Whiteville Emergency Services

06/14/2026

City of Whiteville Alerts:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 14 at 2:18PM EDT until June 14 at 2:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
SVRILM

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southwestern Brunswick County in southeastern North Carolina...
South central Columbus County in southeastern North Carolina...
East central Horry County in northeastern South Carolina...

* Until 245 PM EDT.

* At 218 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Brooksville,
or near Little River, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind
damage to trees and power lines.

* Locations impacted include...
Shallotte, Sunset Beach, Little River, Iredell, Carolina Shores,
Calabash, Freeland, Grissettown, Longwood, Wampee, Longs, Russtown,
Pireway, Ash, Brooksville, and Exum.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Please send your reports of hail or wind damage, including trees or
large limbs downed, by calling the National Weather Service office in
Wilmington at 1 800 697 3901.

06/14/2026

The atmosphere is jacked up this afternoon.... thunderstorms could become rather intense. Coverage should be somewhat less than what we saw yesterday, but any storm that forms could produce very gusty winds, buckets of rainfall, and nearly constant cloud-to-ground lightning. If you hear thunder, head indoors.

06/14/2026

City of Whiteville Alerts:

Heat Advisory
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
Heat Advisory issued June 14 at 2:24AM EDT until June 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
* WHAT...Heat index values up to 106 expected.

* WHERE...Portions of southeast North Carolina and northeast South
Carolina.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses.
To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in
shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat
should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an
emergency! Call 9 1 1.

Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates.

06/13/2026

City of Whiteville Alerts:

Heat Advisory
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
Heat Advisory issued June 13 at 12:49AM EDT until June 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
* WHAT...Heat index values up to 108 expected.

* WHERE...Portions of southeast North Carolina and northeast South
Carolina.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses.
Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in
shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat
should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an
emergency! Call 9 1 1.

06/13/2026

06/12/2026

Sharing for CCSO

MURDER SUSPECT WANTED

On June 11, 2026, patrol deputies with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported gunshot wound at 95 Berry Lane in Whiteville.

Upon arrival, deputies located the victim, Raphael Gowans, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Investigators with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office responded and identified 18-year-old Eric Martin Jr. as the suspect. Martin is currently wanted on outstanding warrants for first-degree murder.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office at 910-642-6551 or if you would like to submit an anonymous tip, please visit: https://columbussheriff.com/submit-a-tip/.

Do not approach this individual. He is considered armed and dangerous. If seen, call 911 immediately.

06/11/2026

City of Whiteville Alerts:

Heat Advisory
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT FRIDAY
Heat Advisory issued June 11 at 2:16PM EDT until June 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
* WHAT...Heat index values up to 106 expected.

* WHERE...Portions of southeast North Carolina and northeast South
Carolina.

* WHEN...From 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses.
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in
shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat
should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an
emergency! Call 9 1 1.

06/11/2026

El Niño is here

06/09/2026

Whiteville Fire Marshal Hal Lowder reminds the public that pine straw used as ground cover around the base of a structure is a serious fire hazard. Recently, discarded smoking materials ignited pine straw and quickly spread flames to the open stairwell between two buildings, engulfing the primary way out of those apartments.

To reduce the spread of fire, our Fire Marshal, Hal Lowder encourages owners and managers of commercial and multi-family structures to use alternative materials for landscaping within 10 feet of the building.

Pine straw is extremely combustible and has a very rapid rate of fire spread (often over 90 feet per minute). Placing it directly against a building foundation—especially near entryways, stairwells, or windows with combustible framing—poses a serious fire risk from discarded ci******es, grills, or electrical faults. Combustible siding materials increase the risk of vertical fire spread into the attics of structures.

06/07/2026

FIRE DANGER STATEMENT NOW IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY EVENING...

The combination of extremely dry fine fuels as per state fire
officials, combined with low relative humidity and gusty
southwest winds, will lead to an enhanced fire danger Sunday
afternoon, especially away from the immediate coast. Relative
humidity values are expected to fall into the low and mid 30s
away from the coast with southwest winds gusting 15 to 20 mph.