This blog is moving to the new one hosted on the new SORS website http://blog.sorescue.org

While the official word is still pending somewhere up the channel … the Central Branch Office RCC is beginning a demob plan. They have had no requests for swiftwater rescue resources. The actual track of Ernesto was farther to the east than predicted. There was a sharp drop-off in the rainfall amounts starting at about Wilson County.

NWS is revising the River/Creek flood statements within the hour. West of the I95 Corridor did receive 8″ to 10″ to 12″ of rain in some places. Rivers will be cresting in the next couple of days.

This is the last update unless things change.
–Matthew

NWS has adjusted the track of ERNESTO slightly east. This means the center will travel through an area just east of Raleigh. The storm is intensifying and may make landfall as a hurricane. Rainfall estimates for that immediate and surronding area has been increased to 4-8″ with isolated areas of up to 10″. Our area is still included in the 3-5″ average accumulation with 7″ in some spots. Rainfall from ERNESTO should begin ~2230 this evening.

NWS has issued river flood statements for moderate/major flooding within the Haw, Tar, and Neuse Rivers. Flooding shouldn’t occur until Sat/Sun.

Wind Advisory for the I95 cooridor has been increased to 15-25 sustained with gusts up to 40mph.

Next Update, 1030 9/1.

-1201

No significant changes.

All TRT water resources should consider themselves “stood-up” for the duration of the weather event. This request comes from OCEM and NCDEM.

Rain forecast totals for the storm do NOT include rainfall from the front that’s moving through this evening.

Further up dates after tomorrow’s conference call.

-1201

The current NWS forecasted track for TS Ernesto will bring it directly through Orange County. Currently rainfall from Ernesto is predicted to begin late Thursday evening and carry through early Friday morning. Accumulation for weather event is 3-5″ with isolated areas receiving 6-8″. Area reservoirs and creeks/rivers are currently low and should be able to tolerate much of the rainfall. The primary concern is flash flooding in urban areas and other low lying areas.

EMS Division Members, I’ve created 12-hour slots on the EMS Availability calendar for those of you that are available to be called in to staff additional EMS units in the event that ERNESTO produces a need. Lt. Blair Turner is the SORS EMS Supervisor for the weekend. Staff recall will be done via text messaging to cell phones/pagers.

TRT Division Members, please sign up on the TRT calendar. Chances of deploying out of county are extremely minimal but we may be needed in county so please be ready to respond. All TRT equipment and vehicles were checked over the weekend (including chainsaws). Please check your personal equipment and ensure that your radio pager is charged.

If there’s any change in information after tomorrow’s conference calls I’ll send out an update.

Sites of interest include:

National Hurricane Center – http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Turn Around Don’t Drown – http://www.weather.gov/os/water/tadd/
Duke Energy Weatherwatch http://www.dukepower.com/weatherwatch/durham.asp

–Matthew
_________________________
Matthew W. Mauzy, Chief
South Orange Rescue Squad
919.967.1515 ext 1
http://sorescue.org

Here are a few links to stories about the electricution call at Kenan Stadium that the TRT responded to last week.

• News14 Story
• ABC 11 Story
• WRAL Story

The TRT had personnel on scene dressed and ready to go in the event that the victim couldn’t be reached by the tower truck.

Thank you to all the SORS members who attended the Orange Grove FD Open House.  We took 1261, 1281, 1294 and 12-Gator-2 out to show off.  Orange Grove had all of their apparatus on display and UNC Air Care sent Tarheel 2 as the event center piece.

It was a great PR event.  We were reminded that everyone loves a Carolina Blue gator with flashy lights – the kids especially love the horn.  We also learned that helicopters are more fun than gators for the big kids!  “Hey Maggie, what’s this master power switch do?”

Pictures of the event.

The feature that enabled a repeated channel to be switched to a ‘direct’ channel has been removed from the VHF radios in 1261.  This should remove any difficulty communications was having hearing transmissions from the mobile in 1261.

Alamance 340 and Person 340 have been added in sequence to both the front and rear VHF radios following UNC 340 and Durham 340.

With respect to the thermostat controls installed several months ago, the please read the following info before complaining about the temperature in the building.

Temperatures in each zone are calculated in the following manner:

• Classroom Zone is an average of the temp at the thermostat in the training room and the sensor in the Board Room
• Bedrooms Zone is an average of the temp at the thermostat in the hallway leading to Bedroom 2, the sensor in Bedroom 1, and the sensor in Bedroom 3
• Dayroom Zone is the temperature at the thermostat in the TV room

Also, ALL PERSONNEL going in and out of station 2, PLEASE close the door leading into the bay at the bottom of the stairs. With the door open all the cold air from upstairs comes pouring down and into the bay. On hot days such as today there is no way that the A/C can over come the 20+ degree difference and keep the upstairs cool.First column is time, 2nd is what the heat runs to, 3rd is what the AC cools to.

Classroom

TV/Radio Room

Bedrooms

High temperature alarms are set for each zone at 85 degrees. Low temperature alarms are set for 60. Every thermostat will allow adjustment up/down of ± 2 degrees which will reset to the defined temperatures for each temp schedule at the above hours.

I am happy to discuss the limits and times for the above HVAC zones.

The front door has been completely replaced and is now back in service. Both the door and the door frame were replaced with new metal ones. This door also opens out which should make it easier to leave the building as you hurray to a call as well as putting less strain on the door locking mechanism.

As there isn’t a combo look on this door, you will be required to use your access card.

If you have problems getting in, please contact your supervisor or email me.