National Hurricane Preparedness Week will run from Sunday, May 27, through Saturday, June 2. Sussex County is urging local residents use the week to prepare now before the coming season brings a storm aimed at the coast.
Sussex County EOC Director Joseph L. Thomas says that preparation ahead of a storm is essential to limiting and preventing the loss of life.
"Based on the events of last summer with Hurricane Irene, I think everyone now realizes we are very much susceptible to tropical weather here," Thomas said in a Sussex County news release. "Hopefully, that was a wake-up call for our residents. As we enter the 2012 season, Irene can serve as a reminder of just how important it is to be ready, to have a plan, and to execute that plan when the time comes."
Hurricane Irene was the most significant threat to the mid-Atlantic region last season. Although it spared Delaware from substantial damage, the storm forced evacuations up and down the East Coast, including in Sussex County.
Forecasters are predicting a near-normal season this year. A near-normal season would have from nine to 15 named tropical systems. Of those, four to eight could become hurricanes. One to three of those could be major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Sussex County advises its residents to take the folllowing steps to protect their families and homes.
Those who live in flood-prone or other vulnerable areas should be prepared to evacuate quickly by planning a route and having have a storm kit ready.
If a storm is approaching, residents should secure all outdoor items, especially boats.
When evacuating, the county advises traveling during daylight hours and not waiting until the last minute to purchase gasoline and supplies.
Those who are ordered to evacuate and seek shelter elsewhere should follow the instructions of local emergency managers on where to go and when.
In case of a storm, phones should be uses sparingly and only for essential calls. Emergencies should be reported to 911. Mobile phones should be charged before a storm hits and power is lost.
If a hurricane or tropical storm hits, residents should expect polluted water, limited communication, no electricity, overflowing or backed-up sewers, undermined foundations, beach erosion and heavy damage to homes and roadways.
Hurricane season begins Friday, June 1 and runs through November. For more information on storm preparation and safety, visit www.sussexcountyde.gov.
Source: www.sussexcountian.com
Sussex budget plan may include tax rebate - Delaware Wave
GEORGETOWN -- Sussex County is considering a tax rebate that would effectively cut county property taxes by 7.8 percent in the coming fiscal year.
Because of a 2011 budget surplus, a 3.5 cent property tax rebate is in the fiscal year 2013 budget unveiled Tuesday. To be eligible, property owners must be current on tax payments. The proposed budget keeps tax rates steady at 44.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Overall, the draft budget submitted to the Sussex County Council devotes $121.1 million to operating expenses and capital projects, which is down from $140.1 million in the current budget. Most of the difference comes because of the loss of federal stimulus funds for expanding sewer systems.
The proposal includes a 2.25 percent cost-of-living raise for county employees and a smaller adjustment for retirees with pensions. It also increases grants to local law enforcement agencies to $25,000 per town, the highest level since 2009, and allows for employee merit raises.
"We took a hard look at merits to make sure they are justified when they are requested," said Sussex County Administrator Todd F. Lawson.
The county's real estate transfer tax, its largest share of income, has fluctuated in past years, cresting at $36.3 million in 2005. It's now projected to bring in $13.2 million, about the same level as last year. .
"I feel this is the new norm the county will live by," Lawson said of the projection for the transfer tax.
Increases in one part of the budget reflect pain and strife in the housing market. The county expects revenue generated by the Sheriff's Office to rise to $4 million, up from $2.8 million, with much of the increase generated by fees collected for handling foreclosures.
The county is scaling back its work to expand public sewer pipes now that about $20 million in federal stimulus money is going away. But capital spending for other projects is increasing by 50 percent to $13.2 million. The county expects to spend $4.5 million for improvements to the Sussex County Airport runway.
The budget also supports a plan to expand the public library in Greenwood and make improvements to the Milton and South Coastal libraries. In Greenwood, $3 million in state and county funds will go toward tripling the size of the current library.
Source: www.delmarvanow.com
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