Gloria tests nerves, does little damage

GLORIA - Storm of ‘85 September 30, 1985 The Beaufort News Gloria Tests Nerves, Does Little Damage About 2,000 people left their homes and sought safety in shelters at White Oak Elementary School in Cape Carteret, West Carteret High School, Carteret Senior Citizens Center in Morehead City, Beaufort Elementary School and Atlantic School. The VFW building on Highway 101 north of Beaufort, opened for evacuees, as did several churches.

Officials reported that the shelters ran smoothly and with very few of the litter and vandalism problems reported at some shelters during the evacuation for Hurricane Diana last year.

John Nelson, Principal of West Carteret, was impressed with the shelter operation at his school. He estimated that more than 800 people were packed into hallways at West Carteret, upstairs and down, although only 600 names appeared on the register.

Mr. Nelson, assistant principals Beth Taylor and Gordy Patrick, lunchroom manager, Lorraine Morton, five members of the high school custodial staff, Ruby Simmons and a long list of volunteers helped shelter manager Richard Schaffer keep things in order. Sheriff’s deputies, EMTs and Red Cross representatives were on hand, too.

“Getting that many people fed created a problem,” Mr. Nelson said, “just as it did last year.”

He suggested that emergency shelter plans include a prior arrangement with grocery suppliers in the future. But all things considered it went very well”.

Others who elected not to take any chances, left Carteret County.

Carteret County Sheriff Ralph Thomas ordered the evacuation of 16 inmates from county jail Wednesday afternoon. The only female prisoner was transported to Women’s Prison, Raleigh, while the others went to the Eastern Correctional Center in Greene County.

“That means the county jail had zero population for the first time in the 20 years that I’ve been here,” Sheriff Thomas said.

Patients at Sea Level Hospital were loaded onto buses and into ambulances provided by several county rescue squads and were evacuated Thursday afternoon.

Dr. Ted Best road out the storm in Sea Level with residents of Sailors Snug Harbor.

“I believe Sea Level Hospital had 34 patients, and we received 11 of those,” said Carteret General Hospital president Fred Odell.

The remaining patients from Sea Level Hospital were taken to Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kinston.

“Everything went exceptionally well,” Mr. Odell said of the operation of Carteret General during the storm. “We had 72 patients, and were able to care for them with our own staff. Those patients who could be discharged were discharged as early as possible. We suspended all elective surgery Thursday.”

“We made sure we had sufficient food, linens and fuel oil. We went on emergency power two or three times. That worked nicely. We have emergency generator capability to run the hospital for about a four day period.”

Joining the staff were several doctors and family members of staff and patients.

“I couldn’t begin to tell you how many family members of employees and patients we had,” Mr. Odell said. “We accommodated them in the cafeteria, lobby and various waiting rooms. All of our staff spent the night.”

“We sustained a great deal of water damage on the second floor where a new addition to the hospital meets the old portion, and we probably will have to replace some carpeting.” He continued.

“We had very little emergency room traffic. We had a full staff there, anticipating emergencies and disasters,” he said, “but there was really nothing.”

“We recorded 74 mph winds. That’s hurricane force.” Mr. Hinton said. “Even though we didn’t have severe damage, we are hurricane prone here in Carteret County, and people have to keep that in mind.”

Texasgulf’s air-supported phosphate storage building at the Morehead City State port sustained the greatest reported damage.

The “balloon building” valued at $1.5 million, developed a tear and simply came apart.

J. Randolph Carpenter, Texasgulf spokesman said Friday morning that 11,000 tons of phosphate products were stored in the building. As soon as they were exposed to moisture the products solidified. A hard crust formed.

“There is no indication of any environmental damage,” he said.

What appears to have happened is that the harness covering the fabric building separated at a corner, exposing the fabric, and the fabric gave way.

The harness is made of vinyl-covered steel cables. The fabric is vinyl-clad Dacron.

Mr. Carpenter said all five blowers, which kept the building inflated, were in operation when the damage was discovered.

Two types of phosphate were being stored in the 40,000-ton-capacity building.

Mr. Carpenter said there were 7,200 tons of diammonium phosphate and 3,800 tons of granular triple superphosphate.

He expected the phosphate products would be taken back for reprocessing at the Texasgulf mining and processing facility at Lee Creek. Some adjustment will have to be made for storing dry products before shipment through the port to foreign nations.

When the air-supported building was completed in May 1980 it was supposed to be able to withstand hurricane force winds up to 110 mph, more than the reported 80 to 85 mph experienced Thursday night and early Friday.

Other facilities at the port fared far better, according to Don McMahan, port manager. There was excess water at the coal-handling facility but that was expected.

“We were very fortunate,” he said. “We were really pleased. We were braced for a terrible situation.”

Port employees spent Thursday preparing the port complex for the storm.

They barricaded warehouse doors and put sand in front of them. They also made sure that the drains worked properly and tied down the ship loaded and cranes.

There were no ships at the port during the storm, but several large barges were brought to the port. “About all we saw were a few trees blown over. A tree fell on a trailer in Otway, at Down East Trailer Park, and the tin blew off the roof of a double-wide trailer in Straits,” he continued.

Deputy Guthrie said tree branches fell on roads and water flooded low-lying areas in Stacy, Cedar Island, Davis and South River.

He estimated that about 50 percent of down east residents left for safer lodging.

“Most everyone heeded the warnings,” he said. “They battened down their places and left. We had good cooperation from people down this way.”

Beaufort police were out all night as well, moving fallen branches, checking on evacuees at Beaufort Middle School and keeping check on water levels on roads.

Several downed and “live� power lines were reported in Beaufort throughout the night.

Indian Beach officials announced Friday morning that the strand would be closed to vehicular traffic for 10 days until debris could be cleared.