Representative David Rouzer

Dear [salutation],

This past week, Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida and moved up the coast causing extreme flooding along the way and heavy rainfall over much of North Carolina that has led to flooding in various communities here as well. Additionally, I joined Senator Thom Tillis for a roundtable with New Hanover County and Wilmington officials to discuss efforts to curb the fentanyl and broader opioid crisis. I was proud to take part in this conversation and share my thoughts on the drug issues facing our communities. Keep reading to learn more!

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Latest News on Hurricane Debby

The National Hurricane Service and National Weather Service provided great updates throughout the past week, issuing warnings of heavy rainfall all throughout North Carolina since Tuesday. With this rainfall comes considerable flooding inland.

Flooding still remains a serious concern as many rivers will not crest until today or later. Before traveling, please check road conditions using DriveNC.gov. This excellent resource features a live with real-time updates regarding road closures from flooding.

Local Emergency Contact Information

During a storm, 911 lines need to remain open for life threatening emergencies. You can contact your local emergency management department for non-life threatening emergencies, preparedness tips, and recovery information before, during, and after a storm.

New Hanover County Emergency Management; (910) 798-6900
Brunswick County Emergency Management; (910) 253-5383
Pender County Emergency Management; (910) 259-1210
Columbus County Emergency Services; (910) 640-6610
Bladen County Emergency Management; (910) 862-6760
Robeson County Emergency Management; (910) 671-3150
Cumberland County Emergency Services; (910) 321-6736

Stay Informed

Always remember, in the event of an emergency, it is important to have multiple sources of information and alerts to protect yourself and your family. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings, like a weather alert app on your phone or a NOAA weather radio. Tune in to local TV news when severe weather threatens. Additionally, there are multiple websites with trusted sources of information on such events, including:

Public Safety Roundtable with Senator Tillis

This past week, I had the privilege of participating in a roundtable discussion focused on the fentanyl and broader opioid crisis hosted by Senator Thom Tillis with New Hanover County officials, Wilmington City officials, the chiefs for the Wilmington Fire and Police departments among others. We discussed crime related to fentanyl and drug trafficking in our communities. We also discussed the issue of human trafficking due to our proximity to the Port of Wilmington, I-95 and I-40. Senator Tillis and I received great input from these local leaders on the frontlines.

While the U.S. Congress has done a good bit on these fronts over the years, the rapid deterioration of border security because of bad policies has contributed significantly to both the drug and human trafficking crisis. However, I was encouraged by this conversation and will continue to look for ways Congress can support our law enforcement and the many others working to protect the public in our communities.

This Weeks Good News Story

For this week's good news story, I'm highlighting the Wilmington Police Departments addition of their new First Responder Kits4Kids! According to the Star News Online, "Officers with the Wilmington Police Department were encouraged to write personal messages and include them inside the bags as they assembled First Responder Kits4Kids at the Wilmington Convention Center on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.” These Kits for Kids will be used during First Responder Service calls where children are present. It is great to see that these kits will be used in Wilmington to assist the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community.

Closing Thoughts...

“Accountability is the essence of democracy. If people do not know what their government is doing, they cannot be truly self-governing.” – Gary Wills, American author and political philosopher