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Permanent 500 kW diesel generator installed at C.F. Pope Elementary after $416,803 emergency-management grant
Summary
District and county emergency-management staff reported installation of a permanently mounted 500 kW diesel generator and 2,000-gallon fuel storage at C.F. Pope Elementary, paid in part by a $416,803 state emergency-management grant; staff said installation completed in June 2026 and provides automatic 24/7 backup power for shelter operations.
Tommy Batson summarized the county–school partnership that led to a permanent emergency generator installation at C.F. Pope Elementary. He said staff applied for a 2023 emergency-management capacity-building competitive grant and were awarded $416,803 to fund equipment and installation to improve shelter reliability after prior storm-related flooding and generator limitations.
Batson said the completed installation includes a permanently mounted 500 kW diesel generator, automatic transfer switch, two concrete pads and 2,000 gallons of fuel; staff tested the system and completed installation by June 2026. He told trustees diesel was selected because of fuel availability and reliability in major-storm scenarios. The project, Batson said, involved county emergency management, county facilities, Pender County Schools and the North Carolina Department of Emergency Management.
