S E R T SERT stands for State Emergency
Response Team. The North Carolina SERT is composed of Federal, State,
and Local personnel who respond to disaster situations throughout the State.
The Granville County Emergency Management Coordinator is a member of the
SERT and participated in the response to Hurricane Bonnie. Responses
activities included assisting the Beaufort County Emergency Management
Coordinator with emergency and recovery operations after the storm had
passed, serving as a liason between local officials and the State Emergency
Operations Center, as well as leading FEMA damage assessment teams in the
affected areas of Beaufort County. The SERT
has become one of the most effective methods of ensuring a timely and efficient
response to disaster situations across the State of North Carolina.
One of the most affected areas in Beaufort County was the Town
of Belhaven. A majority of the damage to municipal buildings,
businesses, and residences came from the storm surge of water from Hurricane
Bonnie. Belhaven is situated on the eastern edge of Beaufort County,
on the waterfront of the Pungo River. The entire town's elevation
is only a few feet above sea level, creating an ideal environment for flooding
conditions.
Belhaven Town Hall (Flooded with four feet of water!)
Not all the damage in Beaufort County came from flood or winds.
The pictures below show a house fire caused by damaged wiring inside the
house. Of course, the wiring was probably damaged when the water
got inside the electrical connections. When the power was restored,
WOW.....what a mess!
