PURPOSE The threat of severe weather, or man-made catastrophe, may force local government officials to issue evacuation orders. These orders are not issued casually or indiscriminately. Officials realize that evacuation orders cause serious disruptions in the normal daily activities of our citizens. But, officials also realize that a significant portion of our citizens live in areas that are vulnerable to the effects of severe weather and relocating to safer areas may mean the difference between life and death. The purpose of an evacuation order is to emphasize to the public that a potential dangerous situation is developing and to encourage citizens to take actions necessary to minimize the potential danger.

CONTROL GROUP In Carteret County evacuation orders related to hurricanes are issued by a group of local officials called the Control Group. The Control Group consists of the mayor of each Carteret County municipality and the chairman of the Carteret County Board of Commissioners. When the potential for hurricane effects exists in any part of Carteret County, the Control Group meets and determines the need for an evacuation. The Control Group receives information from expert sources such as the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center to aid in the evacuation decision. Representatives from the Red Cross, Carteret County Schools, NC Highway Patrol, and emergency management also provide information to the Control Group.

EVACUATION ORDERS Evacuation orders are generally applied to the following areas of Carteret County: Bogue Banks, property adjacent to waterways, low lying or flood prone areas, and mobile home dwellers. The evacuation order will advise a time that the evacuation should begin and a time when the evacuation, and all preparations, should be completed. The evacuation order will list the time when access to Bogue Banks will be controlled and will list the time that shelters will open.

EVACUATION TIMING Residents and visitors who intend on evacuating prior to the approach of a storm should not feel rushed to do so. Evacuation orders are issued far enough in advance of impending storms so as to allow sufficient time for residents to complete storm preparations and travel to a safe location before the arrival of gale force ( 39 mph) winds. This evacuation time cushion is usually between 18 and 24 hours. During tourist season the Control Group may request that visitors, persons towing boats or campers, and persons in RVs voluntarily begin their evacuations ahead of the official evacuation period.

ROUTES Hurricane evacuation routes in Carteret County are marked with blue and white evacuation route signs. The evacuation routes out of Carteret County are US 70, NC HWY 101, and NC HWY58. Evacuation Route Map Hurricane evacuees from Carteret County should remember that many highways in Eastern North Carolina serve as evacuation routes for multiple counties. Evacuees should expect to encounter heavy traffic conditions during evacuation events. Traffic delays have been historically encountered in Havelock at the US 70/NC 101 intersection, in Maysville at the US 17/NC 58 intersection, in Kinston at the US 70/NC 58 intersection, in Kinston at the US 70/NC 258 intersection, and in Garner at the I-40/US 70 intersection.

DESTINATIONS Evacuating from the coast is the surest way to avoid injury from the effects of hurricane force winds and storm surge. But evacuees should carefully choose their place of evacuation. The effects of a hurricane strike will be felt in all of eastern North Carolina. High winds and river flooding are possible in all counties east of I-95.Hurricane evacuees from Carteret County are encouraged to travel to areas in and around Raleigh. Evacuees are reminded that hotel space is limited in many areas and destinations should be confirmed prior to evacuating the coast. Click here for a list of US 70 corridor and Raleigh hotels.

PREPARATIONS Hurricane evacuations cannot be successfully undertaken without some preplanning and preparations. The basic preparations include the following:

1. Determine your destination prior to evacuating
2. Know your evacuation route
3. Keep a full tank of gasoline
4. Pack supplies sufficient for 3 to 5 days
5. Pack important papers (insurance, identifications, property inventory)
6. Have a plan for your pets
7. Secure your home before leaving
8. Notify friends and relatives of your destination

SHELTERS

Carteret County establishes shelters as needed and announces the shelter locations and times of operation via our web-based WEBEOC Emergency Operations System located at http://www.carteretems.com (Please note log-in as userid PUBLIC, leave password field blank.)

For the most up-to-date information, visit our WEBEOC system and login with the userid PUBLIC. There is no password. By logging into this facility, you may receive the latest information regarding shelters, general announcments, road closures, press releases, etc.
 

SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTER
Carteret General Hospital operates a shelter for persons with special medical needs at the Leon Mann Enrichment Center. This facility is located at 3820 Galantis St. in Morehead City. Persons wishing to use the special needs shelter must pre-register with Carteret General Hospital. The telephone number to call to pre-register for the special needs shelter is 808-6081.

SHELTER SUPPLIES Carteret County operates the shelters as a short term location for residents to go to escape the effects of a hurricane. The shelters are not intended to be used for the long term housing of persons and have not been stocked to provide this type of sheltering. Long term shelters, that provide cots and food, for persons displaced from their homes will be established after a storm has passed. Therefore, persons evacuating to one of the pre-hurricane shelters should bring the following supplies with them:

Bedding ( cot, lounge chair, blankets, pillows)
Food ( non-cooking, non-refrigerated, 2 day supply)
Beverages (non-alcoholic)
Cooler with ice
Baby Supplies
Changes of Clothing
Medications
Entertainment Items (board games, deck of cards, reading materials)
Evacuees should bring adequate supplies to last two to four days.

HOME PREPAREDNESS

• PURPOSE
• PERMITS
• PROCESS

PURPOSE Hurricanes have the potential to cause severe damage to properties near and adjacent to the beach strand. Hazardous situations such as collasped structures, washed out roads, downed power lines, and leaking propane tanks are possible following a hurricane strike. In order to protect our citizens from these hazardous situations local officials have devised a plan to restrict or limit access to the communities on Bogue Banks following a hurricane event. These communities included in this plan are Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, Salter Path, and Emerald Isle.

PERMITS Property owners on Bogue Banks are issued reentry permits by the town in which their property is located. Residents of the unincorporated community of Salter Path receive their passes at the Indian Beach Town Hall. The permits are distributed prior to hurricane season. Each town determines the distribution policy for their permits. Some towns have issued permanent permits to residents while other towns issue new permits each hurricane season. Residents should contact their town halls for specific information on reentry permit policies Each community has a colored permit unique to their section of Bogue Banks. The permits are to be displayed on the driver’s side dashboard of a vehicle. The reentry permits allow law enforcement officers to easily identify Bogue Banks property owners and improve traffic flow at local checkpoints.

PROCESS Carteret County officials have developed a process to limit access to the beach communities of Bogue Banks following a hurricane event that results in severe property damage. Highlights of that process are listed below.

Just prior to the arrival of the storm, access onto Bogue Banks will be restricted to property owners.

Check points will be established and maintained by the NC State Highway Patrol on the mainland sides of the high rise bridges leading to Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle.

Bridges will remain open to exiting beach traffic as long as wind speeds allow for safe travel. During high winds, the NCSHP may elect to temporarily close bridges to traffic.

A three step approach will be used for post storm reentry to Bogue Banks. These steps include the return of emergency personnel, the return of property owners, and return of the general public.

Immediately following a hurricane event, access to the beaches will be closed to all traffic except for emergency personnel and utility companies. Repair crews will use this time period to assess the situation in each town and to make repairs necessary to facilitate the return of property owners.

Each town will determine when property owners in their specific town can return to Bogue Banks. Towns with minimal damage may open to property owners soon after the storm passes. Towns with severe damage may elect to stay closed to property owners for an additional period of time.

Property owners will be required to show proof of property ownership or a disaster reentry permit before being allowed to access Bogue Banks.

Property owners will be permitted, if road conditions allow, to traverse through closed sections of Bogue Banks in order to reach their property. Travelers through closed sections of Bogue Banks will be restricted to designated roadways. Deviations from the designated through roads could result in possible arrest.

Property owners are reminded that you may be allowed to reenter areas that are without utility services such as electricity, water, and sewer. Property owners are also reminded that curfews and travel limitations may exist for certain areas of Bogue Banks. Property owners must be prepared to deal with these situations and adhere to these regulations.

The final step in the reentry process is to allow the return of the general public back on to Bogue Banks. The reentry of the general public will be coordinated between all the communities on the banks. Efforts will be made to open all areas of the beaches to the general public simultaneously.