Outer Banks Hurricane Updates: Earl

Thanks for your patience as we recover from a loooong, windy and rainy Thursday night on the Outer Banks! Fortunately, the OBX is officially "open for business" again.

So what happens now that Hurricane Earl
has passed?
We're looking forward to welcoming our Labor Day guests! The Sun Realty team is geared up for a great holiday weekend. We just ask that you come prepared with patience and a sense of humor.

Traveling to some parts of the Outer Banks on Saturday may be slow-going, even though no evacuation orders will be in effect. Please relax, drive safely and remember how lucky we are to have dodged the worst of Hurricane Earl.

CLICK HERE for Important Post-Hurricane Earl
Information & Travel Conditions

Latest Updates & Advisories

9/3/2010 | 7:00 pm
NCDOT prepares to re-open NC 12 to Hatteras Island on Saturday morning around 7:00 am. Please note:  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.   Read the full announcement from NCDOT.

9/3/2010 | 11:45 am
Latest Advisory from Currituck County: Mandatory Evacuation lifted;effective at noon. http://www.co.currituck.nc.us/

9/3/2010 | 11:45 am
Latest Bulletin from Dare County:  http://www.darenc.com/EmgyMgmt/Alert/index.asp

• 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 traveling to Duck and Corolla.

• The mandatory evacuation order for Hatteras Island remains in effect due to sand and standing water on NC Highway 12. Crews from NCDOT are working to clear the roadway.  

• 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.

9/3/2010 | 9:30 am
North Carolina Department of Transportation: Currently, NC-12 is closed in both directions at the Oregon Inlet Bridge and is not expected to reopen until further notice.  Numerous secondary roads are also closed near Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke Island.  Efforts are underway to assess damage to the roadways and restore travel in the impacted areas.

9/3/2010 | 7:00 am
Latest advisory from Currituck County: http://co.currituck.nc.us/pdf/index/09-03-10%20Hurricane%20Earl%20Advisory%2010.pdf

9/3/2010 | 6:28 am
Latest Emergency Bulletin from Dare County: http://www.darenc.com/EmgyMgmt/Alert/index.asp.

9/3/2010 | 4:18 am
Current road conditions and closures from Dare County: http://www.co.dare.nc.us/public/roads.asp.

9/2/2010 | 6:26 pm
Latest Emergency Bulletin from Dare County: http://www.co.dare.nc.us/EmgyMgmt/Alert/index.asp.

9/2/2010 | 1:22 p.m.
ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS are required to evacuate South Nags Head south of Whalebone Junction.

9/2/2010 | 10:15 a.m.
Currituck County issued mandatory evacuation for ALL VISITORS. For more information, visit Currituck County's website.

9/2/2010 | 6:34 am
The Dare County Control Group has issued a mandatory evacuation for all visitors throughout the entire County effective 6:00 am Thursday, September 2. Read more about Dare County's mandatory evacuation.

9/1/2010 | 9:52 pm
Dare County has announced a mandatory evacuation for all residents and visitors on Hatteras Island effective at 6:00pm Wednesday, September 1.  The latest storm track has shifted Hurricane Earl to the west putting hurricane force winds over Hatteras Island early Friday morning.
 
The evacuation order for both residents and visitors of Hatteras Island does NOT apply for areas north of Oregon Inlet.  At this time, the order does NOT include the towns of Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Southern Shores, Roanoke Island or mainland Dare County.

As Dare County Emergency Management closely monitors the storm, residents and visitors should be prepared for the possibility of additional evacuations that may be needed tomorrow for mainland and northern portions of Dare County.   For more information click here. 

9/1/2010 | 3:25 pm
Dare County Public Schools are cancelled Thursday and Friday. 

9/1/2010 | 2:11 pm
Currituck County is now under a Hurricane Warning. Click here for more information.

9/1/2010 | 1:18 pm
All citizens in the 4-wheel drive area of Carova in Currituck County must be aware of impending dangers brought by Hurricane Earl in the next two days. As Hurricane Earl approaches on Thursday, the Outer Banks will have rough surf, and breakers up to 12' with minimum to moderate beach erosion.  These effects may render the beach road connecting Carova to Corolla impassable for motorist by Thursday afternoon. For more infomation click here. 

9/1/2010 | 12:08 pm
A Hurricane Warning has been issued for all of Dare County and the North Carolina Coast. For more information click here.

9/1/2010 | 12:01 pm
Due to Hurricane Earl, the town of Kill Devil Hills will be picking up trash bins tomorrow, Thursday, September 2 instead of Friday, September 3.

9/1/2010 | 8:39 am
A mandatory evacuation of all Hatteras Island VISITORS has been issued, effective immediately. The Dare County Control Group met this morning to assess the storm and issued the order in anticipation of high waves along the oceanfront of Hatteras Island. The evacuation order facilitates visitors leaving Hatteras Island before high seas produce overwash on NC Highway 12 which will impede safe travel. For more information click here.

8/31/2010 at 1:00 pm
Sun Realty Video: What's Happening with Earl?

8/31/2010 | 1:00 pm
Dare County Emergency Management Bulletin: Dare County Control Group Meets to Assess Hurricane Earl

8/31/2010 | 10:09 am
Hurricane Earl is expected to stay offshore. Forecasts indicate rough surf and rain Thursday. The storm is expected to head east over the Atlantic on Friday, giving way to sunshine. Below is the latest forecasted model.

The latest model indicates the storm will head east over the Atlantic on Friday morning.

8/30/2010 | 4:10 pm
The hurricane Earl forecast indicates the storms track remains offshore the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Most forecast models indicate Earl will remain 200 to 300 miles offshore the Outer Banks. Hurricane Earl is expected to bring rain and rough surf on Thursday and be gone just in time for Labor Day weekend.

The model above is forcasting Earl's path 200 to 300 miles offshore.

For more information, check out the following links.

Evacuation Routes for Dare County

National Weather Center: National Hurricane Center

Currituck County: Hurricane Preparedness

Dare County: Typical Storm Questions and Answers

North Carolina Department of Transportation

Weather.com: Hurricane Earl News Ticker

Travel Insurance Info
In the event that you need Travel Insurance claim forms, visit www.TripPreserver.com/claims or call a Red Sky Travel Insurance Claims Specialist at 866-890-6499.

How did hurricane Earl get it's name?
Hurricane Earl receives its name from the World Meteorlogical Association. Six lists of names are maintained and updated by an international committee of the World Meteorlogical Association members. The six lists are used in rotation. Therefore the list used in 2010 will be used again in 2016. Male and female names alternate throughout the lists. The names of severe or memorable storms can be retired and replaced by committee when deemed appropriate.

Hurricane Terms to Know
Hurricane - A hurricane is a tropical storm which generates heavy rains and high speed winds
during the summer and autumn months, typically in North America.

Hurricane season – Hurricane seasons is from June 1 through November 30. There is no way to accurately predict the number of hurricanes each season. And storms may form at other times of the year but this is rare.

Hurricane Watch – A hurricane is issued when the National Weather Service believes a hurricane poses a threat to the area within 24 to 36 hours.

Hurricane Warning – A hurricane warning is issued when a hurricane is expected to hit the area within 24 hours

Tropical Depression - Winds up to 39 miles per hour. A tropical depression precedes a tropical storm.

Tropical Storm - Winds from 39 to73 mph. A tropical storm precedes a hurricane.