North Carolina and Virginia Officials Discuss Evacuation Procedures

More than 50 officials from North Carolina and Virginia gathered at the Dare County Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday, June 6 to talk about coordinated evacuation procedures and how the two states will work together if an evacuation of northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia becomes necessary. Representatives from federal, state, and local agencies participated including FEMA, National Weather Service, North Carolina Emergency Management, Virginia Emergency Management, NCDOT, VDOT, NC Highway Patrol, Virginia State Police, Chesapeake Expressway, Dare County Emergency Management, Currituck County Emergency Management, City of Virginia Beach, and City of Chesapeake. 

“It is important for partners to come together and discuss how an evacuation in one area impacts evacuations and travel in other areas, crossing county and state lines,” said Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson.  “With thousands of visitors and residents relying on common evacuation routes to seek refuge, these discussions will help ensure safe and efficient operations as the Outer Banks and coastal Virginia execute simultaneous evacuations.”