Duke Energy and county officials to test sirens around Brunswick Nuclear Plant

• Ten-second test scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 10, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• No public action required

SOUTHPORT, N.C. – The outdoor warning sirens around the Brunswick Nuclear Plant will be tested Wednesday, Oct. 10, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The 38 sirens within 10 miles of the Brunswick Nuclear Plant will be tested at low-volume for ten seconds. This test may be performed more than once to make sure each siren works properly. This test is performed quarterly, in coordination with emergency officials in Brunswick and New Hanover counties, who are responsible for sounding the sirens.

Hearing a siren does not mean to evacuate. In an emergency, sirens are sounded as a signal for residents to tune to a local radio or TV station that would carry emergency alert messages. County officials work with these stations to provide information to the public. If sirens are heard and residents are unsure if it is a test or an emergency, they should tune to their local radio or TV station or contact the county emergency management office.

For more information about the outdoor warning sirens, residents can refer to information available on www.duke-energy.com/NuclearEP.

 Duke Energy Progress

Duke Energy Progress owns nuclear, coal, natural gas, renewables and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides about 12,800 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.5 million customers in a 32,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy Progress is a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK).

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees and a generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company is transforming its customers’ experience, modernizing its energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding its natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.

The company’s Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit serves approximately 7.6 million retail electric customers in six states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Commercial Renewables unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the U.S.

A Fortune 125 company, Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2018 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ 2018 “America’s Best Employers” list.

More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

For immediate release: 9/10/2018

Bolivia, NC – Brunswick County has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents in unincorporated areas who live in low-lying and flood-prone areas or substandard or mobile homes, beginning at daylight (7 a.m.) Tuesday. This includes but is not limited to Waccamaw, NC 904/Pireway Road, areas on Town Creek, residents along NC 133, Daw’s Creek area, and any other flood-prone areas.

Brunswick County has issued a voluntary evacuation for all other residents in unincorporated areas of Brunswick County. Residents who live in an incorporated area should monitor information from their town or city for information.

Brunswick County has also declared a State of Emergency, effective at noon Monday, Sept. 10. County offices will be closed as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Shelters will be opening outside of Brunswick County in inland counties (shelter information will be available online at https://readync.org). Residents are strongly advised to seek shelter outside of Brunswick County, evacuating to Johnston or Cumberland Counties, due to forecasts for wind and storm surge.

“I highly encourage people to move out of the County,” said Emergency Management Director Brian Watts, adding that the County is likely to see high levels of storm surge and flooding as well as wind speeds. “The best thing to do is to get out the County.”

Residents seeking to evacuate out of Brunswick County who do not have transportation should contact the Citizen Phone Bank at 910-253-5383.

In the event residents are unable to leave the county, one shelter will be opening Tuesday at 2 p.m. at:

• West Brunswick High School (550 Whiteville Rd., Shallotte)

Two additional shelters will be opening Wednesday at 8 a.m. at:

• North Brunswick High School (114 Scorpion Drive, Leland)
• South Brunswick High School (100 Cougar Road, Boiling Spring Lakes)

Residents evacuating to a shelter should bring identification, any needed medications, any needed items like glasses or diapers, clothing for 3-7 days, pillows, toiletries, chargers for cell phones, and books, games or cards. Residents should bring sheets or bedding, and cots and air mattresses if available. Alcohol, illegal substances, and weapons are not permitted.

Those evacuating can find evacuation routes and shelter locations at readync.org or in the free Ready NC app (downloadable at https://readync.org/EN/DOWNLOADAPP.html).

Dogs and cats are accepted at the West Brunswick High School shelter. Owners must stay at the shelter as well, and should bring documentation of rabies vaccines, food, any medicines, and any other items necessary for your pets.

Brunswick County is likely to see significant rainfall from Hurricane Florence. All residents should be prepared for significant rainfall and the potential for ponding, flooding, and flash floods. Residents should remember not to attempt to drive through roads that have standing or running water over them.