Outer Banks Hurricane Tips

Prepare a personal evacuation plan...

Identify ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate. Choose several places -- a friend's home in another town, a hotel or a shelter. If you are coming to the Outer Banks and need to evacuate, remember there will be many other people evacuating as well. Early planning could make a big difference!

Keep handy the telephone numbers of those places as well as a road map -- you may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if major roads are closed or clogged. To the right is a listing of emergency numbers you should have on hand.

When evcuating, do not forget these items:

• Prescription medications and medical supplies
• Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows if available
• Bottled water, battery-operated radio and extra batteries, first aid kit, flashlight
• Car keys and maps
• Any documents you may need, such as your driver's license, credit cards, etc.

Listen to NOAA weather radio, local radio, the Weather Channel or national news if available. Pay attention to local officials and if advised to evacuate, do so immediately. The roads will be getting busy, and the earlier you leave, the less congestion you will deal with. If you are staying in a vacation rental, please do the following before leaving:

1. Tightly lock and secure ALL doors and windows
2. Turn picnic tables upside down
3. Bring all deck furniture and anything which may be blown away inside
4. Unplug all appliances, TVs, stereos
5. Bring trash cans in from the road and store in outside shower/storage area
6. Set thermostats to OFF position
7. Turn off refrigerator and prop door open with chair
8. Turn main power off at breaker panel
9. Close all blinds, make sure door is locked behind you & screen door is tightly latched
10. Return OBR rental items & keys to office
11. Evacuate off the Outer Banks by way of NC Highway 12. Be sure to gas up as soon as possible!

These steps shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes and could make the difference in damage caused by hurricanes. Think of you how thankful you would be if someone staying in your house did this for you!

Evacuation route off the Outer Banks...

Head NORTH on NC Highway 12 and then WEST at US Highway 64 or NORTH at US Highway 158 (both in Nags Head).

Expect to encounter traffic congestion and several hours of waiting before exiting the area. The sooner you leave, the less congestion you will cause and encounter!

Returning to the Outer Banks after a hurricane has passed...

After the storm has passed, do not return to the area until reentry has been advised by local officials and Outer Beaches. Time is needed to assess storm damage and act on recuse efforts. There may be primitive conditions in the area, such as no electricity, inadequate gasoline and food supplies, contaminated water, impassable roadways and undermined houses.

Remember to call our toll-free number at 1-800-627-3150; we will update the message at least once a day! If you have internet access, OuterBeaches.com will have the most complete, most up to date information from Dare County, the National Weather Center and NOAA before, during and after a hurricane.

Re-Entry Stages for getting back onto the Outer Banks...

Stage 1: Critical need personnel identified by special permit issued by the Municipal Mayors and the Chairman of the Dare County Control Group.

Stage 2: Permanent residents and resident property owners that have a re-entry permit identified with an "R", a Dare County driver's license or a current Dare County tax receipt.

Stage 3: A non-resident improved property owner -- identified by a solid color permit or a current Dare County tax receipt.

Stage 4: General public.

Names for 2007 Atlantic Storms: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dean, Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Noel, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, Wendy