Macon County Now Under State of Emergency Due to Anticipated Impacts of Hurricane Helene

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Macon County is now under a State of Emergency due the projected impacts of the remnants of Hurricane Helene. A copy is below, as well as a copy of a press release from the county emergency management regarding this storm.

---Begin Sponor Segment---

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PROCLAMATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
MACON COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA


Section 1. Pursuant to Macon Coliunty Ordinance Chapter 31 and Chapter 166 of the North Carolina General Statutes and the specific authority granted pursuant to NCGS §166A-19.22, I have determined that a S ate of Emergency as defined in County Ordinance 31-3 exists in the County of Macon as result of the heavy rainfall and gusty winds that may affect our region.

Section 2. I, therefore, proclaim the existence of a State of Emergency in the County of Macon.

,-• Section 3. The area of the State of Emergency shall include all of Macon County not ineluding any area within the corporate limits of any municipality.

Section 4. Any and all applicable local plans, mutual assistance compacts and agreements are authorized along with the furnishing of assistance thereunder.

Section 5. This proclamation shall become effective on September 26, 2024 at 11am

GARY SHIELDS, CHAIRMAN
MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

; MACON COUNTY COURTHOUSE ANNEX
5 WEST P.IAIN STREET FRANKLIN, NORTH CAROLINA 28734
PHONE 828-349-2000 FAX: 828-349-2400

Press Release
Macon County Emergency Services
September 26, 2024
Warren Cabe, Director

As the remnants of Hurricane Helene approach our area, moderate to heavy rainfall continues to affect Macon County. Rain is expected to continue into tonight and early tomorrow and streams could rise rapidly. Windy conditions may also cause trees to fall in some locations due to saturated soil conditions. Monitor local media outlets for weather information. Do not drive through flooded roadways and be prepared for isolated power outages. Decrease your speed while driving. If you live in flood prone areas be prepared for flooding events. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies but do not call 9-1-1 for road conditions or power outages. Report power outages to your utility provider.


Published at 3.10pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2024

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Governor Declares State of Emergency in Response to Ongoing Wildfires in Western North Carolina

Map by Bobby Coggins for Macon Media.

 

PRESS RELEASE (11-08-2023)

NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR

Today (November 8th), Governor Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency in response to the ongoing wildfires in Western North Carolina and the continued drought conditions throughout the state.

“I am grateful for the first responders who have jumped into action to help combat the ongoing wildfires in Western North Carolina,” said Governor Cooper. “The fires and the continued droughts across the state pose a risk to public health and safety and we want to ensure that all residents and their property remain safe and protected."

The Executive Order will coordinate and support emergency response operations among North Carolina entities and officials to ensure the protection and safety of North Carolina residents.

The emergency area is specified to encompass Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties as well as tribal lands in the State of North Carolina held by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

“The current wildfires, combined with the ongoing drought and weather forecast have increased our risk for additional fire activity, especially in the western part of our state. This emergency declaration will help facilitate getting the needed resources to combat these wildfires, to save lives and property, and to support our local jurisdictions and agencies, as well as state partners who are engaged in fighting these fires.” said Will Ray, Director of North Carolina Emergency Management. “We are incredibly proud of the North Carolina Forest Service, local fire departments, and the US Forest Service who have stepped up to combat these fires and protect our state.”

Executive Order No. 293 follows:

ROY COOPER GOVERNOR November S. 2023 

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 293 

DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO EXISTING AND POTENTIAL WILDFIRES 

WHEREAS, since 25 October 2023 there have been multiple active wildfires in western North Carolina in addition to active wildfires in the Commonwealth of Virginia near the North Carolina border; and 

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council in its 2 November 2023 assessment observed severe drought in the southern mountains and moderate drought in the Piedmont regions of North Carolina with potential worsening conditions; and WHEREAS, due to the hazardous wildfire conditions, the North Carolina Forest Service has cancelled all burning permits and implemented an open burning ban in thirty (30) counties, and several counties have issued local burning bans or a local state of emergency; and WHEREAS, the wildfires combined with the severe and moderate drought conditions could have a significant impact on public health, public safety and to public and private property in the State of North Carolina; and 

WHEREAS, the current and anticipated impacts from the multiple wildfires combined with the severe and moderate drought conditions constitute a state of emergency as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 166A-19.3(6); and 

WHEREAS, certain measures are necessary to ensure the protection and safety of North Carolina residents and to coordinate the emergency response among state and local entities and officials; and 

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.1(3) provides that it is the responsibility of the undersigned, state agencies, and local governments to "provide for the rapid and orderly rehabilitation of persons and restoration of property"; and 

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.1(4) provides that it is the responsibility of the undersigned, state agencies, and local governments to "provide for cooperation and coordination of activities relating to emergency mitigation preparedness, response, and recovery among agencies and officials of this state and with similar agencies and officials of other states and with other private and quasi-official organizations"; and 

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 166A-19.10 and 166A-19.20 authorize the undersigned to declare a state of emergency and exercise the powers and duties set forth therein to direct and aid in the response to, recovery from. and mitigation against emergencies; and 

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.10(3) authorizes the undersigned to delegate any gubernatorial authority vested in him under the Emergency Management Act, and to provide for the subdelegation of that authority. 

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and the laws of the State of North Carolina, IT IS ORDERED: 

Section 1. 

I hereby declare that a state of emergency, as determined by N C Gen Stat §§ 166A.19.3(6). exists in the counties and tribal lands listed below listed below, due to current and anticipated impacts from multiple wildfires in addition to the severe and moderate drought conditions which has increased the risk of hazardous wildfires. 

For purposes of this Executive Order, the emergency area is the following counties: Alexander. Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Carrubus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, lredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Swain, Transylania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey. as well as tribal lands in the State of North Candied held by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. ("the Emergency Area").

 

Section 2. 

I order all sane and local government entities and agencies to cooperate in the implementation of the provisions of this declaration and the provisions of the North Carolina Emergency Operations Plan ("the Plan").

 

I delegate to Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr., the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety ("DPS"), or his designee, all power and authority granted to and required of me In Article 1A of Chapter I64A of the North Carolina General Statutes for the purpose of implementing the Plan and deploying the State Emergency Response Team to take the appropriate actions necessary to promote and secure the safety and protection of the populace in North Carolina. 

Secretary Buffaloe, as Chief Coordinating Officer for the State of North Carolina, shall exercise the powers prescribed in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-602. 

Section 3.

I further direct Secretary Buffalo. or his designee. to seek assistance from any and all agencies of the United States Government as may be needed to meet the emergency and to seek reimbursement for costs incurred by the state in responding to this emergency. 

Section 4. 

This Executive Order does not prohibit or restrict lawfully possessed firearms or ammunition or impose any limitation on the consumption, transportation, sale, or purchase of alcoholic beverages.

 

Section 5. 

 

Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.23, this declaration triggers the prohibition against excessive pricing as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 75-37 and 75-38 in the Emergency Area. 

Section 6. 

This Executive Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect for at least thirty (30) days. unless earlier terminated or extended.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF. I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in the City of Raleigh. this 8th day of November in the year of our Lorrd two thousand and twenty-three.

Roy Cooper

Governor 

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President Biden Notifies US House and US Senate it is Necessary to Continue the National Emergency Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency Concerning the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-⁠19) Pandemic

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Madam President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Proclamation 9994 of March 13, 2020, beginning March 1, 2020, concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is to continue in effect beyond March 1, 2022.

There remains a need to continue this national emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant risk to the public health and safety of the Nation. More than 900,000 people in this Nation have perished from the disease, and it is essential to continue to combat and respond to COVID-19 with the full capacity and capability of the Federal Government.

Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Proclamation 9994 concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sincerely,

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Town of Franklin Declares a Fire Danger Emergency

PRESS RELEASE (11-30-2021)

TOWN OF FRANKLIN

DECLARATION OF A FIRE DANGER EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, weather or other conditions exist which may make the open buming of any substance unduly hazardous and a danger to public safety, and in conjunction with the North Carolina Forest Service's bum ban which was instituted on November 29,2021 at 5:00 p.m. the Mayor has declared a "Fire Danger Emergency"; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the above-described emergency I have determined that there is an imminent threat of, or existing conditions may cause or could cause, widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property; and

WIIEREAS, declaring a Fire Danger Emergency and imposing the restrictions and prohibitions ordered herein is necessary to maintain order and protect public health, safety, and welfare, and to secure property.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the Town of Franklin under Article A of Chapter 166-4 of the North Carolina General Statutes and Chapter 34 of the Town of Franklin Code oF ordinances:

Section 1. A Fire Danger Emergency is hereby declared within the jurisdiction of Franklin.

Section 2. The emergency area covered by this state of emergency shall be the town limits of the Town ol Franklin and its extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Section 3. The following restrictions and prohibitions are imposed 

a. All open buming of any substance shall be prohibited within any or all of the Town of Franktin until such time as the bum ban declaration from the North Carolina Forest Service has been rescinded; and

b. Open buming means the intentional buming ol any substance, whether natural or manmade, or the intentional casting offofany burning substance, whether natural or manmade, except the buming of such substance in a container sufficient so as to prohibit the escape of any of the buming substance, or any sparks, flames or hot ashes from the container; and

c. The escape of any of such burning substance, or the escape of any sparks, flames or hot ashes from any such container shall be deemed prima facie evidence that the container was insuffrcient so as to meet the exception from the definition of an open buming set forth herein.

d. The maintaining of a fire in any interior fireplace, stove or fumace is specifically excluded from the definition of an open buming as contemplated by this declaration. 

Section 4. I hereby order all Town of Franklin law enforcement officers, employees, and all other emergency management personnel subject to our control to cooperate in the enforcement and implementation of the provisions of this Declaration, all applicable local ordinances, state and federal laws, and the Town of Franklin Emergency Operations Plan.

Section 6. This declaration shall take effect on November 30 at 9:00 a.m., and shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded.

DECLARED

Mayor Robert S. Scott

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President Trump Approves State of Emergency Declaration for Biden Inauguration

Issued on: January 11, 2021
Published here: January 12, 2021

Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the District of Columbia and ordered Federal assistance to supplement the District’s response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from the 59th Presidential Inauguration from January 11 to January 24, 2021.

The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the District of Columbia.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 100 percent Federal funding.

Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Thomas J. Fargione as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

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Governor Makes Masks Mandatory

Governor Cooper has issued Executive Order 147, which extends Executive Order 141's Safer At Home restrictions and requires people, with some exceptions, to wear face coverings in public when social distancing is not possible.

A copy of the executive order and the video briefing where he made the announcement are posted below.

--- BEGIN COMMENTARY---

I try not to stray from simply passing along news and reports of what is happening in my news reports without adding my voice to the news with the belief that most reasonable people can make up their own minds about what they see, hear, or read. 

This time I will make an exception to share with you why wearing a mask or face covering is essential during this public health emergency. Everyone should do their part to slow or stop this thing. 

The bottom line about masks or face coverings is they slow the momentum of droplets in your exhalations. If you're infected with COVID-19, then these droplets you exhale when you breathe will contain SARS CoV-2 particles and there will be less of a chance that you'll spread the infection to others. Since many people are asymptomatic for a time of a few days, and there are many who never exhibit symptoms or exhibit mild symptoms, it is best to presume everyone is infected and wear face coverings or masks to do their part in slowing or stopping the spread of this disease. There are some people in our community, your family, and friends who are not strong enough to survive being infected with this disease and it may kill them or weaken them enough so that other diseases or chronic conditions will end up killing them.

Bobby Coggins
Publisher, Macon Media
June 24, 2020
















---END COMMENTARY---


Here is an Op-Ed that is appropriate to share again. Macon Media previously shared it in the June 18th Afternoon COVID-19 Briefing. [LINK] 

A Mask is a Stupid Hill to Die on, America [LINK] 

And, here is Dr John Campbell speaking about masks and face coverings in a way any layman should be able to understand.




North Carolina Coronavirus Task Force Briefing




ROY COOPER
GOVERNOR
June 24, 2020
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 147
EXTENSION OF PHASE 2 ORDER AND
NEW MEASURES TO SAVE LIVES IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Background Statement

The COVID-1 9 Public Health Emergency

WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, the undersigned issued Executive Order No. 116 which declared a State of Emergency to coordinate the State's response and protective actions to address the Coronavirus Disease 2019 ("COVID-1 9") public health emergency and provide for the health, safety, and welfare of residents and visitors located in No1th Carolina; and

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic; and

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States issued an emergency declaration for all states, tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia, retroactive to March 1, 2020, and the President declared that the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States constitutes a national emergency; and

WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, the President approved a Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-4487-DR, for the State ofNorth Carolina; and

WHEREAS, in responding to the COVID-1 9 pandemic, and for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the people of North Carolina, the undersigned has issued Executive Order Nos. 11 6-122, 124-125, 129-131 , 133-136, 138-144, and 146; and WHEREAS, more than fifty-six thousand people in North Carolina have had laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than twelve hundred people in North Carolina have died from the disease; and

The Need to Extend Executive Order No. 141

WHEREAS, hospital administrators and health care providers have expressed concerns that unless the spread of COVID-19 is limited, existing health care facilities may be insufficient to care for those who become sick; and

WHEREAS, slowing and controlling community spread of COVID-19 is critical to ensuring that the state's healthcare facilities remain able to accommodate those who require medical assistance; and

WHEREAS, in Executive Order No. 141, issued on May 20, 2020, the undersigned urged that all people in North Carolina follow social distancing recommendations, including that everyone wear a cloth face covering, wait six (6) feet apart and avoid close contact, and wash hands often or use hand sanitizer; and

WHEREAS, to reduce COVID-19 spread, the undersigned, in Executive Order No. 141, required safety measures in certain business settings, limited mass gatherings, and closed certain types of businesses and operations; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina's daily case counts ofCOVID-19 are continuing to increase, the percent of COVID-19 tests that are positive has not decreased, emergency department visits for COVID-19 illnesses are increasing, and hospitalizations for COVID-19 are increasing, which require the undersigned to continue the measures of Executive Order No. 141-and impose additional measures-to slow the spread of this virus during the pandemic; and

WHEREAS, a phased approach to reigniting the economy and reducing restrictions on businesses and activities - with some businesses and activities that pose a risk for COVID-19 spread remaining closed- is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, since the operation of each group of businesses and the loosening of each restriction on businesses or activities adds incremental risk and thereby increases the aggregate risk of spread of COVID-19; and Face Coverings

WHEREAS, face coverings can decrease the spread of respiratory droplets from people, and evidence has grown, showing in numerous recent studies that the use of face coverings decreases the spread of COVID-19 within populations; and

WHEREAS, in Executive Order No. 141, the undersigned required that workers in personal care, grooming, and tattoo businesses wear cloth face coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and thereby to potentially save lives, the undersigned has determined that face coverings must now be required for workers in additional business segments; and

WHEREAS, the undersigned strongly recommends that all people over the age of two (2) in North Carolina should wear a face covering to reduce the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, some people have medical or behavioral health issues, disabilities, or other reasons that mean they should be excepted from wearing a face covering, and this Executive Order puts North Carolinians on the honor system to identify if they are within one of the exceptions to face covering requirements and should not wear a mask; and

WHEREAS, under this Executive Order, face coverings are required in many types of businesses, but businesses have the discretion to accommodate people who cannot wear face coverings by serving them at curbside, using home delivery, or using other means to protect against the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, all people over the age of two (2) in North Carolina should use a face covering to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but some populations may experience increased anxiety and fear of bias and being profiled if wearing face coverings in public spaces; and

WHEREAS, if someone is the target of ethnic or racial intimidation as the result of adhering to the face covering provision or as a result of the pandemic, they are encouraged to report the matter to law enforcement or another government entity; and Expanding Capacity to Respond to COVID-19

WHEREAS, since the issuance of executive orders to slow the spread of COVID-19, North Carolina has increased its capacity to treat COVID-19, its capacity for testing and tracing, and the availability of PPE; and

WHEREAS, since the declaration of a state of emergency in Executive Order 116, North Carolina has accumulated increased PPE for health care workers and first responders, has developed health care protocols and procedures for the treatment of COVID-19, and has adopted recommendations to promote social distancing and hygiene measures that reduce transmission of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the state's ability to conduct testing of individuals is vital to the effort to slow the community spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, historically marginalized populations, including persons of color and Latinx individuals are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and may have more trouble accessing COVID-19 testing; and

WHEREAS, the undersigned issued Executive Order No. 143 addressing the impact of COVID-19 on persons of color; and

WHEREAS, the State Health Director has been assigned authority by the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services ("NCDHHS"), pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § l 30A-3, to exercise authorities under N.C. Gen. Stat. § l 30A-5, including to investigate the causes of communicable disease affecting the public health in order to control and prevent those diseases, to provide, under the rules of the North Carolina Commission for Public Health, for the prevention, detection, reporting, and control of communicable diseases, and to develop and carry out health programs necessary for the protection and promotion of the public health and the control of diseases; and

WHEREAS, a state-wide standing order for COVID-19 testing will remove barriers and increase access to testing for historically marginalized and underserved populations and other individuals who do not have access to a primary care physician and facilitate widespread community testing, testing of high-risk populations, and high through-put testing sites; and Statutory Authority and Determinations

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 116 invoked the Emergency Management Act, and
authorizes the undersigned to exercise the powers and duties set forth therein to direct and aid in the response to, recovery from, and mitigation against emergencies; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-l 9.10(b)(2), the undersigned may make, amend, or rescind necessary orders, rules, and regulations within the limits of the authority conferred upon the Governor in the Emergency Management Act; and

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.I0(b)(3) authorizes and empowers the undersigned to delegate Gubernatorial vested authority under the Emergency Management Act and to provide for the sub-delegation of that authority; and

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-19.10(b)(4) gives the undersigned the authority to "cooperate and coordinate" with the President of the United States; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-19.12(3)(e), the Division of Emergency Management must coordinate with the State Health Director to revise the North Carolina Emergency Operations Plan as conditions change, including making revisions to set "the appropriate conditions for quarantine and isolation in order to prevent the further transmission of disease," and following this coordination, the Emergency Management Director and the State Health Director have recommended that the Governor develop and order the plan and actions identified in this Executive Order; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-l 9.23 in conjunction with N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 75-37 and 75-38, the undersigned may issue a declaration that shall trigger the prohibitions against excessive pricing during states of disaster, states of emergency or abnormal market disruptions; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-l 9.30(a)(l), the undersigned may utilize all available state resources as reasonably necessary to cope with an emergency, including the transfer and direction of personnel or functions of state agencies or units thereof for the purpose of performing or facilitating emergency services; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.30(a)(2), the undersigned may take such action and give such directions to state and local law enforcement officers and agencies as may be reasonable and necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of the Emergency Management Act and with the orders, rules, and regulations made thereunder; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.30(c)(i), the undersigned has determined that local control of the emergency is insufficient to assure adequate protection for lives and property of North Carolinians because not all local authorities have enacted such appropriate ordinances or issued such appropriate declarations restricting the operation of businesses and limiting person-to-person contact, thus needed control cannot be imposed locally; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.30(c)(ii), the undersigned has determined that local control of the emergency is insufficient to assure adequate protection for lives and property of North Carolinians because some but not all local authorities have taken implementing steps under such ordinances or declarations, if enacted or declared, in order to effectuate control over the emergency that has arisen; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.30(c)(iii), the undersigned has determined that local control of the emergency is insufficient to assure adequate protection for lives and property of North Carolinians because the area in which the emergency exists spreads across local jurisdictional boundaries and the legal control measures of the jurisdictions are conflicting or uncoordinated to the extent that efforts to protect life and property are, or unquestionably will be, severely hampered; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.30(c)(iv), the undersigned has determined that local control of the emergency is insufficient to assure adequate protection of lives and property of North Carolinians because the scale of the emergency is so great that it exceeds the capability of local authorities to cope with it; and

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-l 9.30(c) in conjunction with N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A19.31 (b )( 1) authorizes the undersigned to prohibit and restrict the movement of people in public places; and

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-l 9.30(c) in conjunction with N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A19.31 (b )(2) authorizes the undersigned to prohibit and restrict the operation of offices, business establishments, and other places to and from which people may travel or at which they may congregate; and

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-19.30(c) in conjunction with N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A19.3l(b)(5) authorizes the undersigned to prohibit and restrict other activities or conditions, the control of which may be reasonably necessary to maintain order and protect lives or property during a state of emergency; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-l 9.30(c)(l), when the undersigned imposes the prohibitions and restrictions enumerated in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.3l(b), the undersigned may amend or rescind the prohibitions and restrictions imposed by local authorities; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-19.30(a)(2), during a Gubematorially ordered State of Emergency, the undersigned has the power to "give such directions to State and local law enforcement officers and agencies as may be reasonable and necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of this Article."

NOW, THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and the laws of the State ofNorth Carolina, and for the reasons and pursuant to the statutes listed above and in Executive Order No. 141, IT IS ORDERED:

Section I. Extension and Amendment of Phase 2 Order.

Executive Order No. 141 shall remain in effect, as amended below, until 5 :00 pm on July 17, 2020.

The effective date provision of Executive Order No. 141 is amended to have that order continue in effect through the above-listed time and date.

Section II. New Requirements to Wear Face Coverings.

Executive Order No. 141 is amended to add the following section.

Section 3.5. Face Coverings.

For the reasons and pursuant to the authority set forth above, the undersigned orders as follows:

A. Definitions. "Face Covering" means a covering of the nose and mouth that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears or is simply wrapped around the lower face. A Face Covering can be made of a variety of synthetic and natural fabrics, including cotton, silk, or linen. Ideally, a Face Covering has two (2) or more layers. A Face Covering may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, bandanas, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels. These Face Coverings are not intended for use by healthcare providers in the care of patients.

"Surgical Mask" means American Society for Testing and Materials ("ASTM") Level 1, 2, or 3 approved procedural and surgical masks. An N95 respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ("NIOSH") ( or a respirator from another country allowed by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the Food & Drug Administration, or the CDC) is not recommended for general public use or use in public settings, as it should be reserved for healthcare providers and other medical first responders in a health care setting. However, ifworn, these respirators would meet both the Face Covering and Surgical Mask requirements of this Executive Order. A face shield that covers the nose and mouth also meets the Face Covering requirements of this Executive Order.

B. Where Face Coverings Are Required. People are required to wear Face Coverings in the following settings, whether they are inside or outside, unless an exception applies.

1. In Retail Businesses. Retail Businesses must have all workers wear Face Coverings when they are or may be within six ( 6) feet of another person. In addition, Retail Businesses must have all customers wear Face Coverings when they are inside the establishment and may be within ( 6) feet of another person, unless the customer states that an exception applies.

2. In Restaurants. Restaurants must have all workers wear Face Coverings when they are or may be within six ( 6) feet of another person. In addition, restaurants must have all customers wear Face Coverings when not at their table, unless the customer states that an exception applies.

3. In Personal Care, Grooming, and Tattoo Businesses. Personal Care, Grooming, and Tattoo Businesses must have workers wear Face Coverings when they are or may be within six ( 6) feet of another person. In addition, the business must have all customers wear Face Coverings when they are inside the establishment and may be within six (6) feet of another person, unless the customer states that an exception applies. Customers may take off their Face Coverings if they are receiving a facial treatment, shave, or other services on a part of the head which the Face Covering covers or by which the Face Covering is secured.

4. In Child Care Facilities, Day Camps, and Overnight Camps. Child care facilities, day camps, and overnight camps must have workers, all other adults, and children eleven (11) years or older on site wear Face Coverings when they are or may be within six ( 6) feet of another person.

5. In State Government. State government agencies headed by members of the Governor's Cabinet must have their on-site workers wear Face Coverings when they are or may be within six (6) feet of another person. Public-facing operations of state government agencies under the jurisdiction of the undersigned must also follow the requirements for Retail Businesses established in this Executive Order.

All other state and local government agencies are strongly encouraged to adopt similar policies that require Face Coverings.

6. In Transportation. All workers and riders on public or private transportation regulated by the State ofNorth Carolina, as well as all people in North Carolina airports, bus and train stations or stops, must wear Face Coverings when they are or may be within six ( 6) feet of another person. This provision does not apply to people traveling alone with household members or friends in their personal vehicles, but does apply to ride-shares, cabs, vans, and shuttles, even ifthe vehicles are privately owned.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no customer will be removed from or denied entry to public transportation for failure to wear a Face Covering.

7. In Certain High-Density Occupational Settings Where Social Distancing is Difficult. Social distancing is inherently difficult where multiple workers are together in manufacturing settings, at construction sites, and in migrant farm, other farm, and agricultural settings. Therefore, in businesses or operations within North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) sectors 311 to 339 (manufacturing), 236 to 238 (construction), and 111, 112, 1151, and 1152 (agriculture), all workers must wear Face Coverings when they are or may be within six ( 6) feet of another person.

8. In Meat or Poultry Processing Plants. All workers in any meat or poultry processing plant, packing plant, or slaughterhouse must wear Face Coverings when they are or may be within six (6) feet of another person, and those Face Coverings must be Surgical Masks, as long as Surgical Mask supplies are available.

9. Long Term Care Facilities. All workers in Long Term Care ("LTC") Facilities, including skilled nursing facilities ("SNF"), adult care homes ("ACH"), family care homes ("FCH"), mental health group homes, and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities ("ICF-IID"), must wear Face Coverings while in the facility, and those Face Coverings must be Surgical Masks, as long as Surgical Mask supplies are available.

10. Other Health Care Settings. Health care facilities other than L TC facilities must follow the Face Covering requirements in the CDC Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19).

C. Exceptions. This Executive Order does not require Face Coverings for-and a Face Covering does not need to be worn by a worker, customer, or patron who:

1. Should not wear a Face Covering due to any medical or behavioral condition or disability (including, but not limited to, any person who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious or incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to put on or remove the face covering without assistance);

2. Is under eleven ( 11) years of age;

3. Is actively eating or drinking;

4. Is strenuously exercising;

5. Is seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing-impaired in a way that requires the mouth to be visible;

6. Is giving a speech for a broadcast or to an audience;

7. Is working at home or is in a personal vehicle;

8. Is temporarily removing his or her Face Covering to secure government or medical services or for identification purposes;

9. Would be at risk from wearing a Face Covering at work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulations or workplace safety guidelines;

10. Has found that his or her Face Covering is impeding visibility to operate equipment or a vehicle; or

11. Is a child whose parent, guardian, or responsible person has been unable to place the Face Covering safely on the child's face. Anyone who declines to wear a Face Covering for these reasons should not be required to produce documentation or any other proof of a condition.

Children under two (2) years of age should not wear a Face Covering.

D. Application of Exceptions. Under this Executive Order, all North Carolinians will be on the honor system about whether or not there is a reason why they cannot wear a Face Covering. Everyone in this state is asked to tell the truth and-if they are healthy and able to wear a mask-to wear a Face Covering so that they do not put other people at risk of serious illness and death.

E. How Businesses May Accommodate Exceptions. If a customer states that an exception applies, a business may choose to offer curbside service, provide home delivery, or use some other reasonable measure to deliver its good or services.

F. Enforcement of Face Covering Requirements.

1. Citations under this Section shall be written only to businesses or organizations that fail to enforce the requirement to wear Face Coverings. Operators of businesses and organizations are entitled to rely on their customers or patrons' statements about whether or not they are excepted from the Face Covering requirements, and businesses and organizations do not violate this Executive Order if they rely on such statements.

2. Law enforcement personnel are not authorized to criminally enforce the Face Covering requirements of this Executive Order against individual workers, customers, or patrons.

3. However, if a business or organization does not allow entry to a worker, customer, or patron because that person refuses to wear a Face Covering, and if that worker, customer, or patron enters the premises or refuses to leave the premises, law enforcement personnel may enforce the trespassing laws and any other laws (other than N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 14-288.20A) that the worker, customer, or patron may violate.

Section 15(A) of Executive Order No. 141 is amended to read:

A. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 166A-l 9.30(a)(2), the provisions of this Executive Order shall be enforced by state and local law enforcement officers. Enforcement of Section 3.5 shall be limited as stated in that Section. Law enforcement and other public safety and emergency management personnel are strongly encouraged to educate and encourage voluntary compliance with all the provisions of this Executive Order.

Section 1 ( 4) of Executive Order No. 141 is amended to read, '"Face Covering' is defined in Section
3.5(A)."

Section 6(A) of Executive Order No. 141 is amended to read as follows:

A. Prohibition. To control the spread of COVID-19 and protect lives during the State of Emergency, Section 3 .5 and this Section list restrictions on the operations of business establishments and other places to or from which people may travel or at which they may congregate. Businesses or operations within the scope of Section 3.5 or this Section are prohibited from operating unless they follow any applicable restrictions stated in Section 3.5 and this Section.

Sections 6(C)(2)(c), 6(D)(2)(c), and 6(D)(3) of Executive Order No. 141 are removed, since the substance of those provisions has been replaced with new Section 3.5 above.

Section III. Increase Access to COVID-19 Testing Through a Statewide Standing Order.

Executive Order No. 141 is amended to add the following additional section.

Section 9.5. Statewide Standing Order for COVID-19 Testing.

In order to further protect the public health by providing greater access to
COVID-19 testing, the undersigned orders the State Health Director, in addition to and in accordance with her powers set out in N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 130A, to issue any statewide standing order needed in her medical judgment that would allow individuals who meet NCDHHS criteria for testing to access and undergo testing for COVID-19, subject to the terms of the standing order. This standing order may continue for the duration of the State of Emergency.

Section IV. More Precisely Tailored Mitigation Measures for Long Term Care.

Section 10(8) of Executive Order No. 141 and Section 7 of Executive Order No. 138 are removed and replaced by the following provision added to Executive Order No. 141.

Section 10.5. Limitations on Certain Long Term Care Facilities.

For the reasons and pursuant to the authority set forth above, the undersigned orders as follows:

A. Scope of this Section. This Section applies only to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and combination homes ( combined skilled nursing and assisted living facilities).

B. Limitations. Facilities within the scope of this Section shall restrict visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations, such as an end-of-life situation. Facilities within the scope of this Section shall also cancel communal dining and all group activities, including internal and external activities.

Section V. Extension of Price Gouging Period.

Section 11 of Executive Order No. 141 is amended to read as follows:

Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § l 66A-l 9.23, the undersigned extends the prohibition against excessive pricing, as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 75-37 and 75-38, from the issuance of Executive Order No. 116 through 5:00 pm on July 17, 2020.

The undersigned further hereby encourages the North Carolina Attorney General to use all resources available to monitor reports of abusive trade practices towards consumers and make readily available opportunities to report to the public any price gouging and unfair or deceptive trade practices under Chapter 75 of the No11h Carolina General Statutes.

Section VI. Effective Date.

This Executive Order is effective at 5:00 pm on June 26, 2020. This Executive Order shall remain in effect through 5:00 pm on July 17, 2020 unless repealed, replaced, or rescinded by another applicable Executive Order. An Executive Order rescinding the Declaration of the State of Emergency will automatically rescind this Executive Order.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section and Section 16 ofExecutive Order No. 141, any statewide standing order for COVID-19 testing issued by the State Health Director under Section 9.5 of Executive Order No. 141 (as added by Section III of this Executive Order) shall remain in effect for the duration of the State of Emergency unless specifically repealed, replaced, or rescinded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in the City of Raleigh, this 24th day of June in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty.

Governor
ATTEST:
Secretary of State

A PDF Copy is available on the web. [PDF]

Other Executive Orders can be downloaded. [LINK]


About Masks and Face Coverings

Cases Are Up, Mask Use Is Down -- Let's Reverse That [LINK] 

(The main article is behind a paywall, but there is a video you may watch)

Face masks and COVID-19: Why, when and how to use masks properly


COVID-19: Mayo Clinic expert answers questions about masks after CDC updates its recommendation



Masks in Other Countries

Usage of Masks "Flattened" Growth of Coronavirus Cases in Czech Republic [LINK]

Lessons From Slovakia—Where Leaders Wear Masks [LINK]

Research Article: Comparison of face mask use before and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in South Korea as of February 2020 [LINK]
(download links are on the upper right side of the article)


Unmasking Differing U.S. and South Korean Approaches to COVID-19 [LINK]

Wearing face masks prevented spread of coronavirus in Taiwan: CECC [LINK]




Opinion

Column: We’re turning into two Americas: Masked and unmasked [LINK]






Published at 7:45pm on Wednesday, June 24, 2020

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Macon County Emergency Mangement Rescinds Emergency Regulations Effective May 8, 2020

Warren Cabe, the Emergency Management Director is rescinding the emergency regulations put in place due to the COVID-19 Pandemic effective at 5:00pm on May 8th, 2020. Copies of the press release and revocation are embedded below in the interest in transparency.

Press Release

Press Release-Macon-April 2... by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

Revocation of Emergency Regulations

Revocation of Emergency Reg... by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

Published at 11:28am on Wednesday, April 29, 2020

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Town of Franklin and Macon County Adds Further Restrictions to Emergency Declaration

The Town of Franklin and Macon County enacted Supplemental Declarations of Emergency this afternoon and evening. A copy of the town declaration is embedded below. The County did not have electronic copies of their declaration available, so it will be added later. It is essentially the same as the Town of Franklin in spirit.

A full video of the meeting will be added here once it has been processed. Technical difficulties prevented me from streaming the full meeting.

Town of Franklin Supplemental Declaration of Emergency by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

7:50pm Here are the County documents

Supplemental Proclamation of State of Emergency by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

EM Coordinator Regulations by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

DAY SPONSOR

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During this public health emergency, Franklin Health and Fitness has made the difficult decision to temporarily close due to the continued risk surrounding COVID-19. To see updates related to COVID-19, please click: http://franklinhealthandfitness.com

There are also On Demand Fitness Videos located at https://franklinhealthandfitness.com/blog/

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Macon County Board of Commissioners Declare State of Emergency Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Carmine Rocco, Interim Health Director, Informs County Commissioners what his department is doing in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic



The Macon County Board of Commissioners met this afternoon in the commissioner's boardroom in a meeting closed to the general public. Only staff, elected officials, and credentialed media were allowed in the meeting. In what may be an unprecedented event, there were three live video streams of the meeting and one audio streamed to a radio station, which then broadcast the audio over the air.

Video of the Meeting
(the county Wifi system went down during the meeting, so a portion of the middle of the meeting is missing. I will attempt to reconstruct it from a backup audio file.

A copy of the Proclamation of a State of Emergency is posted below the videos. It has been transcribed via an Optical Character Recognition program, so the text may not be accurate. The county did not have a searchable digital document available, only physical copies that were then photographed. Any errors in transcription are mine and unintentional (Bobby).

Part One



Part two




Patrick Betancourt, Director of the Macon County Department of Health and Humans Services updates commissioners on how his department is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ROLL CALL
(elected critters)

Chairman Jim Tate
Vice-Chairman Ronnie Beale
Paul Higdon (left early)
Gary Shields
Karl Gillespie

Sheriff Robert Holland

(news media critters)

Macon Media (me)
Macon County News and Shopping Guide
WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM
The Franklin Press



PROCLAMATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
MACON COUNTY

Section 1.
whereas, the coronavirus ("COVID-19") is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death and is a new strain of coronavirus previously unidentified in humans and can spread from person to person; and

Whereas, in response to the global spread of the virus and the disease it causes and the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020; and

Whereas, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared the ongoing COVID-19 a pandemic of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency declaration for all states, tribes, territories and the District on Columbia; and

Whereas, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services ("NCDHHS”) confirmed the number of cases in COVID-19 in North Carolina continues to rise; and

Whereas, The Governor of North Carolina by Executive Order 116 declared a State of Emergency for the State of North Carolina on March 10, 2020; and

Whereas, The Governor of North Carolina by Executive Order 117 prohibited mass gatherings and directed the statewide closure of K-12 public schools to limit the spread of COVID-19; and

Whereas, in consultation with health care professionals and based upon guidance provided, arrangements must be made immediately to take such actions as are deemed necessary and appropriate to ensure that residents and visitors in Macon County remain safe and secure; and

Whereas, I have determined that an emergency exists as defined by N.C. General Statutes 166A-19.3 (6).

Now, Therefore, pursuant to County Ordinance 31.05, Chapter 166A-19.22 of the General Statutes and Article 36A Chapter 14 of the General Statutes, I have determined that a State of Emergency exists in the County of Macon.


Section 2. I, therefore, proclaim the existence of a State of Emergency in the County of Macon.

I further proclaim that this Declaration of a State of Emergency does not apply within the municipal limits of the following municipal governments:

Town of Franklin
Town of Highlands

Section 3. I hereby order all county law enforcement, county employees, and all other emergency management personnel subject to my control to cooperate in the enforcement and implementation of any emergency ordinances and the provisions of the Macon County Emergency Operations Plan. and

Section 4. Mass gatherings of persons in groups of more than 100 people are prohibited.

a. A mass gathering is defined as any event or convening that brings together more than 100 people in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater, or any other confines indoor or outdoor space. This includes parades, fairs, and festivals.

b. a mass gathering does not include normal operations at airports, medical facilities, and shopping centers, or other spaces where more than one hundred (100) persons are gathered. It does not include office environments, restaurants, factories, grocery stores, and retail establishments.

Section 5. It is hereby unlawful to sell or rent or offer to sell or rent any goods or services which are consumed or used as a direct result of an emergency or which are consumed or used to preserve, protect, or sustain life, health, safety, or well-being of persons or property with the knowledge and intent to charge a price that is unreasonably excessive under the circumstances or engage in any price gouging practices as defined by General Statues

Section 6. This proclamation shall become effective immediately.

Proclaimed this the 17th day of March 2020, at 4:30 P.M.

JIM TATE
CHAIRMAN
MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS





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Published at 5:34pm on Tuesday, March 17, 2020

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Governor to Declare State of Emergency for Western Counties as Mudslides Close Roads, Prompt Evacuations in Several Communities

PRESS RELEASE
Raleigh, NC
May 30, 2018

Governor Roy Cooper will declare a State of Emergency for western North Carolina after heavy rains overnight prompted mudslides in multiple communities, closed portions of I-40 east of Asheville and triggered evacuations of Old Fort and a community near Lake Tahoma in McDowell County.

"Our emergency response and transportation crews have been working through the night to keep North Carolinians safe as conditions deteriorate," Governor Cooper said. "But this storm isn't yet over. I'm urging people to keep a close eye on forecasts and flood watches, and asking drivers to use caution especially when travelling in our western counties."

The State of Emergency will help the state coordinate storm response and prepare for any additional impacts. The Governor will also issue a transportation waiver to expedite the movement of utility vehicles and others engaged in relief efforts.

Within the last 24 hours, four to seven inches of rain fell across portions of the mountains adding to the already heavily saturated ground. Areas along the Blue Ridge have received 10-20” of rain since May 15th, making conditions favorable for downed trees and mudslides.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue for the next several days, continuing the threat of flash flooding across the mountains. Primary concerns right now are the stability of mountain slopes and several dams. Mudslides have occurred in numerous areas. Local and state officials are closely monitoring the dams at Lake Lure, Lake Tahoma, Lake Tuxedo and North Fork Lake and are sending state dam safety engineers to areas of concern.

State and local officials are keeping a close watch on rivers across western NC, where several rivers are currently experiencing minor flooding and the French Broad River at Blantyre is forecast to experience moderate flooding later today. Additionally, there are several rivers across eastern NC that are near or forecast to be near Minor Flood Stage over the coming days.

Local officials last night ordered a mandatory evacuation of downtown Old Fort due to extensive flooding and of the area below the Lake Tahoma Dam. A voluntary evacuation for Chimney Rock was also requested. A licensed care facility and mobile home parks in Buncombe also were evacuated. An engineer inspected the Tahoma dam this morning and local officials cancelled the evacuation order around 10:30 a.m.

Overnight the state deployed more than 50 search and rescue technicians. A combination of swift water rescue and urban search and rescue teams from Greensboro, Mooresville and Charlotte are being sent to McDowell, Rutherford and Jackson counties to help with any potential rescues.

More than 200 people have sought refuge in one of six shelters. Most of the evacuees are staying in one of three shelters open in McDowell County; other shelters are open in Buncombe, Polk and Rutherford counties More than 6,500 power outages were reported across western counties, mostly in Henderson, McDowell Cleveland, Buncombe, Swain and Transylvania.

State transportation officials have closed roads in Avery, Buncombe, McDowell, Watauga, Henderson, Rutherford, Macon, Polk, Mitchell, Transylvania, Gaston, Catawba and Iredell counties.

At the Buncombe-McDowell County line, two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane of Interstate 40 near Mile Marker 67 were closed by a mudslide. Five vehicles were caught in the mud but no injuries were reported. Transportation crews worked through the night to clear debris from the road. By 2 a.m., crews restored two lanes in the eastbound direction and one lane in the westbound direction.

In McDowell County, two NCDOT workers were rescued after the tandem dump truck they were using to help clear a mud slide was pushed off a road by another slide and into the Catawba River. They climbed out through a passenger window and stood on the side of the truck in the water until emergency crews got them to safety.

For the latest information, follow @NCEmergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. Information is also available at ReadyNC.org and at the ReadyNC mobile app which can be downloaded for free.

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Daily Weather Briefing for Monday, September 11, 2017

Hurricane IRMA

Summary of Expected Impacts

Our impacts will be mostly wind-related with sustained winds overnight on Monday expected to be in the 15 to 35 mph range with gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range by midnight Monday. Ridges and mountain tops will be seeing higher wind speeds and some of those locations could see occasional hurricane force wind gusts. If you have an emergency situation during the storm, please call 911. If you have a non-emergency situation, call 828-369-9116. This number should not be called for informational requests. Macon County is under a State of Emergency. You can read a copy of the declaration on the blog at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/macon-county-under-state-of-emergency.html

POWER OUTAGES

Power outages are likely to be widespread. Here are resources to report outages and safety tips.

Duke Energy

Call 800.769.3766 or in Spanish 866.4.Apagón (866.427.2466).

If you see a fallen power line or safety hazard, call Duke Energy at 800.Power.On (800.769.3766) or in Spanish 866.4.Apagón (866.427.2466) or contact your local emergency services immediately. Do not touch a power line or anything in contact with it and keep others away until help arrives.

Haywood EMC

To report or inquire about power outages, call 1-800-951-6088

LOCAL OUTLOOK

Dry high pressure will stay over the Northeast States as Irma crosses southwest Georgia today and reaches northern Alabama early Tuesday. Wind and rain will increase across our region today and tonight then gradually taper off on Tuesday. The remnants of Irma may move west and stall on Wednesday, then shift back east over the mountains aided by an incoming cold front.



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Their phone number is 828.524.8545, all are welcome, let them help you with your next project.


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Their phone number is 371-4718. They are located at 120 Depot Street.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.


Weather Almanac for September 11th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 93°F in Highlands in 1925
Lowest Temperature 37°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1976
Greatest Rainfall 4.14 inches in Highlands in 1893


Record weather events for September in Macon County

Highest Temperature 98°F in Franklin on Sept 4, 1975
Lowest Temperature 27°F in Franklin on Sept 30, 1967
Greatest Rainfall 11.87 inches in Highlands on Sept 29, 1967


THREE DAY OUTLOOK



TODAY (invokes Ned Stark “IRMA is coming”)

Rainy and increasing winds today, mainly out of the northwest. Temperatures will start off in the lower 50s and will reach the mid-60s in the afternoon in the Franklin and main valley. Highlands and the higher elevations will be slightly lower. The National Weather Service says the winds will be gradually increasing to 8 to 15 mph out of the northwest and shifting to come out of the east this morning, with gusts near 25 mph. By 6 pm, the winds should be about 25 mph with gusts in the 30 to 35 mph range out of the northwest. Fog is expected to develop in the afternoon hours. Rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch expected, with more possible in locations that see rain bands pass through. (My thought is the wind should be coming from the southeast early, then shifting to come out of the northeast as the day progresses, but since the NWS calls for the wind out of the northwest, I am going with their forecast).

TONIGHT (More Game of Thrones: “IRMA is here”)

Showers and patchy fog overnight. Breezy, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.



TUESDAY

Showers likely. Cloudy, with highs near the mid to upper 60s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near the mid-50s in the Franklin area and 5 to 8 degrees cooler in Highlands and the higher elevations. Winds out of the southeast coming before midnight.



WEDNESDAY

Partly sunny with highs in the lower 70s. Chance of showers in the afternoon.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows in the upper-50s with Highlands and the higher elevation being 5 to 8 degrees cooler. 40% chance of rain.

HAZARDS

Rain and wind are in the forecast. There may be widely scattered power outages today and tonight. The forecast impact of IRMA is not as great as it once was.

There will probably be no widespread flooding, but widespread power outages are possible. Macon County is under a State of Emergency and people are not allowed to drive on flooded roadways. You can see a copy of the document signed by the chairman of the Macon County Commissioner on the blog at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/macon-county-under-state-of-emergency.html

We are also under a High Wind Warning and a copy of that is posted below.



***High Wind Warning***
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1030 PM EDT Sun Sep 10 2017

...STRONG WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH IRMA WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF THE AREA MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.A strong pressure gradient between Irma to our west and high pressure to our northeast will create increasingly strong winds and wind gusts Monday into Monday night.


...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM MONDAY TO 2 AM EDT TUESDAY...

* LOCATIONS...Northeast Georgia, the western Upstate of South Carolina, and the southern mountains of North Carolina.

* HAZARDS...Strong winds will combine with increasingly saturated soils to bring down trees and possibly power lines.

* TIMING...Winds will increase Monday morning becoming strong by afternoon. The strong winds will continue into the evening.

* WINDS...Northeast 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds may blow down limbs, trees, and power lines. Scattered power outages are expected.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please report damaging winds by calling the National Weather Service toll free at...1...800...2 6 7...8 1 0 1. Leave a message with your observation and the specific location where it occurred. You can also post your report to National Weather Service Greenville Spartanburg Facebook or tweet your report using hashtag #nwsgsp.

Macon Media maintains a Severe Weather Preparedness Page at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/p/breaking-news-hub.html for those who are interested.


As always, you can check to see what advisories, watches, and warnings are in effect for Macon County by visiting http://is.gd/MACONWARN



TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK


Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Mon Sep 11 2017

For the North Atlantic...The Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Hurricane Irma, located inland over west-central Florida. The Weather Prediction Center is issuing advisories on Hurricane Jose, located a few hundred miles north of the Dominican Republic.

1. A tropical wave located several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some development of this system is possible during the next couple of days before upper-level winds become unfavorable for tropical cyclone formation. This system is expected to move west-northwestward for the next two days and then turn northward over the central Atlantic.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...30 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...medium...40 percent.




Hurricane Irma Discussion Number 48
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017
1100 PM EDT Sun Sep 10 2017

Irma's center has moved northward across the western Florida peninsula since it made landfall earlier this afternoon, and it is now located over west-central Florida. NOAA WSR-88D radar data from Tampa Bay are showing 95-100 kt winds at an elevation of about 3500 ft, so the hurricane's intensity is estimated to be 85 kt. Irma continues to have a large wind field, and exceptional hurricane-force wind gusts are still occurring well to the east of the center along the Florida east coast.

Irma appears to be making some progress to the west of due north, and the longer-term initial motion is 350/12 kt. The cyclone is expected to swing around the eastern side of a mid-level disturbance currently located along the U.S. Gulf Coast, which should impart a north-northwestward to northwestward motion during the next 48 hours. Due to its recent more inland push, Irma's center is now forecast to remain over Florida and then move over the southeastern United States for the duration of its existence. Due to continued land interaction and strong shear of over 30 kt, Irma should continue to lose strength and fall below hurricane intensity on Monday. The cyclone is then expected to become a remnant low over western Tennessee by day 3 and dissipate by day 4.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. There is the danger of life-threatening storm surge flooding along much of the Florida coast, including the Florida Keys, and portions of the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, where a Storm Surge Warning remains in effect.

2. Irma will continue to bring life-threatening wind impacts to much of Florida, with hurricane-force winds near the center. Also, Irma is a large hurricane, and hurricane-force wind gusts and sustained tropical-storm force winds extend far from the center.
Wind hazards from Irma will also spread northward through Georgia and into portions of Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

3. Irma continues to produce very heavy rain and inland flooding across much of Florida, and these rains will spread into the rest of the southeast United States. Intense rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour is leading to flash flooding and rapid rises on creeks, streams, and rivers. Significant river flooding is likely over the next five days in the Florida peninsula and southern Georgia, where average rainfall totals of 8 to 15 inches and isolated 20 inch amounts are expected. Significant river flooding is possible beginning Monday and Tuesday in much of eastern and central Georgia, western South Carolina, and western North Carolina, where average rainfall of 3 to 8 inches and isolated 12 inch amounts are expected. The southern Appalachian Mountains will be especially vulnerable to flash flooding. Irma is also expected to produce average amounts of 2 to 5 inches in parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, where isolated higher amounts and local flooding may occur.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 11/0300Z 27.5N 81.9W 85 KT 100 MPH...INLAND
12H 11/1200Z 29.4N 82.8W 65 KT 75 MPH...INLAND
24H 12/0000Z 31.9N 84.7W 45 KT 50 MPH...INLAND
36H 12/1200Z 33.9N 86.8W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
48H 13/0000Z 35.0N 88.6W 25 KT 30 MPH...INLAND
72H 14/0000Z 37.5N 87.8W 20 KT 25 MPH...POST-TROP/INLAND
96H 15/0000Z...DISSIPATED



MACON CALENDAR

If you have an event you wish to be added to this calendar, please send the information, along with a flyer in pdf format or a high-quality photo, to editor@maconmedia.com. If you want text published, please include a paragraph with your photo, flyer or graphic. Please include date(s) and time(s).
There is no charge for civic, educational or nonprofit groups, except for groups or events that receive funding from the TDA, TDC, and EDC, where full rates apply.


Friday, September 8th at 1:00 pm

BUTTERFLY WALK AT HIGHLANDS BIOLOGICAL STATION

James T. Costa, Ph.D. will lead a free nature walk with an emphasis on butterflies at 1 pm Friday Sept. 8 at the Highlands Biological Station, 265 N. 6th St. Highlands. He is Director of the research station and a biology professor at Western Carolina University. For those who want to carpool from Franklin, we will meet at Bi-Lo's parking lot at 12:15 pm. Please email Renee at Rubinlive@gmail.com if you are interested so you may be informed of any changes due to weather.
In addition, Dr. Costa will speak at 6:30 pm Sept. 8 at City Lights in Sylva about his new book, Darwin's Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to a Big Theory.

The Future Farmers of America are selling Raffle Tickets
More information is posted below:

Support Franklin FFA (Future Farmers of America)
!!! RAFFLE TICKETS !!!!

$5.00 a ticket or 5 for $20.00

Winner announced & does not be present at The Macon County Fair 2017
September 13-16, 2017 at The Wayne Proffitt Agriculture Center - Macon County Fairgrounds, 1436 Georgia Rd, Franklin NC 28734
Raffle is for Adventure Package, valued at $300.00...

Items are:
1. Cargo Carrier ( donated by Ultimate Truck Accessories) - can be used atop an SUV/Van or rear hitch
2. Foldable Camp Chairs in Camo with Table
3. Burn Fire Log (Swedish Flame Torch)
4. Lighter
5. Heavy Duty Flashlight
6. "Over the flame" cooking basket
7. Roasting Sticks
8. Bug Spray

We thank Appalachian Ace Hardware for their support.

*All proceeds go to Franklin FFA & FHS Ag Dept*
Contact Gregory Charles Spala via FB or 813-838-7693 text or call
Or Lori Spala via FB or 813-503-2160


September 27th, WEDNESDAY

HOSPICE HOUSE FOUNDATION OF WNC

PEACEFUL JOURNEY
3rd annual charity dining event
hosted by RISTORANTE PAOLETTI at 440 Main Street in Highlands

For information, visit http://hhfwnc.org/peaceful-journey/


National Alliance on Mental Illness
Appalachian South

Meets each Thursday at 7pm
The First Methodist Church Outreach Center
at the intersection of Harrison Ave. and West Main Street
(directly across from Lazy Hiker Brewery)

Come join our weekly support group for anyone suffering from mental illness and their family or friends. This includes Depression, Bipolar,8chizophrenia, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Etc.

Here you will find:
— others living with mental health challenges YOU ARE NOT ALONE
- learn coping skills and ?find hope in shared experience
- help learning how to break down stigma and guilt surrounding mental health
- how to live life with the expectation of a better a better future

Kay (706)970-9987 Denise (828)347-5000)

SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

On January 1, 2017, the Syringe Exchange Program of Franklin began operating a comprehensive harm reduction program to address the opioid epidemic that is impacting western NC. Opioid overdose reversal kits including naloxone are available free of charge. If you have any questions about our services or if you know someone interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Almeida at 828-475-1920.



Sun and Moon

Sun

Begin civil twilight 6:48 a.m.
Sunrise 7:14 a.m.
Sun transit 1:30 p.m.
Sunset 7:46 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:11 p.m.

Moon

Moonrise 10:53 p.m. last night
Moon transit 5:44 a.m.
Moonset 12:41 p.m.
Moonrise 11:37 p.m.


Phase of the Moon on September 11, 2017: Waning Gibbous with 68% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: Last Quarter on September 13, 2017 at 2:25 a.m. (local daylight time)





Sky Guides for this week

I took some epic photos of the solar eclipse, but have not yet had time to process them. I will be producing material from the photos and video for sale as a fundraiser for Macon Media. --Bobby

Sky and Telescope Magazine 
Astronomy Magazine


Earth Sky has an article on the eclipses of 2017. [LINK]

Heavens Above has an Android App that will assist you in observing the sky and even has a satellite tracker that will let you know when the International Space Station and dozens of other satellites are overhead. [LINK]

Stellarium is also an app that will assist you in observing the sky. It is available in both Android [LINK] and iOS versions. [LINK]

CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia

Published at 4:43 am on September 11, 2017

#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety

Data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, and the Weather Prediction Center. 

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