As preparations for Hurricane Florence continue across the U.S. Southeast, WithersRavenel would like to take time to let our clients and partners know how we are planning to respond to the storm and how this may affect their ability to reach us throughout the remainder of the week.
In response to the evacuation orders for counties along the North Carolina coast, our Wilmington operations are suspended and the office will be closed until further notice.
On Thursday, September 13, field operations and non-essential statewide business travel will be suspended for the areas east of I-95. All offices except for Wilmington will open as normal, but offices may be closed early based on local conditions and the progress of the storm, with the goal of having all employees home before conditions begin to deteriorate. We anticipate closing the Triangle area offices mid to late Thursday afternoon based on the current forecast.
On Friday, September 14, all field and office operations and non-essential business travel in Central and Eastern North Carolina will be suspended. Offices may re-open on a delayed schedule based on local conditions and the progress of the storm.
Duke Energy has advised that widespread power outages, lasting from several days to weeks depending on location, are expected. While the WithersRavenel campus has power, we will continue to communicate via email; during a power outage, we will use text messages to communicate important company information, including our ability to resume operations on Monday, September 17.
Our first priority during Hurricane Florence is safety and security, and we encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the disaster preparedness and emergency safety resources available online. Some excellent resources are available at:
- www.ready.gov
- www.fema.gov/preparedness-checklists-toolkits
- www.duke-energy.com/safety-and-preparedness/storm-safety
- www.sedcnc.org/disaster-recovery/resources-and-plans
From all of us here at WithersRavenel, please stay safe as you weather this storm, and know that you remain in our thoughts as we do the same.