(Wilmington, DE) – Governor Jack Markell has expanded his executive order that declared a state of emergency for Delaware to include a requirement that businesses in mandatory evacuation zones must now be closed by 6 pm this evening.
The mandatory evacuation period for coastal communities in Sussex, Kent and New Castle counties, and a flood-prone area in western Sussex County began last night at 8:00 pm and must be completed by 8:00 p.m. this evening.
“This storm is severe and its potential damages significant. It is critical that residents in areas of greatest risk leave those areas now before the storm’s full force is felt and lives are put at greater risk,” said Markell, who spent the day with emergency responders and state workers at the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and in flood-prone areas.
First responders, medical services and other essential personnel, food and fuel deliveries, members of the media, public utilities and other businesses necessary to maintaining the health and safety of the people in Delaware are exempted from this requirement.
Other updates:
§ Driving conditions are expected to become hazardous in some areas as the storm progress Sunday night into Monday. Driving restrictions or bans, should they become necessary, will be announced as conditions worsen.
§ Please note that due to the closure of Route 1 this morning at the Indian River Bridge due to water on the roadway, those in Sussex ocean communities south of the Indian River Inlet cannot leave the area travelling north on Route 1. The alternate evacuation route for those affected by the closure is travel west on DE54/DE20 to U.S. 113 northbound, or on DE24 to U.S. 113 southbound. Drivers can also travel west on DE26 to U.S. 113 northbound. All recommended evacuation routes can be found at http://deldot.gov/information/projects/tmt/evac_map.shtml.
§ Multiple roads and streets are being closed in Sussex for water on the road. Updated list at http://deldot.net/public.ejs?command=PublicTrafficReportDisplay
§ DelDOT suspended tolls on SR 1 as of noon on Sunday, October 28th.
§ Emergency officials are notifying residents, especially those evacuation, that should a neighborhood or area suffer extensive damage during the storm, home and owners will likely need proof of ownership of a home, second home or business to return to the area after the storm passes.
§ Emergency officials are preparing for long-term power outages and residents should plan for those as well.
§ Additionally, transportation officials in Maryland advise that the westbound U.S. 50 bridge over U.S. 301 is restricted to one lane, due to construction. Maryland officials advise avoiding that route to avoid lengthy backups.
Residents who have evacuation questions may contact their respective local emergency operations centers:
§ Sussex EOC – 856-7366 starting Sunday at 8 a.m.
§ Kent EOC – 735-3465, starting Sunday at noon
§ New Castle County EOC – 395-5555 starting Sunday at noon
§ Wilmington EOC – 576-CITY starting Sunday at 9 a.m.
The Delaware Helpline at 1-800-464-HELP (4357) will also activate Sunday at 8 a.m. for hurricane information. The Hurricane Sandy Delaware Information Line is also available at 302-632-7060. Residents are encouraged to check-in on the elderly.
Text of the modified Executive Order:
FIRST MODIFICATION OF THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND MANDATORY EVACUATION OF COASTAL AND LOW-LYING AREAS
WHEREAS, forecasts from the National Hurricane Center continue to project that the track of Hurricane Sandy will proceed close to Delaware or across portions of the State; and
WHEREAS, Hurricane Sandy poses multiple dangers to our state and its citizens, including high winds, heavy and sustained rainfall, high tides, coastal flooding, and flooding along streams, rivers, and other waterways; and
WHEREAS, the expected high winds and heavy rainfall may result in significant power outages to be addressed by utility crews; and
WHEREAS, I issued an Executive Order at 5:00 p.m. on October 27, 2012 declaring a State of Emergency for New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties and ordering a mandatory evacuation of specified low-lying and coastal areas; and
WHEREAS, the evacuation is continuing, and it is now necessary and prudent to force non-essential businesses to close in the affected evacuation areas; and
WHEREAS, based upon evidence presented to me by the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (“DEMA”), I have found that the imminent threat of an emergency in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties is continuing.
NOW THEREFORE, I, JACK A. MARKELL, pursuant to Title 20, Chapter 31 of the Delaware Code, do hereby declare that the previously issued executive order shall remain in effect until further notice, with the following modifications:
1. The mandatory evacuation of all persons located in the areas shown on the attached Exhibit A (“Evacuation Areas”) shall continue. All persons located in the Evacuation Areas are urged to complete such evacuation as soon as possible, but no later than Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
2. All businesses located within the Evacuation Areas shall close on or before 6:00 p.m. today, Sunday, October 28, and shall remain closed until further notice. First responders, medical services and other essential personnel, food and fuel deliveries, members of the media, public utilities and other businesses necessary to maintaining the health and safety of the people in Delaware are exempted from this requirement.
3. All persons, including both residents and non-residents, located in flood-prone areas, including around rivers and streams, should exercise caution and are urged to consider evacuating to higher ground as necessary to preserve health and safety.
4. All persons are advised that they should not enter the Evacuation Areas unless necessary to support the evacuation.
5. I hereby reserve the right to add areas to the Evacuation Areas and otherwise modify the scope of the evacuation without further written order. The list of designated evacuation areas and shelters shall be maintained by DEMA and posted to the DEMA website.
6. I hereby reserve the right to take, or direct state or local authorities to take, without issuance of further written order, any other necessary actions authorized by Title 20, Chapter 31 of the Delaware Code to respond to this emergency.
Approved this 28th day of October, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. ET
Governor
EXHIBIT A
EVACUATION AREAS
In accordance with Paragraph 1 of this Order, persons located in the following areas (“Evacuation Areas”) are subject to mandatory evacuation. All such persons shall be evacuated as soon as possible, but no later than Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
Sussex County
Sussex County Delaware Bay Communities
Slaughter Beach
Prime Hook Beach
Broadkill Beach
Lewes Beach, east of the Rehoboth Lewes canal
Sussex County Ocean Coastal Communities
Flood-prone areas within ¾ of a mile of the coast in the following communities:
Henlopen Acres
Rehoboth Beach
Dewey Beach
North Bethany
Bethany Beach
South Bethany
Fenwick Island
Sussex County Inland Bay Communities
Areas surrounding the Rehoboth Bay, Indian River and Little Assawoman Bay
Flood-prone areas south of Route 24 (John J. Williams Highway) including Angola, Long Neck and Oak Orchard
Flood-prone areas along Route 26 (Vines Creek Road and Atlantic Avenue)
Flood-prone areas along Route 54 (Lighthouse Road)
Sussex County Western Communities
Flood-prone areas in close proximity to the Nanticoke and Broad Creek Rivers
Kent County
Woodland Beach
Pickering Beach, including any homes east of 799 Pickering Beach Rd.
Kitts Hummock Beach, and all addresses above 2123 Kitts Hummock Rd.
Bowers Beach, including any homes east of Old Bowers Rd.
South Bowers Beach
Big Stone Beach
Bennetts Pier
Port Mahon Rd., any address above 900
New Castle County
New Castle County, City of New Castle:
Washington Park Subdivision
Dobbinsville
From the Delaware River to Fourth Street
Penn Valley subdivision
Buttonwood subdivision
New Castle County, City of Delaware City:
All houses east of Second Street
The 100 block of Fifth Street
All of Delaware City Mobile Home Park
All of Polktown
Other New Castle County Coastal Communities:
Town of Port Penn
Augustine Beach
Bayview Beach
Any residences South of Augustine Beach and East of Silver Run Road/Route 9
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