North Carolina Outer Banks Mandatory Evacuations Ordered Ahead of Hurricane Erin
By The Blog Source
On Sunday night, officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for North Carolina's Outer Banks as Hurricane Erin swelled offshore. The storm is anticipated to cause life-threatening floods, and the only way in and out of the islands may be swept away for days.
Coastal Flood Watches are in effect, with forecasters warning of significant ocean overwash and flooding beginning Tuesday and extending until Thursday. Waves higher than 20 feet are forecast to smash protective dunes and submerge Highway 12, the only road connecting the Outer Banks to the mainland.
Officials issued warnings about "life-threatening" conditions such as severe surf, rip currents, and storm surge. Emergency crews will be unable to reach the island after Highway 12 is submerged and shut off. Residents were instructed to "secure property and evacuate with all personal belongings."
As Hurricane Erin churns offshore, evacuation orders are being issued for North Carolina's Outer Banks, a fragile band of barrier islands. On Sunday evening, Hyde County commissioners issued a State of Emergency and ordered everyone on Ocracoke Island to evacuate before the storm's forces cut off their sole escape path.
Despite the storm's unlikely landfall, its growing magnitude will pound the islands with storm surge and massive waves. Officials warned that North Carolina Route 12—the only route that connects Ocracoke and Hatteras to the mainland—would almost surely be wiped out. Dunes that ordinarily provide protection are likely to collapse under the force of 20-foot waves, submerging large parts of the route.
A Coastal Flood Watch remains in effect, with conditions predicted to deteriorate beginning Tuesday and lasting until Thursday. County officials cautioned that shutting down Highway 12 will prevent residents who remain from receiving emergency medical assistance. "Please take this warning seriously, especially if you have medical conditions or require special care," the county stated in its release.
The evacuation order also includes cautions about unsafe swimming and surfing conditions, as well as significant rip current threats that span much of the Outer Banks. Residents and holidaymakers alike have been warned to depart while ferries and highways remain operational.
For real-time travel information, please check NCDOT’s DriveNC.gov and the agency’s social media accounts. People can also receive text or email notifications on ferry schedules and changes through the Ferry Information Notification System, or FINS.
Read more at Coastal Review, coastalreview.org.
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