Polk County shelter remains open due to 4 wildfires, please see the below updates in red ~ March 25, 2025:

  • POC: Joshua Kennedy, 828-894-2114/704-315-7757 (cell)
  • Location: 75 Carmel Ln, Columbus
    • Opened at 1900hrs on 3/20/2025
  • Total population = 3
  • Current population = 0
  • Staffing
    • Red Cross assumed operations at 0700hrs 3/21/2025.
  • Fire status
    • 0% containment at the two larger fires, 69% at the smallest fire. at 5000+ combined acres burnt.
    • Evacuation notice active in vicinity of fires.
    • 17 residential structures lost between all three fires (red cross notified to assist residents)
  • Air Quality: Code Orange Forecasted for 3/26/2025
  • Winds to pick up today and tonight, expanding potential evac zones
  • Working with NC DSS to get approval on using Helene Disaster Recovery Funds to support impacted community members
  • Keeping Henderson Directors CC’ed given proximity.
  • Next Sitrep @ 1700hrs on 3/26/2025 unless conditions warrant more frequency

Polk County shelter remains open due to 4 wildfires, please see the below updates in red ~ March 24, 2025:

  • POC: Joshua Kennedy, 828-894-2114/704-315-7757 (cell)
  • Location: 75 Carmel Ln, Columbus
    • Opened at 1900hrs on 3/20/2025
  • Total population = 3
  • Current population = 0
  • Staffing
    • Red Cross assumed operations at 0700hrs 3/21/2025.
  • Fire status
    • 0% containment at the two larger fires, 50% at the smallest fire. at 2000+ combined acres burnt.
    • Evacuation notice active in vicinity of fires.
    • 6 residential structures lost between all three fires (red cross notified to assist residents)
  • Code Red Air Quality Today in Polk. Neighboring counties at Code Orange
  • One of the fires jumped the county line into Henderson last night.  No information 0n the scope of the impact. CC’ing Henderson DSS and Public Health Directors for situational awareness.
  • Scattered light rain this morning
  • Next Sitrep @ 1900hrs on 3/24/2025 unless conditions warrant more frequency

Polk County shelter remains open due to 3 wildfires, please see the below updates in red ~ March 21, 2025:

  • POC: Joshua Kennedy, 828-894-2114/704-315-7757 (cell)
  • Location: 75 Carmel Ln, Columbus
    • This is the Polk County Senior Center site, activities are suspended for 3/21/2025 with the exception of Home Delivered Meals.
    • Opened at 1900hrs on 3/20/2025
  • Total population = 3
  • Current population = 0
  • Staffing
    • Red Cross assumed operations at 0700hrs 3/21/2025.  County Staff is still augmenting
  • Fire status
    • 0% containment at the two larger fires, 50% at the smallest fire. at 2000+ combined acres burnt.
    • Evacuation notice active in vicinity of fires.
    • 6 residential structures lost between all three fires (red cross notified to assist residents)
    • Winds are expected to increase today
  • Next Sitrep @ 1900hrs on 3/22/2025 unless conditions warrant more frequency

COUNTY DSS OFFICE CLOSURES / DELAYS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER — WEEK MARCH 5, 2025

Gates County – Closing 1 PM
Tyrrell County – Closing 3 PM

COUNTY DSS OFFICE DISASTER SHELTER DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER — 2025

UPDATED 3/4/25 == The Polk County Shelter will be closing operations at 1900hrs this evening.

3/3/25 == Polk County shelter remains open, please see the below updates (in red):

  • POC: Joshua Kennedy, 828-894-2114/704-315-7757 (cell)
  • Location: 75 Carmel Ln, Columbus
    • This is the Polk County Senior Center site, activities are suspended for 3/3/2025 with the exception of Congregate Meals and Home Delivered Meals.
    • Opened at 1500hrs on 3/1/2025
  • 0 occupants at this time
  • Staffing
    • Red Cross Staffing
  • Fire status
    • Fire crews are conducting back burns today.
    • 500 acres burned. 30% contained
    • Evacuation order in place until further notice. EM will assess later today
    • We will issue another sitrep 3/3/2025 at 1700hrs 

COUNTY DSS OFFICE CLOSURES / DELAYS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER — WEEK FEBRUARY 19, 2025

Pitt County – Closed 2/19 – 20/25
Martin County – Closing 2/19/25 at 11AM == Closed 2/20 – 21/25
Greene County – Closed 2/19 – 21/25
Moore County – Closed 2/19/25
Rockingham County – Closed 2/19/25
Bertie County – Closed 2/19 – 21/25
Hyde County – Closed 2/19/25
Lenoir County – Closed 2/19/25 == Opening 1 Shelter 2/19/25 at 8AM == Closed 2/20/25
Franklin County – Closed 2/19 -20/25 == Franklin County’s White Flag Shelter | Louisburg United Methodist Church Community Outreach. 402 North Main Street – Louisburg, NC Open 2/19/25 at 5PM == 2-hour delay 2/21/25
Wilson County – Closed 2/19/25 == Closed 2/21/25
Sampson County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12 PM == Closed 2/20/25 == Reopening 2/21/25
Warren County – Closed 2/19/25
Person County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12PM == Closed 2/20/25
Tyrrell County – Closed 2/19 – 21/25
Granville County – Closed 2/19 – 20/25
Duplin County – Closed 2/19/25 == Opening 2/20/25 at 10 AM ==Opening 2/21/25 at 10AM
Halifax County – Closed 2/19 – 20/25 == Opening 2/21/25 at 12PM
Cumberland County – Closed 2/19/25 == Opening 2/20/25 at 11AM
Hoke County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12PM == Reopening 2/20/25 at 10AM
Wake County – Closed 2/19/25 == Reopening 2/20/25 at 12PM
Chatham County – Closed 2/19 – 20/25
Wayne County – Closed 2/19 – 20/25
Orange County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12PM == Closed 2/20/25
Lee County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12PM == Closed 2/20/25
Montgomery County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12PM == Opening 2/20/25 at 11AM
Harnett County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12PM == Reopening 2/20/25 at 12PM
Edgecombe County – Closing 2/19/25 at 11AM == Closed 2/20/25
Chown County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12PM == Closed 2/20 – 21/25
Robeson County – Closing 2/19/25 at 3:15PM == Reopening 2/20/25 at 10:15AM
Beaufort County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12PM == Closed 2/20/25 == 2-hour delay 2/21/25
Johnston County – Closed 2/19/25 at 10:30AM == Closed 2/20/25
Durham County – Closing 2/19/25 at 1PM
Perquimans County – Closing 2/19/25 at 12PM == Closed 2/20 – 21/25
Craven County – Closing 2/19/25 at 1PM
Guilford County – Closing 2/19/25 at 2PM
Davie County – Closing 2/19/95 at 1:15PM
Gates County – Closed 2/19/25 at 1PM == Closed 2/20 – 21/25
Union County – Opening 2/20/25 at 12PM
Currituck County – Close 2/19-20/25
Jones County – Closed 2/19/25 at 12PM == Closed 2/20/25
Alamance County – Closed 2/19/25 at 12:30PM
Durham County – Closed 2/19/25 at 1PM == Closed 2/20/25
Camden County – Closed 2/19/25 at 12PM == Closed 2/20 – 21/25
Vance County – Closed 2/19 – 20/25
Lincoln County – Closed 2/20/25
Pasquotank County – Closed 2/19/20 at 12PM == Closed 2/20/25
Nash County – Closed 2/19/25 at 12PM ==Closed 2/20/25
Cleveland County – Opening 2/20/25 at 10AM
Cabarrus County – 2-hour delay 2/20/25
Brunswick County – Opening 2/20/25 at 10:30AM
Yancey County – Closed 2/20/25
Mitchell County – Closed 2/20/25