As Hurricane Irene approaches our region, and with the storm expected to hit Delaware hard, Governor Markell has declared a state of emergency and ordered a mandatory evacuation for all non-resident visitors to the state’s coastal communities. He has further urged residents 3/4 of a mile from coastal areas and any major body of water to leave and seek shelter with friends or family in areas inland. This includes New Castle and Delaware City in addition to beach communities in Kent and Sussex Counties. The Red Cross has already begun setting up shelters for those needing to leave their homes. Senator Coons joins in encouraging all Delawareans to be prepared for the storm. This includes obeying evacuation orders as well as staying off the roads during the storm. Those not required to evacuate should remain indoors and away from windows.
For important information about Hurricane Irene, please visit the following links:
- Governor Markell’s August 25 order declaring a state of emergency
- Hurricane Irene information from the National Hurricane Center
- Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA)
- PrepareDE, Delaware’s disaster preparedness site
- Information on Delaware school closings
- Information on Delaware state agency closings or delays
- Delaware Department of Agriculture recommendations for livestock owners
On Twitter, Delawareans can follow @governormarkell, @DEStormInfo and @DelawareEMA for storm updates.
Important Telephone Contact Numbers:
- Delaware Emergency Management Agency – (302) 659-3362
- New Castle County Office of Emergency Management – (302) 395-2700
- City of Wilmington Emergency Management Office – (302) 576-3914
- Kent County Department of Public Safety, Emergency Management Division – (302) 735-3465
- Sussex County Emergency Operations Center – (302) 855-7801
As always, in case of an emergency, residents across the state should contact their local emergency services by dialing 9-1-1.
Chris encourages all residents of the First State to be safe and prepared.