Local
Warren County Emergency Services Promotes September as Preparedness Month
Emergency Services urges residents to be aware and prepared
September is Preparedness Month in North Carolina and Warren County Emergency Management officials are encouraging residents and businesses to be prepared for any disaster by reviewing their emergency plans and updating their emergency supply kits.
“We all need to be prepared for any event, whether it’s a manmade emergency or a weather event, and the best way to do that is to begin with an emergency plan and putting together a supply kit that will help you and your loved ones survive for three to seven days without assistance,” said Chris Tucker, County Emergency Manager. “If you have a family emergency plan and practice it, the chances of your family surviving a disaster increases exponentially, add an up-to-date emergency supply kit and your chances increase even more. Being flexible and able to respond quickly in an emergency is important and the best way to do that is to be prepared and practice your plan and have contingency so you can pivot if needed.”
Warren County Emergency Services encourages residents, schools and business owners to make an emergency plan and practice it routinely with other household members, staff or employees. The plan should include details about where to meet, how to get in touch with one another, evacuation plans, what to do with pets and how to notify employees after an emergency.
“It’s important to include a place to go in your plan should you need to evacuate, such as staying with family, friends or at a hotel; A shelter should be a plan of last resort,” Chris Tucker said. “Be sure to have weather-appropriate clothing in your emergency supply kit, and that everything is up to date, such as fresh batteries. Check to be sure any food is still good and include items needed for survival regardless of the emergency.”
Basic items that should be in an emergency kit are:
* Water – 1 gallon per person per day for 3 to 7 days
* Food – non-perishable and canned food supply for 3 to 7 days
* Hand sanitizer
* Sanitizing wipes
* Battery-powered or hand crank radio and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio with extra batteries
* Cell phone with charger
* First aid kit and first aid book
* Flashlight and extra batteries
* Manual can opener for food
* Wrench or pliers to turn off water
* Blanket or sleeping bag – 1 per person
* Prescription medications, glasses and hearing aids
* Seasonal change of clothing, including sturdy shoes
* Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, feminine supplies
* Extra house and car keys
* Important documents – insurance policies, copy of driver’s license, Social Security card, bank account records
* Fire extinguisher
* Cash and change
* Books, games or cards
Code Red
CodeRED – Seconds Count in an Emergency
Warren County has instituted the CodeRED Emergency Notification System – an ultra-high-speed telephone communication service for emergency notifications. This system allows us to telephone all or targeted areas of the County in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action (such as a boil-water notice, missing child or evacuation notices). The system is capable of dialing 60,000 phone numbers per hour. It then delivers our recorded message to a live person or an answering machine, making three attempts to connect to any number. Get Started.
This system will only be used for emergency purposes.
Examples of times when the CodeRED system could be utilized:
* Drinking water contamination
* Bomb threat
* Chemical spill or Gas leak
* Evacuation notices and route
* Fires or Floods
* Hostage situation
* Missing person
* Other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety
* Utility outage
For more emergency preparedness information, visit ReadyNC.gov.
Local
Soul City Homecoming Set for Sept. 21
The First Annual Soul City Homecoming will be focused on fun, family, and legacy.
Mark your calendars for a day filled with celebration, community spirit, and family fun at the First Annual Soul City Homecoming on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
The festivities will kick off at 10:00am with a parade in the “Heart of Soul City,” in the Green Duke Village at what is now known as The McKissick Soul City Civil Rights Center.
Scheduled parade highlights include the Warren County High School Pep Band, a car show, and the Soul City Fire Department. The parade will conclude near the corner of Liberation Road and Soul City Boulevard.
The show will begin at 11:00am at the “Entertainment Tent” with Baba Felix and the Jimbe Drummers. Local poets and musicians including Jasme’ Kelly, and also a DJ will perform throughout the festivities.
Along with entertainment, attendees can enjoy free food, door prizes, and games for both kids and adults. Several community and civic organizations will also be present to connect with festival goers.
This event will also serve as a time to reflect on the history and legacy of Soul City.
Neighboring communities such as Manson and Ridgeway are invited to come together to commemorate the founders and members of Soul City, to honor their contributions, and to keep their memories alive.
Local
Food, Fun, and Voting: ‘Catering to the Community’ Serves Delicious Eats (with a Side of Civic Engagement) to Warrenton
The event was a place for great food and information to prepare for the upcoming election.
The Front Porch Grocery Co-op, in partnership with Turner Brothers Media LLC and Pink with a Passion, hosted “Catering to the Community,” a street food festival and voter registration drive on Saturday, September 7th in the parking lot of the forthcoming Mag’s Marketplace in Warrenton, NC.
Attendees gathered at the festival to enjoy a variety of vendors selling everything from made-to-order fry bread, Indian tacos, and fried fish dinners to assorted desserts and also candles. Children kept busy with cornhole, a bouncy house (Sisterly Dreams Co.), and face painting.
In addition to the delicious food, attendees were also provided with voter information from various political parties, encouraged to register to vote, and offered voter identification cards if they did not have a proper ID, courtesy of the Warren County Board of Elections who were on-site.
It’s important to note that voters will be required to show valid identification to vote in this year’s election.
Need to register to vote? Visit vote.gov.
Check your voter registration status at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup.
For more information about The Front Porch Grocery Co-op and how to get involved, visit them on Facebook @TheFrontPorchCoop.
Local
PHOTOS: 3rd Annual Dinner Off Main
The third annual Dinner Off Main ushered in the Labor Day weekend with food, music, and fellowship — all for a great cause.
The third annual Dinner Off Main ushered in the Labor Day weekend with food, music, and fellowship — all for a great cause.
Patricia Jones Crosson, a Warren County native and owner of BriCie Events, introduced the idea of Dinner Off Main as a way to thank her supporters for donating to the Virginia Levister scholarship. The scholarship was named in honor of a former guidance counselor at John Graham High who encouraged and financially supported Crosson when she was a student and credits her for the trajectory of her life.
This year’s recipients of the Virginia Levister scholarship were: MacKenzie Stallings (UNC-Wilmington); Clariza Ramirez (UNC-Chapel Hill); and Gabriela Vela-Leos (East Carolina University), all which received $450 to use towards their studies.
Not only did the name of the scholarship hold meaning for Crosson, but also the location: South Bragg Street. Crosson’s father, Frank Jones was a fireman for the Plummer Hook and Ladder Fire Department. As a child, she attended Warrenton Baptist Church and when she returned to Warren County to work, she lived in the house next door to the church.
If you missed this year’s Dinner Off Main or want to relive the moment, peep the photos below:
Thank you, Patricia Jones Crosson for creating a unique dining experience while assisting college-bound students in Warren County!
To learn more about Patricia Jones Crosson and her inspiration behind Dinner Off Main, watch the video below:
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