Disaster / Emergency Preparedness

When an emergency strikes your family may be without power or access to grocery stores, running water or other day-to-day necessities. The best way to prepare for that is to build a Family Emergency Kit. The Kit should have some basic items, but should match you and your family - like a fingerprint, no two kits will look exactly alike.

The Kit will be helpful whether you are staying at home or you have to leave on short notice.

• Buy a Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Kit
• FEMA's Recommended Kit
• ReadyNC's Recommended Kit
• Orange County Emergency Supply Kit Checklist (PDF)
• Orange County Older Adults Emergency Supply Kit Checklist (PDF)

If a disaster strikes your family may be split up already, or be split up as a result. The best way to assure that you can make contact is to make a plan for how you all will check-in and get back together.

• FEMA's Guide to Making a Plan

There are more ways than ever to become better prepared and more connected to an emergency response than ever.

• Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs)
• Public Health Reserve Corps
• The Red Cross

Power Outages

• Duke Power - 800-769-3766 (Duke Power outage maps). Duke customers may also receive text notifications for power outages in their area. Text REG to 57801 for text alerts. With outage alerts, we'll notify you by text, voice message or email when you have an outage. We'll also send status updates and estimated restoration times.
• Piedmont Electric - Main Office 800-449-2667 or Report Outage 800-222-3107 (PEMC outage map)
• Progress Energy - 800-419-6356 (Progress outage maps)
• PSNC - 877-776-2427 (Signs of a gas leak)

Downed Trees & Debris

• For downed trees and other debris in a roadway, assure that you are in a safe location and call 911
• For downed trees on private property contact the primary insurer of the property and then contact a private debris removal company

Flooding

• Report flooding by calling 911

Shelters

Orange County will coordinate the opening of emergency shelters with support from the Department of Social Services, Health Department, Animal Services, and the American Red Cross when the need arises. There are 2 primary Orange County Emergency Shelters:

• CW Stanford Middle School
  308 Orange High School Road
  Hillsborough, NC 27278 
• Smith Middle School
  9201 Seawell School Road
  Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Considerations

Shelters require you to be as informed and prepared as possible:

• If you need special assistance in a disaster call 919-245-2884 to register for assistance before a disaster strikes.
• Shelter locations may change depending on the emergency
• Listen to the radio for further directions concerning shelter openings:
• WCHL-AM (1360), WCHL-FM (97.9), WDCG-FM (105.1), WRAL-FM (101.5), WYMY-FM (La Ley 101.1 in Spanish)
• Shelters will have food or water, but will not have easy access to medications or many other personal needs.
• If you must have transportation, emergency transport may be provided to you by calling 919-245-6100.
• Bring Picture ID
• Regularly taken medications
• Insurance information
• Bedding
• Towels
• Comfortable Clothing
• Personal radios - with headphones
• Games , reading material or other things to pass the time - especially for children
• Specialty items for your needs
• Do not bring weapons, illegal drugs, candles or valuables
• Smoking is not allowed inside the shelter

Animal Preparedness

• Orange County Animal Services provides emergency animal sheltering at all Orange County emergency services
• Service animals for the hearing and visually impaired will be allowed in the shelter
• All other animals are welcome at the shelter and Animal Services Staff will be on hand to board pets in the best manner possible
• Owners of large animals and livestock should make preparations for their animals as very limited support will be provided in a disaster
• Pets and Animal Preparedness

• FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness
• FEMA Emergency Management Institute Calendars
• National Fire Academy
• North Carolina Emergency Management & Incident Command Training Calendar