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Environmental Health, Brent Bogue in Soil and Water Conservation, Nick Waters and <br /> Kent McKenzie in EMS, and Fletcher Barber in Cooperative Extension. He said that <br /> Wal-Mart has donated 1,000 gallons of bottled water to be used by the Inter-Faith <br /> Council and Orange Congregations in Mission to provide water to citizens, individuals, or <br /> groups who face dire circumstances because of wells running dry, etc. He particularly <br /> thanked Eric Griffin and Donna King who have pulled this together. <br /> Eric Griffin with the Department of Emergency Management thanked the <br /> Commissioners and gave an explanation of what has been done to relieve the drought <br /> by short and long term planning. The drought committee, known as H2Orange, met on <br /> August 15`h for the first time. Four meetings later, Orange County is now in the severe <br /> drought area and has received moderate relief from the remnants from tropical storm <br /> Hannah. However, without continued rainfall, we will digress into further drought <br /> conditions. H2Orange has developed sound, short term education and outreach <br /> activities. Long term planning is essential in ending the drought. <br /> Donna King from the Health Department referred to the Board packet and <br /> explained the tips that can be used by citizens. She said that the Inter-Faith Council, <br /> Orange Congregations in Missions, and the Department of Social Services are <br /> coordinating to provide bottled water, paper plates and cups, and plastic utensils to help <br /> needy families as the water restrictions become tighter and as wells may dry up. Social <br /> Services is the screening agency and will direct people to the appropriate agency. The <br /> drought hotline is being sponsored by Soil and Water Conservation and there is a staff <br /> person manning the hotline. After hours there will be voice mail. She said that this is <br /> not a water bill help line. There are many other tips on the website, which is <br /> www.h2orange.org. Environmental Health is working with restaurants on conservation <br /> tips and assistance. The water suppliers— OWASA, Orange-Alamance, and the Town <br /> of Hillsborough — are offering water conservation tips in their water bills and water <br /> conservation devices to their customers. OWASA will give away low-flow showerheads. <br /> The Town of Hillsborough is also offering low-flow showerheads and water saving <br /> devices. Residents with wells will work with Fletcher Barber and the people at <br /> Cooperative Extension. The agricultural community is working with the USDA Farm <br /> Service Agency and Rural Development and Orange Soil and Water to work with <br /> families that may need assistance with wells and water needs as it relates to their farm. <br /> There are some low cost loans and grants available for this. <br /> Chair Jacobs thanked Donna King and said that the drought hot line number <br /> is 644-3333. He said that it was the Durham/Chapel Hill Wal-Mart that donated 1,500 <br /> gallons of water. Regarding help with water bills, he said that OWASA has the Taste of <br /> Hope Program where people can round up their water bills to provide more money for <br /> people who may not be able to pay their water bills. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis asked what we were doing with respect to the County <br /> working with Hillsborough to provide low-flow devices to County citizens. John Link said <br /> that these were available and Fletcher Barber will be the contact person for these <br /> devices. People may call the drought hot line to be transferred to Cooperative Extension <br /> for information on these low-flow devices. <br /> Commissioner Brown said that she understands Greensboro has purchased <br /> mosquito-proof rain barrels, at a good price, to catch rain water. She said that this might <br /> be a good thing for us to do. John Link said that the staff could explore this. <br /> Eric Griffin invited the County Commissioners to the next H2Orange meeting, <br /> which will be October 10`h at the Emergency Management building. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis said that OWASA hosted a meeting of water <br /> suppliers from Greensboro to Cary. They talked about the various situations and what <br />