Emergency leaders hold annual hurricane drill

Hurricane season is here. State and City leaders and emergency personnel from around the Carolinas gathered Tuesday for their annual hurricane drill.

The exercise tests New Hanover County’s response to a major disaster.

The scenario simulated the devastation caused by Hurricane Floyd eight years.

This year emergency responders have updated the way they communicate. They’re working with new software that helps them save and exchange information faster and make sure it gets to the right people.

Emergency Management Director Warren Lee said, “We have a lot of people new in the region, a lot of people who come on vacation. It’s important that people here know how to respond to the needs and requests that would happen if we did have a hurricane.”

Warren Lee says it’s important for emergency leaders to meet face to face to see the inner workings of other agencies and build relationships.