the weather line at (919) 319-4500 x 505.  For all other programs, events or PRCR classes, please contact the facility where the class or event is being held.

The next update will be Friday morning unless changing conditions warrant sooner action.

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