Dare County Emergency Management urges public to be prepared and stay informed as Hurricane Franklin and Idalia impact the coast

With Hurricane Franklin and Hurricane Idalia churning in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, now is the time to prepare, per an update from Dare County Emergency Management.

Hurricane Franklin’s impacts are already being realized in the form of hazardous ocean conditions that are bringing life-threatening rip currents and large breaking surf to all Dare County beaches, making ocean swimming unsafe.

Hurricane Idalia’s forecast is very dynamic. The storm is anticipated to move off the East Coast into the Atlantic Ocean after making landfall as a major hurricane in Florida on Wednesday, August 30.

As of this morning (Tuesday, August 29), the National Weather Service is forecasting significant rain, high winds, and minor storm surge inundation (1 foot above ground in low-lying areas) for our area.

Most impacts will be realized on Hatteras Island based on the current forecast track. Impacts are anticipated to start late Wednesday, August 30, into Thursday, August 31, so now is the time to prepare.

To keep residents and visitors informed, Dare County, in partnership with Current TV, has released a new video highlighting the community Hurricane Preparedness Forum that was held in conjunction with the National Weather Service on Wednesday, August 23, at the Dare County Emergency Operations Center in Manteo.

You can also read a summary of the Hurricane Preparedness Forum here. 

During the forum, Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson was joined by Warning Coordination Meteorologist Erik Heden and Lead Meteorologist Carl Barnes from the National Weather Service’s Newport/Morehead City, N.C. office, who shared important information on how Dare County residents and property owners can properly prepare themselves and their property for hurricane season, which officially began on June 1 and peaks on September 10.

A variety of topics were covered during the presentations made by Pearson, Heden, and Barnes, who emphasized that it’s imperative to be prepared well ahead of a potential storm—and to continue to focus on a storm’s potential impacts for your area rather than the category of the storm. At the conclusion of the presentations, a community discussion was held to give attendees the opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns.

To view the video of the entire Hurricane Preparedness Forum on Dare County’s YouTube channel, click here. 

Hurricane Preparedness Precautions:

Sign Up for Emergency Alerts:

Sign up to receive customized emergency alerts—including severe weather watches and warnings, public safety and emergency-related warnings, countywide evacuation orders, and other time-critical notifications—at www.OBXAlerts.com.

Sign Up for Updates on Beach & Ocean Conditions:

Sign up to receive daily beach condition updates via text message by texting “OBXBeachConditions” to 77295. For additional information about rip currents, red flag warnings, and much more, visit www.LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.org

Monitor Storm Surge & Rising Water Levels:

Sign up to receive alerts via text message if water levels in your area begin to rise due to storm surge by visiting www.FIMAN.NC.gov and selecting the flood gauge(s) located in local waterways you’d like to monitor in real time. Click here to watch a short video and learn more. 

Download the Dare County Hurricane Guide:

For more detailed information about how you can protect yourself and your property, please click here to download the Dare County Hurricane Guide.

Create an Emergency Supply Kit:

One of the most important things you can do to prepare for hurricane season is create an emergency supply kit. Click here to watch an instructional video.

Make an Evacuation Plan:

Determine which evacuation route you will take to leave Dare County if an evacuation order is issued. Click here to learn more.

Obtain a 2023 Reentry Permit:

In order to reenter Dare County during a staged reentry process following a mandatory evacuation, individuals must possess and display a current and valid reentry permit. Click here to obtain your 2023 reentry permit or to learn more.

For the most up-to-date weather information, visit the National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City, N.C. at www.weather.gov/mhx. For updated information regarding road conditions on N.C. Highway 12, follow the North Carolina Department of Transportation on Facebook at www.facebook/ncdot, on Twitter @NCDOTNC12 or visit drivenc.gov.

For more information about how you can protect yourself and your property this hurricane season, please visit www.DareNC.gov/EM or follow Dare County Emergency Management on Twitter @DareCountyEM.