Lenoir County updates from officials
Falcon, an English hound, is among more than 50 animals at the Lenoir Community College shelter waiting out Hurricane Florence. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News
On Wednesday evening, Lenoir County officials issued the following updates:
Early Voting Ends
Early voting for the vacant Third U.S. Congressional District seat has ended in Lenoir County due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Dorian.
No-excuse voting was set to continue through Saturday at noon for the seat that opened up following U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones’ death in February, but due to safety concerns for county residents because of Dorian, the polls will be closed until Tuesday.
Polls will open on Election Day — Tuesday, Sept. 10 — at 6:30 a.m. and will close at 7:30 p.m. For more information about the early voting closings due to Dorian, visit ncsbe.gov/VotingandDisasters.
Emergency Operations Center Opens Thursday Morning
The Lenoir County Emergency Operations Center will formally open at 7 a.m., on Thursday, Sept. 5, in Kinston. The EOC includes representatives from Lenoir County Emergency Services, Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, Lenoir County Health Department, Lenoir County Department of Social Services, Lenoir County Transit, Kinston Police Department, Kinston Fire Department, State Highway Patrol and N.C. Department of Transportation.
County residents are encouraged to call the EOC at 252-559-1911 for non-emergency situations. However, if a resident has an emergency, they should call 911.
Shelter at LCC Opens
A shelter for Lenoir County residents affected by Hurricane Dorian will open at 7 a.m., on Thursday, Sept. 5, in the gymnasium at Lenoir Community College, 231 N.C. Hwy 58, Kinston. County residents are asked to bring a form of identification to check into the shelter.
FREE rides to the shelter are being offered by Lenoir County Transit.
Residents are also asked to bring food, snacks and water for themselves and their families. If children are coming, please bring comfort items, including toys, coloring books, crayons and other things to keep them occupied.
No drugs (other than prescription drugs), alcohol or smoking is allowed inside the shelter.
There will also be a companion animal shelter provided for county residents at LCC. Residents seeking shelter will check in at the gym and then be given a wristband to take their companion animals to the respective shelter.
“We’re opening the shelter because we want our residents to have a safe environment during the storm,” Lenoir County Department of Social Services Director Jeff Harrison said. “Our residents’ safety is our No. 1 concern.”
Please visit the Lenoir County Emergency Services Facebook page (Facebook.com/LenoirCountyEmergencyServices) for up-to-the-minute updates. King and other county officials are hosting daily Facebook Live sessions for Lenoir County residents on the page.
