Dare County issued a state of emergency at 11 a.m. today and ordered a mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island, starting at noon, according to a Hurricane Isaias bulletin issued by Dare County Emergency Management.
Local decision-making officials will meet tomorrow morning, the bulletin announced, to determine whether a mandatory evacuation order will be issued for the Dare County towns north of Oregon Inlet, which include Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and Duck.
According to Hurricane Isaias Bulletin #1, “local officials”—who were not identified—met this morning via video conference to receive a briefing from the National Weather Service about the potential effects of Isaias on Dare County. They concluded that ordering a state of emergency and an evacuation of Hatteras Island was prudent.
Today’s “declaration of a state of emergency” was signed by Bob Woodard, chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, with the consent of all of the town mayors, who sit on the Dare County Control Group, except Manteo Mayor Bobby Owens, who named a designee to give consent.
See the declaration at https://www.darenc.com/Home/ShowDocument?id=7899.
As of 11 a.m., the storm was still over the Bahamas and moving northwesterly at 12 mph, five mph slower than its rate of speed yesterday. Its strongest winds have been reported to be 80 mph.
Dare County’s mandatory evacuation order applies to what is known as “Evacuation Zone A,” which covers all areas of Hatteras Island, including the unincorporated villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras Village.
“Evacuation Zone B” covers the Dare County areas north of Oregon Inlet.
Visitors to Hatteras Island must start evacuating today at noon, while residents and property owners have until 6 a.m. tomorrow before the evacuation order directed to them takes effect.
Today’s DCEM bulletin also calls attention to Dare County’s new online reentry permitting system, which is now in effect.
According to the bulletin, only reentry permits for the current calendar year are valid, but residents may still use a valid driver’s license with a Dare County address or a current tax bill or parcel data sheet with matching government-issued ID for reentry.
To review reentry guidelines or to apply for a permit, see www.darenc.com/reentry.
The next Hurricane Isaias update will be issued no later than tomorrow at noon, according to DCEM.
The emergency declaration is to remain in effect until 5 p.m. on Aug. 7, unless it is modified, extended, or rescinded.
Ann G. Sjoerdsma, 8/1/20
The Southern Shores Beacon 