GREENVILLE, N.C. - Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas has issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents in several areas of concern in the city as waters begin to rise in the Tar River. The evacuation order is effective immediately. Residents are asked to prepare to be away from home for at least one week.

• Residences north of the Tar River and south of Belvoir Road to include as far east as Bradford Creek

• Residences south of the Tar River which are north of First Street between Pitt Street and Brownlea Drive as well as the Riverwalk and Dockside neighborhoods

For those who evacuate, Pitt County Emergency Management, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, has opened two general population shelters. These shelters are located at Wellcome Middle School, 3101 North Memorial Drive, Greenville, Hope Middle School, 2995 Mills Road, Greenville (opens at 5 p.m.), and E.B. Aycock Middle School, 1325 Red Banks Road, Greenville (opens at 7 p.m.). The City is working with the County to arrange other shelter locations. It is recommended that those evacuating attempt to stay with friends or family before going to a shelter.

The Greenville Area Transit System (GREAT Bus) will be making stops to pick up evacuating residents at the following locations:

• Devon Street and Oak Bend Drive
• Old Pactolus Road and Charlestowne Drive
• Jackson Avenue and Azalea Street
• Terrace Court and Old Well Drive
• East Dudley and North Pitt
• West Dudley and Legion Street
• Greenfield Boulevard and Woodside Road
• Haw Drive and West Belvoir Drive
• Old River Road and Airport Road
• Benjamin Drive and Old River Road

*First buses will arrive at 6 PM.

A recommended list of what to bring if you are evacuating is included below:

• Identification
• A change of clothes, rain gear, and good walking shoes, extra socks and underwear. 
• A sleeping bag (or two blankets), extra blanket, and small pillow per person. Most shelters will be located in schools and other public buildings. While they will have a limited amount of supplies, you and your family will be much more comfortable if you bring your own supplies.
• Prescription and over-the-counter medicines. A first-aid kit, including adhesive bandages.
• Cash, checkbooks, and credit cards (during a power outage, cash may be your only option)
• Flashlight and spare batteries
• Toiletries such as toothpaste/toothbrush, contact lens solution, toilet paper (they may run out) and hand sanitizer and feminine supplies.
• Important papers such as birth certificates, social security cards, insurance papers, titles and deeds, bank certificates, etc. (store them in a plastic envelope or binder to help protect them)
• Important phone numbers for contacting family, insurance companies, and banks 
• Special items for infants (clothes, diapers, food/formula, bottles and nipples, food, small toys, blankets, portable crib, etc.)
• Water, stored in plastic bottles with screw caps; one gallon per person per day. Water services may be disrupted at the shelter as well in the early hours of an emergency. 
• Non-perishable canned or packaged food and drinks (corned beef, tuna fish, apple sauce, cookies, juice, etc.), preferably that requires no cooking and a non-electric can opener. It may take a day or more to set up a regular meal schedule at a shelter.
• Extra pair of glasses or contacts and contact lens case and solution.
• Special items for elderly or disabled family members.

The images below illustrate projected water inundation in the areas of concern that have been ordered to evacuate.

The Tar River is currently projected to reach 23 feet by Monday, October 10 at noon, the highest since Hurricane Floyd. The river is expected to crest at just more than 26 feet by Wednesday. At these levels, numerous areas along the river are expected to be inundated for as up to a week or more. The hydrograph below details the expected rise of the river by day and time.

 

Evacuating residents who go to one of the available shelters should keep in mind that local and state health and safety regulations do not permit the Red Cross to allow pets at disaster shelters. Pets will need to be taken to the Pitt County Animal Shelter, 4550 County Home Road, Greenville. For questions about sheltering pets, call Pitt County Animal Services at (252) 902-1730.