It’s storm season. A major weather event could impact us. Would you know what to do if your property sustained damage from a hurricane, tornado, or flood? How long should you wait to begin assessing the damage, or notify your insurance company to file a claim? And what should you look for to ensure that the contractor you’re hiring to repair your home is a reputable one?

Understanding that it can be a very stressful situation, we created a webpage to help those that are faced with this reality. Entitled “After the Storm: Frequently Asked Questions,” it provides guidance and information to help you determine what to do next. It also serves as a reminder that most work will require a permit and inspections from the City.

While this webpage is written from a Development Services perspective and specifically addresses what to do after a storm, it also includes a link to the City’s Emergency Management webpage called "Preparing for a Disaster." It provides information about specific types of disasters and helps you plan what to do before, during, and after a storm event.

I hope you find the information useful. If you've experienced storm damage in the past and know of any other topics that should be addressed on the webpage, please share those with me! I'd like it to be as comprehensive as possible. Thanks for reading!

As we prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Florence, the development community should immediately review the following list to ensure their jobs sites are as safe as possible before the storm:

• All job sites must be secured and free of debris which may be affected by high winds and/or flooding;
• All job site equipment, scaffolding, lifts, and cranes must be secured;
• All street potholes need to be filled-in with temporary asphalt (cold patch), no stone;
• All open pits need to be filled-in or secured;
• All sidewalk closures need to be safe and secure. They should be re-opened, if possible, and;
• Remove all non-permanent lane closures to accommodate emergency vehicles.

Inspection information:

• Inspection services will be limited all day on Wednesday (9/12) in preparation for the storm.
• In the event of major damage, normal scheduled inspection services will be suspended until further notice.

Residents can download our After the Storm FAQ for helpful information if property becomes damaged. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office at 919-996-2500.

The recent snow and ice from Jonas served as a reminder that it is, indeed, winter!  Thankfully, we did not experience blizzard conditions, nor did the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man make an appearance as with 2014's "snowpocalypse."

Many did lose power, however, and road conditions were quite hazardous due to the ice. Today’s blog photo depicts just how icy it was in my backyard. Fortunately, the ice didn’t stick around too long as temperatures surged in the days following the storm.

Some City services were limited during the event, but our offices remained open for business. In an effort to keep our customers informed, we posted on Twitter and sent inclement weather alerts to our subscribers explaining what to do if your meter box was damaged and instructions for scheduling emergency electrical inspections.

Thankfully, Hurricane Joaquin was just a reminder that we are susceptible to such storms. I grew up on Florida’s east coast, then moved to eastern N.C. in the mid-nineties, just in time for Hurricanes Bertha and Fran. I’d later witness the full fury of Floyd’s floodwaters, and the chaos brought by storms like Isabel and last year’s “snowpocalypse.” One thing I've learned is that it is best to be prepared. Not only for the weather event, but the aftermath.