Date/Time: 9/3/2010 5:33:09 PM

Re-Entry For Hatteras Island Begins 7:00am Saturday, September 4

The mandatory evacuation issued for Hatteras Island will remain in effect until 7:00 a.m. Saturday, September 4. NCDOT has been working throughout the day to remove sand and standing water on NC Highway 12 from Hurricane Earl.

With the lifting of the evacuation order for Saturday at 7:00 a.m., access for all vehicles will be restored to the Villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras and the ferry dock.

Motorists are advised that although access will be permitted, there may be standing water on roadways throughout the area. Proceed with caution, as it is difficult to determine the water’s depth and can cause brake failure, loss of control, or vehicle flooding.

At noon today, the mandatory evacuation was lifted for the remainder of Dare County north of Oregon Inlet including the Towns of Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Manteo, Nags Head, Southern Shores and the unincorporated areas of Dare County north of Oregon Inlet.

The bridges leading to Dare County are open and no re-entry pass is required.

Trash Pick-up for Areas serviced by Dare County Public Works
Trash pick-up will be done on the regular Monday schedule, which includes the areas of Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Colington, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras Village. Public Works will also be following its normal commercial pick-up schedule on Monday.

The Buxton Transfer Station/Recycling Center will be open Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Manteo Recycling Center at Dare County Public Works will be open Saturday and Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tree limbs will be accepted at both Centers in addition to the usual recycling items.

The Manns Harbor Transfer Station will be open regular hours beginning Saturday.

Town of Duck
The Town of Duck today lifted the State of Emergency for Hurricane Earl. Roads throughout the Town of Duck are now clear and totally passable. Residential trash will be picked up on the next regularly scheduled collection day, which is Monday, September 6. Commercial trash pick-up is not affected.

Town of Kill Devil Hills
The Recycle Center is expected to operate on its normal schedule Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Town of Kitty Hawk
The Town of Kitty Hawk has rescinded their proclamation declaring a State of Emergency. The town has no ocean over wash and minor flooding due to rainwater. All roads are open. The recycling center will re-open tomorrow.

Town of Nags Head
The Town of Nags Head reports all routes open at this time. There was a little overwash in South Nags Head and only standing rain water in typical spots on South Old Oregon Inlet Road and South Virginia Dare Trail. There will be no trash collection in Nags Head today. The regular collection schedule will resume Saturday, weather permitting.

Town of Southern Shores
Mayor Hal Denny today lifted the State of Emergency proclamation existing since yesterday due to Hurricane Earl. The Public Works Department will be removing vegetative debris from town streets and rights of way over the next few business days.

National Park Service Outer Banks Group
All park visitor centers and campgrounds in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial are closed until further notice. The reservation system for Ocracoke Campground has been temporarily suspended. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is closed until further notice. All ocean-side beach access for off-road vehicles is closed until a post-storm assessment can be completed.

Helpful Contact Information

Dare County Emergency Management 252-475-5655 or www.darenc.com
NC Ferry Division 1-800-BY-FERRY or www.ncferry.org
Dominion North Carolina Power 1-888-667-3000 or www.dom.com
Cape Hatteras Electric 1-866-511-9862 www.chec.coop
Tideland Electric – 1-800-637-1079 or 1-800-882-1001 www.tidelandemc.com
North Carolina Road Conditions 1-877-DOT-4YOU or www.ncsmartlink.org
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) 1-877-DOT-4YOU
North Carolina Highway Patrol 1-800-441-6127
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) 1-800-367-7623

Monitor local news outlets for further advisories from the National Weather Service and state and local emergency management officials. Bulletins will be issued as needed and available at www.darenc.com and on Government Access Channel 20.

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A tropical storm warning is in effect from Ocracoke inlet to the North Carolina/Virginia border.

No major structural damage and no injuries reported. Highways are reported open throughout the county.

Full power has been restored to all of Hyde County.

Damage assessments began at daybreak in Hyde County will be released as reported. Water should recede late morning into the afternoon as conditions improve.

Significant swells will continue a high risk of strong rip currents through the day. People are urged to stay out of the water.

Pay attention to Highway 12 on Ocracoke and Hatteras islands as overwash may make the route impassable. Currently, Highway 12 on Ocracoke is clear to Hatteras ferry from village by 4WD vehicles only. Be aware of standing water and sand on the road. NCDOT plans to have Highway 12 open to all traffic this afternoon.

A ferry will leave today at 3 PM from Swan Quarter to Ocracoke and 3:30 PM from Cedar Island to Ocracoke. It is anticipated that there will be three ferries from Cedar Island and two from Swan Quarter to Ocracoke today. Traffic as indicated by purple and green stickers will be allowed on the island. Vehicles with red stickers will be allowed on as space available. The State Highway Patrol shall restrict access without appropriate credentials. Ferries are not available to tourists and visitors today.

The Hatteras-Ocracoke route is not operating currently. This will be subject to change as road and weather conditions allow. We will release information when this route opens.

It is anticipated that the NC Ferry System will resume normal operations on Saturday, September 4 at 5 AM. Tolls will be waived for residents with appropriate stickers subject to availability.

This is the only information available at this time. Please tune in to local radio 90.1 FM on Ocracoke, the National Weather Service, and local television reports.

Hyde County Emergency Services continues to review the latest weather forecasts, is coordinating with the State and nearby counties, and advising citizens on possible actions to protect themselves and their property.

Please make yourselves aware of the state ferry system’s schedule and road conditions before making travel plans during this time and after the storm has passed.

Contact: Communications Office, (919) 733-2522

NCDOT CREWS CONTINUE EFFORTS TO CLEAR N.C. 12 IN OUTER BANKS
Road remains closed south of Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet

RALEIGH — N.C. Department of Transportation crews are working today to clear sand and water from N.C. 12 along the Outer Banks resulting from Hurricane Earl. NCDOT had stationed 24 pieces of equipment along N.C. 12 to quickly respond to the storm, and now has 31 employees working to push sand and water off the road from Ocracoke to Kitty Hawk. N.C. 12 remains closed south of the Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet.

Water continues to recede in Kitty Hawk and crews have cleared the majority of sand from N.C. 12 in the Canal area on the northern end of Pea Island. Further south, crews continue to push sand and water off the road and are working to clear water from the S-Curves section near Rodanthe. The sand bags and sand fence in that area withstood the storm.

There has been significant sound side flooding around Hatteras, and crews continue to assess the area. A significant amount of water and sand up to three feet deep in some places have impacted travel in Ocracoke. Crews will continue working to clear the road.

Crews have done assessments throughout the other coastal counties. With the exception of N.C. 12 in Dare and Hyde counties, all roads are open and passable.

The department continues to coordinate with local emergency management to assess the damage to N.C. 12. High tide is expected around 3 p.m. and more information will be available after that time.

***NCDOT***

Date/Time: 9/3/2010 11:11:45 AM

Evacuation Order Lifted for Portions of Dare County Today at 12:00 p.m.

A preliminary damage assessment by Dare County Emergency Management indicates that conditions following Hurricane Earl will allow re-entry at this time to the northern and mainland portions of Dare County.

Effective 12:00 p.m Friday, September 3, the mandatory evacuation order will be lifted for areas north of Oregon Inlet including the Towns of Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Manteo, Nags Head, Southern Shores and the unincorporated areas of Dare County north of Oregon Inlet.

The Town of Duck is experiencing water on the road in the typical areas that would occur during any storm with heavy rains. The area in southern Duck at the intersection of NC 12 (Duck Road) and the Tuckahoe subdivision is still experiencing some flooding. Although it is passable, caution, patience, and extra time should be allocated when returning to Duck and Corolla.

The mandatory evacuation order for Hatteras Island remains in effect due to sand and standing water on NC Highway 12. Villages affected by the continuation of this evacuation order include Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras. Crews from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) are working to clear the roadway. An advisory will be issued when conditions safely allow the evacuation order for Hatteras Island to be lifted.

The bridges leading to Dare County are open and no re-entry pass is required. Motorists should be careful of standing rain water which may be on streets throughout the area. Proceed with caution as it is difficult to determine the water’s depth and can cause brake failure, loss of control, or vehicle flooding.

Visitors planning travel to Dare County should first consult with their accommodations provider to confirm lodging reservations.

Helpful Contact Information

Dare County Emergency Management 252-475-5655 or www.darenc.com
Dominion North Carolina Power 1-888-667-3000 or www.dom.com
Cape Hatteras Electric 1-866-511-9862 www.chec.coop
Tideland Electric 1-800-637-1079 or 1-800-882-1001 www.tidelandemc.com
North Carolina Ferry Division 1-800-BY-FERRY or www.ncferry.org
North Carolina Road Conditions 1-877-DOT-4YOU or www.ncsmartlink.org
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) 1-800-367-7623
North Carolina Highway Patrol 1-800-441-6127

Bulletins will be released as needed and available at www.darenc.com and on Government Access Channel 20.

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Hurricane Earl is on its way out and preliminary reports are that there was thankfully less of an impact on Hatteras Island than anticipated.

There is both ocean overwash and soundside flooding affecting the island at this time, as well as scattered power outages. Once we receive news from the authorities as to the status of access to the island and the staged re-entry procedures we will communicate that information to you.

At this point, we do know that check-in on Saturday will at least be late and could be delayed even further.

Our offices are still closed due to the mandatory evacuation, but we are monitoring the situation and will continue to update you as information becomes available.

For official storm bulletins from Dare County, please visit www.darenc.com. As soon as we have information to report, we will update the outgoing message on our toll free number, as well as the news page on our website. We are also providing updates on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/surforsound.

We appreciate your patience with us as we gather reliable information and prepare the homes for your stay.

We look forward to seeing you this week!

Sincerely,

Your friends at Surf or Sound Realty

Even though our offices are closed for the evacuation of Hurricane Earl, we are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide you information as it becomes available. We will re-open our offices as soon as we are permitted back on the island by authorities.

If you have questions regarding entry onto Hatteras Island, please visit www.darenc.com for update bulletins from Dare County Emergency Management. Please be aware that entry on the island could still be prohibited even after the storm has passed due to potential impassable conditions on NC 12.

At this point, check-in on Saturday will at the very least, be late. It could possibly be delayed further depending on whether the authorities have re-opened access to visitors.

As soon as we have information available, we will update the outgoing message on our toll free number, as well as the news page on our website. We are also providing updates on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/surforsound.

If you have questions regarding travel insurance that you have purchased, please call Travel Guard directly at 1-877-254-8842. They are available 24/7 to answer your questions.

Thank you very much for choosing Surf or Sound Realty and for your patience and understanding through the storm. Please travel safely and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Your friends at Surf or Sound Realty

Last updated 9/3/10 12:33pm

When will your office open?
Our offices will re-open at 8:30am on Saturday.

When can we come back on the island?
Dare County is lifting the Hatteras Island evacuation order at 7:00am Saturday morning. You may access the island at that point from either the north or the south.

On your phone message you say check in will be late. Does that mean we will be able to check in tomorrow?
Please don’t expect to check in before 5:00pm Saturday. Many homes will not be ready until later than that. It’s hard to tell at this point how much later that will be. It depends on the condition of the homes. But we will get them ready as quickly as possible so you can begin your vacation.

We heard that the evacuation was lifted.
Dare County has lifted the evacuation for the areas north of Oregon Inlet. Hyde County has lifted their evacuation of Ocracoke Island. Hatteras Island will be closed until 7:00am Saturday morning at which point all vehicles will have access from both north and south.

We heard that the road will be open today.
The road will not be open on Friday.

Can we be moved to a home not on Hatteras Island?
We only manage homes on Hatteras Island, but if your home sustains significant damage, we will call you and will do our best to find a place for you to stay.

Can we check in after the office closes?
Absolutely. If you arrive after we close for the night, your keys will be in the drop-box on the porch of your check-in office. Just please come into the office the following morning before noon to complete your check-in process.

Can we help clean-up after the storm?
While we appreciate your offers, it is not safe to allow visitors to assist with the clean-up. There are too many unknowns and your safety is too important.

Where can we get official documentation of the evacuation?
Check www.darenc.com for official announcements from Dare County.

What if we miss a day of our vacation due to the evacuation and impassable road?
If you have purchased travel insurance, you should call Travel Guard directly to start your claim. The number is 1-877-254-8842. If you require documentation, we will be able to send that to you once our offices reopen. You can also find official evacuation notices at www.darenc.com.

Can we purchase travel insurance now if we haven’t already?
The insurance company will not cover Hurricane Earl if you did not purchase coverage before it became a named storm.

If the leaseholder can’t make it to check-in, can someone else pick up the keys?
Yes. As long as the lease holder calls us and tells us who will pick up the keys, then comes to the office upon their arrival to complete the check-in process.

Are you able to offer a different house for check-in this weekend if our booked house is damaged or driveway/yard is underwater, etc?
We are nearly 100% booked this week. So there likely won’t be a house to move you to. The good news is that we have not heard many reports of significant damage. There has been water intrusion and we will need to extract water from many homes. The water on the roads and neighborhoods should recede in a day or two. Chances are things will be fine at your house. We’ll let you know otherwise.

Indian Town Gallery is located at MP 65 in Frisco and is about 4 miles south of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. For more information please call 252-995-5181.

Photo submitted on Facebook by Michelle Horvath Hardy.

How to identify rip currents?
Rip currents can be identified before entering the water. Look for an area of murky water due to sediment mixing as the channel opened in the sandbar. If the rip current has lasted a long time, the color of the water will appear darker than the surrounding water because of the channel carved by the flowing water. Rip currents will also move objects and/or foam steadily seaward and will cause a break in the incoming wave pattern.

What to do if caught in a rip current?
* Remain calm. Remember, rip currents can pull a swimmer away from the shore but not under the water.
* Swim parallel to the shore until you break free, then swim diagonally toward the shore. Do not attempt to swim directly back toward the shore
* If you cannot swim out of the current, float until it weakens, then swim diagonally toward the shore.
* Ask for help by waving your hands.

Please keep in mind the following Safety Tips:

* Stay out of the water during dangerous surf conditions.
* Know how to swim. Non-swimmers should not rely on floats, such as boogie boards, while in deep water.
* Always swim near a lifeguard.
* Locate rip currents before entering the water.
* Tune in to NOAA weather radio and monitor websites (National Weather Service, Eastern Dare County, NC) and local media for updated surf conditions during your stay on the Outer Banks.
* Check with the lifeguards about rip currents and other hazardous conditions.
* Do not attempt to rescue someone caught in a rip current. Notify a lifeguard or, if there is no lifeguard, yell directions on how to escape, throw the victim something that floats, and call 911.

This information was provided by the National Park Service. For more information on rip currents, ask a lifeguard or check the website at http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.