Ground Rules - Nags Head



Town of Nags Head

Community Debriefing Following Hurricane Isabel

October 26, 2003

The Town of Nags Head held a Community Debriefing on Saturday, October 26, 2003 at 1:00pm at the Fire Station to receive input regarding the Town’s response to Hurricane Isabel that hit the Outer Banks the previous month. Elected officials present were Mayor Bob Muller and Commissioners Brant Murray, Doug Remaley, and Anna Sadler. Mayor Pro-Tem George Farah was absent. Also present was Town Manager Webb Fuller as well as department heads and other key staff members. Pat LaCarter and Lalla Sidbury served as facilitators for the meeting.

After introducing a list of ground rules for the debriefing, the facilitators reviewed an agenda with all participants. Comments were received regarding the agenda, but no modification was made after a “showing of raised hands” indicated that a majority of community attendees was satisfied with the agenda.

The following notes reflect the ground rules, agenda, and comments as expressed by the community members captured on flipchart pages.

Ground Rules

1. Share all relevant information.

2. Be specific- use examples.

3. Test assumptions and inferences.

4. Stay focused.

5. Refrain from using inappropriate humor or comments or otherwise distracting the participants.

6. Focus on interests, not positions.

7. Explain the reasons behind your statements, questions, and actions.

Agenda

1. Introduction

2. Town’s timeline and Hurricane Isabel activity review

3. Presentation of community’s interests/questions

4. Town’s response to the questions

5. Explanation of the next step

Susan Boncek-

• Permitting process was fast

• Employees were courteous

• Decisions were made to protect people

• Re-entry on Monday let people in who shouldn’t be in

George Embrey-

(Speaking for self, wife, and 15 other property owners)

• Town officials did a super job- security was great

• Property owners’ agents couldn’t check properties to let owners know about their properties- consider process for this in the future

Jeanne Acree-

• Property owners not allowed in to know status of their properties

• Only 1 car per family probably caused more traffic than having more than 1 car

• People allowed in too early in SNH creating too much traffic and problems (not residents)

• What does BOC know about a dune being pushed up?

• Appeared that police didn’t have up-to-date information

Fred Crouch-

(Family was sent to Chesapeake)

• Compliments to the Town for the job that they did- efficiency!

• Homeowners attitudes were splendid- worked together

Susie Walters-

• Communication was limited

• Absence of a voice of authority

• Citizens didn’t know if they were getting accurate information

• Curfew and lack of power (electricity) together make people very testy

• Need a window of opportunity to get out and take care of basic needs

• Control group meeting is at noon and check-out in motels is at noon- produced problem

• Uniformity between towns with decisions is needed

Patsy Respess-

• Couldn’t find out about when to come home- phone lines were always busy and I didn’t have my computer- need an access number with information that tells how up-to-date the information is

Jim Morris-

• Employees did an excellent job

• Wasn’t allowed to return to home in SNH until Sunday afternoon

• People who stayed in SNH were not allowed to leave but once

• Couldn’t help others find out about their properties

• Flashing light at Whalebone Junction wasn’t fixed for at least 2 days

• Next time my needs will be better met by getting a generator and staying

• Couldn’t take Hwy 12 at south end of SNH, but it was safer

Dawn Kampe-

• Need to be able to get out via Hwy 12 because it’s safer

• Needed to just “get out of the house” but could only leave once (for supplies)

• Was in need of ice but the Red Cross never came by

• Didn’t know water was going to be cut off

• Otherwise, Town did well

• Police never came by

Cindy Reed-

• Had 2 of the 3 different items needed for re-entry, but police at check-point were rude and NC driver’s license was needed and was the only way to get in- took 1.5 hours to get in

• Police frightened the children with stories

• Access through Hwy 12 was needed

• No need for re-entry sticker

• Residents didn’t know what was needed

• Town needs to supplement County plans for re-entry

Mike Reed-

• Sense of security with guys on beach and other patrols

• Needs will be met better next time by buying generator and still staying

• Wants to be part of the solution and be a volunteer next time

• Need accurate radio information

Perry White-

• Communications problems

• Compliments to the 104 and other radio stations for consolidating

• Power Co. should consider power to radio and cable TV stations as 2nd priority

• Needed voice of authority

Harry Thompson-

• Thanks to Ralph and street crew for checking on us

• Radio station 104 was a lifesaver

• Water Supt. working alone; need small crew to help Mark after storm

• Water is needed more than electricity

• Can’t access road

• Want officials to be on the radio with accurate information

• Get state police to move checkpoint 5 miles south for better access or SNH residents get ID cards

Charles Rocknak-

• People stay because of the problems with re-entry

• Residents weren’t notified of water being cut-off

• Why wasn’t there any response about not having power?

• Is there any validity that a public official said “let them suffer” because they didn’t leave

• Heard conflicting stories

Jerry McManuk-

• Concerned over:

Closing of road at SNH

New rules daily

“Carpetbaggers”

One re-entry per day

Not allowed input into restrictions

• No contractors allowed in for 6 days meant more damage

Jim Whitley-

• Why is all of SNH lumped together?

• Need to move checkpoint to previous location so they can access Hwy 12

John Ratsenberger-

• Town moved his water meter to get him water when water was shut off- (thanks)

• Need for town to put out in advance a list of communications resources that residents can count on having accurate information

• Compliments to phone company for phone service

George Moore-

• Curfews, permitting, police, etc.- couldn’t be more pleased with the rules because they were put in place for the protection of the public

• Police coverage on street and beach was excellent

Additional:

• Received no emergency e-mail from town

From Commissioner Murray-

• Private streets- getting them clean

Addendum/Summary of Comments Received via E-mail:

Ellen and Dave Dutkowsky-

• Many thanks for hours, efforts by all of Town

• Need a way for non-resident property owners to assign someone to check on our properties immediately

• Suggest finding a way to register property caretakers so they can be admitted to make immediate assessments of damage- will be glad to assist in implementing a plan

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Bisset-

(from Maryland)

• Many thanks to all police, fire, city, county, and state employees involved in keeping us informed

• Website was a great asset in the update process

• State troopers at the roadblock in Manteo were very helpful and polite Saturday night

• Expediency of damage assessment and the reports that followed were great

• Everyone was professional and caring

Roger Barnhouse-

• Many thanks for the quick pick-up of the debris, both sand and lumber, from the parking lot of The Chalet Gift Shop

John and Annette Ratzenberger-

• Were tremendously impressed with you and all of the Town’s employees’ efforts during this time

• Had several opportunities to ask questions by phone or e-mail while evacuated and were always given prompt, courteous, and responsive answers

• Town employees went above and beyond to re-locate our water meter upstream of the shut-off for the broken water main

• Website was great; suggest that more information on state properties in areas not yet accessible would do a lot to alleviate concerns of those evacuated

• Consider allowing multiple vehicles back, to be parked at the residence, but limited to driving just one (i.e., driving vs. parked access tags or something)

• Suggest looking at the wording of the “must stay on your property” ruling so that we can check on our neighbors and their properties without risk of arrest

• Certainly can see that proclamations and control measures, in general, were in our best interests for property protection, safety, etc.- no problem!

Harry Hartsell-

• Couldn’t get any “official” information on the status of re-entry; no internet available; phone was only option and couldn’t get through on Town Hall, Police Department, and Fire Department numbers

• Need to know what to do and who to call next time to get up-to-date information on re-entry status

Marie and Ernest Bridgers-

• Impressed the most the first night back (Sept. 22) by the constant surveillance the whole area (SNH) received from the Police Department

• Nothing but politeness and answers to questions when we called the Town office

• Commend you for your preparedness, diligence, and helpfulness

Cathy Overstreet-

• Very impressed with how quickly the beach road was made passable and how nicely it’s been cleaned up- thanks for all your hard work and for all you do for Nags Head people

Lynn Scarborough and Jewell Scarborough-

• The emergency personnel, police, and Town employees did an excellent job of meeting all needs- thanks for doing such a great job

Bob and Rosemary Burke-

• Mailing the re-entry passes to non-resident property owners was an excellent idea

• Congratulations on a job well done

• Only recommendation would be to speed up process to get drinking water within EPA guidelines

Robert E. Smith-

• By the date of this e-mail (Oct. 21), there appeared to be no efforts being made to repair or protect the public from badly damaged structures and dunes

• With more winter storms likely, leaving these houses, as is, will add to risk of further debris-related damage to our property

Richard Hines, Jr.-

• Stopped 3 times by police officers while attempting to return home

• Had proper address on driver’s license and re-entry permit, but third police officer made us turn around even though we were close to the address on our drivers’ license

• When it’s obvious that you are a resident trying to get home, provision should be made to allow you to do so

Rick Hare-

• Frustrated that property manager couldn’t get into building (Diamond Shoals condos in SNH) to assess and minimize damage, plus access was delayed for 4 days

• Feel that owners’ representatives should be allowed the same access as owners

• Applaud your efforts to capture suggestions and lessons learned

Norman and Mildred Blanish-

• Relied on the website for all the latest information to keep us updated (residence is in PA)

• Thanks for your help and support, and a special thanks to Norma who was there to answer all my questions

Jim and Susan Tury-

• Town did remarkable job of immediately getting on with restoration after Isabel- these comments are for “fine-tuning” the Town’s already good response

• Website was helpful; this effort should be expanded

• Restricted entry probably biggest issue of contention; if Town really wants residents to evacuate, then reasonable access must be given when residents come back to the area or they may not evacuate

• If the Town wants to keep track of who is at home, then after their re-entry permit is issued at Whalebone, access to Mile Post 21 area should be made from the south end of Old Oregon Inlet Road, where it intersects SR 12

• Access via a priority schedule may be a legal problem- property owners, regardless of their residential status, have rights of access and obligations to protect, secure, and repair their property

• To reduce visits from absentee owners, consider a method that allows a property owner to ask about the condition of their property via e-mail, then the Town would take a digital image and e-mail it back to the owner (we would volunteer to do this for the town)

• Restricting residents to their property makes it really difficult not to share or help your neighbors (Ex: sharing electrical generators)

• Dispatch and Police gave conflicting information- need to communicate together (Re: permission to walk on the beach)

• Couldn’t confirm or dispel the following three rumors by information made available:

1. Only one access in and out was allowed per day

2. Dominion Power wasn’t allowed into SNH until all the road clearing was done

3. Hwy 158 closure- if you went to Home Depot via 158, you would have to return via Elizabeth City, Columbia and Hwy 64

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