BERTIE LEDGER-ADVANCE
JUNE3,2021l A5
The fabric of Bertie County since 1832
Continued
Emergency responders urge preparation
THADD WHITE
Editor
As hurricane season be
gins, Bertie County’s emer
gency response leaders are
urging caution, safety and
preparation.
Bertie County Sheriff John
Holley, Windsor Police Chief
Justin Jackson and Aulander
Police Chief Jimmy Barmer
are urging caution for the
current Hurricane season.
“The news of even an
above-normal hurricane
season should have us all
thinking about being more
prepared,” Sheriff Holley
said. “Having said that, it is
always vital for our citizens
to prepare.”
Sheriff Holley said it is im
portant for adults to take the
opportunity to teach chil
dren how to call 9-1-1.
“Obviously, we hope there
is never a situation when
an adult is injured during a
storm and a child has to call
9-1-1, but it’s important they
know how just in case,” he
said. “Teaching the children
now will help them if they
are ever in that situation.”
Chief Jackson cautioned
residents to listen to instruc
tions from emergency per-
Ready
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three of which are expected
to be major ones.
There has been an increase
in the average of storms
which may be attributed to
the overall improvement in
observing platforms, includ
ing the NOAA’s fleet of next-
generation environmental
satellites and continued hur
ricane reconnaissance. The
update reflects a busy peri
od over the last 30 years.
The combination of the
different climate factors is
driving the strong likelihood
for another active season in
the Atlantic this year. The El
Nino Southern Oscillation
is currently in the neutral
phase, however there is a
possibility of return of La
Nina later in the hurricane
season.
The predicted warmer
than average sea surface
temperatures in the tropi
cal Atlantic Ocean and the
Caribbean Sea, weaker tropi
cal Atlantic winds, and en
hanced west African mon
soon will likely be a factor in
this year’s overall activity.
“Although scientists don’t
expect this season to be
as busy as last year, it only
sonnel and law enforcement.
“If there is an occasion
where an evacuation is or
dered, leave as soon as
possible,” he said. “Avoid
flooded roads and watch for
washed-out bridges. The law
enforcement community in
Bertie County will be doing
ever5d;hing possible to help
guide citizens to safety if
such an incident occurs.”
Chief Barmer said a good
practice would also be to
have an out-of-state resident
or friend on standby as a
family contact.
“After a disaster, there
are times when it is much
easier to call long distance.
because they are not deal
ing with the same storm,” he
said. “Make sure everyone in
the family knows the name,
address and phone number
of the contact person so
they will know who to get in
touch with.”
Bertie Emergency Services
Director Mitch Cooper said
during a storm it was impor
tant to listen to a battery-op
erated radio or television for
official instruction.
“The best way to stay in
formed is not to count on
anything that is powered by
electricity,” he said. “When
a storm comes through, no
one knows how much dam-
President Joe Biden participates in a briefing on the upcoming Atiantic hur
ricane season, at FEMA headquarters, Monday, May 24, 2021, in Wash
ington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
takes one storm to devas
tate a community,” said Ben
Friedman, acting NOAA ad
ministrator. “The forecast
ers at the National Hurricane
Center are well-prepared
with significant upgrades
to our computer models,
emerging observation tech
niques as the expertise to
deliver the life-saving fore
cast that we all depend on
during this, and every, hur
ricane season.”
Last year’s record break
ing hurricane season should
serve as a reminder for all
the residents in the coastal
regions or in areas prone to
inland flooding from rainfall
to be prepared for the 2021
age may be done to that kind
of infrastructure.”
He added that people
should prepare whether
they stay in their home or
choose to leave.
“If you stay in your home,
stay inside and away from
windows, , skylights and
glass doors,” he said. “If you
are in a pre-manufactured or
mobile home, it is probably
wise to head to the shel
ter before the storm makes
landfall.”
Chief Jackson also remind
ed parents to make sure they
kept their children close by
in case of an emergency situ
ation.
“Parents should keep their
children at least in sight, if
not arm’s reach, during a
storm,” the chief said. “It is
important that if an emer
gency evacuation of the
home occurs, parents have
instant access to their chil
dren.”
Windsor Fire Chief Josh
Kilpatrick reminded people
to turn off all major appli
ances if electricity is lost
during the storm.
“If the appliances are off, it
will reduce the power surge
when electricity is restored,”
he said.
hurricane season.
“The best step to prepare
for hurricanes is informa
tion,” Cooper stressed.
“With good, accurate infor
mation from the National
Weather Service and North
Carolina Emergency Man
agement, citizens are able to
know when and what dam
ages may occur from a hur
ricane.”
The head of the Federal
Emergency Management
Agency agreed.
“With hurricane season
starting June 1, now is the
time to get ready and ad
vance disaster resilience
in our communities,” said
FEMA Administrator Dean-
Chief Barmer said it is also
important for those who
have to move around after a
storm to follow marked de
tours.
“If a road is blocked off,
there is a reason for it,” he
said. “It will mean there is
some type of unsafe condi
tion ahead, be that flooding
or a tree down or something
else. Please heed the signs
and follow the detour.”
Cooper reiterated the im
portance of not driving at
all, unless it was necessary.
“We know everyone wants
to get out and survey the
damage to their own prop
erty or to that of their fam
ily, friends and neighbors,”
he said. “It is important that
after a storm people stay off
the roads and allow those
who need to work to do so.
“There will be emergency
crews, police officers, trans
portation workers, electric
ity workers and others out
trying to restore order,” he
said. “The more they are al
lowed to work undisturbed,
the quicker life can return to
normal.”
r
Thadd White can be
reached via email at twhite®
ncweeklies.com.
na Criswell. “Visit Ready,
gov and Listo.gov to learn
and take steps to prepare
yourself and others in your
household. Download the
FEMA app to sign up for a va
riety of alerts and to access
preparedness information.
Purchase flood insurance
to protect your greatest as
set, your home. And, please
encourage your neighbors,
friends, and coworkers to
also get ready for the up
coming season.”
For his part. Cooper said
the citizens of Bertie County
have always been prepared
and he believes they will
continue to work hard and
be ready.
“Our citizens in Bertie
County are typically pre
pared for any disaster,” he
said. “The statement ‘Bertie
Strong’ is true around here.
With Bertie County being
no stranger to hurricanes, it
has become second nature
to many.”
As for suggestions. Cooper
said it was important to ask
the right questions.
“When preparing for any
natural disaster, citizens
should answer the ques
tions: What do 1 need to do
to protect myself and my
family and what do I need
to do to minimize damage
to my property?” he said.
“They should also answer
the question: What do, I
need to survive for 72 hours
should I lose power or be un
able to travel to get supplies
for that amount of time,”
he added. “This amount of
time typically allows for us
to coordinate with response
agencies to get roads clear
and get supplies flowing into
the county should they be
needed.
“But, one thing every citi
zen should be proud, of is
that all law enforcement, fire
departments and emergency
services will be mobile and
available before that 72-hour
mark,” he continued. “We
contribute that to years of
experience and expert plan
ning from our staff and vol
unteers.”
Visit the National Hur
ricane Center’s website
at www.hurricanes.gov
throughout the season in
order to stay current on
watches and warnings.
Brandice Haggard can be
reached at bhoggard@nc-
weeklies.com.
m
Attempted
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trate within the hour, ac
cording to Chief Jackson.
Windsor Police Det. Sgt.
Jason Thomas charged Mi
chael Deangelo Bazemore,
22, of 103 Watco Lane in
Windsor with attempted first
degree murder, discharging
a weapon into an occupied
vehicle and assault on a fe
male. Bazemore is currently
being held under no bond at
the Bertie-Martin Regional
Fireworks
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7 until 9 p.m. from the back
of the Roanoke Cashie River
Center.
There are three food ven
dors scheduled to be on-site
for the events, serving a va
riety of food for everyone.
The vendors include Shaw’s
Barbecue, Porky’s Backyard
BBQ and Top Dog.
The fireworks show will
begin just after dark, and will
be able to be seen through
Jail.
Det. Sgt. Thomas was
joined in his investigation
by Chief Jackson, Cpl. Blake
Mizelle and Officer Dennis
Smith.
“Everyone did an excel
out the downtown area.
“I look forward to cel
ebrating Independence Day
in-person after the last 15
months of restrictions. I
hope the weather is beauti
ful, and everyone will come
lent job on this case,” Chief
Jackson said. “We were able
to respond quickly, get state
ments from the victim and
be looking for the suspect in
short order.”
Windsor Police Lt. Frank
out to enjoy our local tradi
tion,” said Hoggard.
Vendors are still needed
for the Freedom Fireworks.
Anyone interested in re
serving a booth space for
the event should contact
Ratzlaff said the investiga
tion is continuing and addi
tional charges are possible.
Thadd White can be
reached via email at twhite®
ncweeklies.com.
the Windsor/Bertie County
Chamber of Commerce at
252-794-4277.
Leslie Benchboard can be
reached via email at Ibeach-
board®ncweeklies. com.
Sought
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ing shared with law enforce
ment officers. He said while
that is frustrating, it will not
deter the efforts to bring the
murderers to justice.
“Obviously in both cases
there are people who know
what happened,” Sheriff Hol
ley said. “We have talked
to people that have shared
enough we know they have
a good idea who is behind
the shooting, but they won’t
give the information.”
Sheriff Holley said in Wat
ford’s death, there were peo
ple who admitted to hearing
the gunshots, but wouldn’t
identify the shooter.
“We are still getting infor
mation, but we haven’t got
ten exactly what we need
yet,” Sheriff Holley said. “We
believe there is still informa
tion out there, and I am en
couraging those who have it
to share it.
“I think in some incidents
they are worried about us
ing their name, but we don’t
need a name,” he continued.
“All we need is information.
Just call and leave the infor
mation.”
Anyone with information
about either shooting death
should contact the Bertie
County Sheriff’s Office at
252-794-5330.
Thadd White can be
reached via email at twhite®
ncweeklies. com.