Moore County emergency manager urges residents to build 72-hour kits, sign up for alerts

Scott Brooks, division chief and deputy director of Public Safety Emergency Management for Moore County, told a packed presentation at the Moore County Senior Enrichment Center that residents should assume the first 72 hours after a major event may require self-sufficiency. “The first 72 are on you,” Brooks said, urging attendees to assemble basic supplies gradually over weeks or months.

Brooks framed the county’s approach as “all‑hazards” planning, covering hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes, hazardous‑materials incidents and localized power outages. He described Moore County’s emergency operations planning and exercises designed to coordinate cities, county and state agencies and said the county often opens shelters early — “we would rather open it 12 hours before it starts” — to avoid trying to move people in hazardous conditions.

Flooding, Brooks said, is the county’s top recurring risk and is growing as development increases impervious surfaces. He emphasized simple mitigation steps homeowners can take—trim trees, secure outdoor furniture, clear storm drains and use sandbags where appropriate—and warned motorists not to drive through floodwater: “If you can’t see the lines on the road, you don’t drive through it.”

Practical preparedness guidance dominated the talk. Brooks listed key items for a 72‑hour kit (battery‑powered radio, can opener, nonperishable food, hygiene supplies, cash, phone numbers and a first‑aid kit) and recommended storing important documents in a waterproof container. He also advised designating two meeting places for family members, naming an out‑of‑area contact, and planning for pets if evacuation is necessary.

On home safety, Brooks urged checking smoke detectors and installing carbon monoxide detectors where homes use gas appliances, and he noted that local fire departments can assist with detector installation. For early warnings, he recommended NOAA weather radios — “this is the quickest way” — as a redundancy to county notifications and recommended the county emergency notification system and two websites for updated information: Readync.org and moorecountync.gov.

Brooks warned that some preparedness measures require investment: portable generators range from a few hundred dollars to about $1,000 for smaller units, he said, and automatic whole‑house systems are a significant expense; for some households he suggested evacuation or shelter alternatives may be more practicable. He also urged citizens to learn simple skills such as how to shut off a home’s water or power and encouraged attendees to get CPR training.

The presentation included local anecdotes — from a recent multi‑day power outage to motorists driving around emergency vehicles and stalling in floodwater — to underline risks and responses. Brooks closed by inviting residents to volunteer (CERT, Medical Reserve Corps, American Red Cross) and by directing them to sign up for county alerts and follow Moore County public safety on Facebook for timely updates.

Lyn Drinkwater, the Senior Enrichment Center’s program coordinator, opened and closed the event and coordinated door prizes, while attendees asked brief questions about NOAA radios and generators during a short Q&A before the session ended.