WILMINGTON — According to the National Hurricane Center’s latest report on Tuesday, Hurricane Florence will make landfall in the Carolinas Thursday or Friday.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has issued a mandatory evacuation of all barrier islands. In addition, Cooper and his emergency management staff implored all residents to obey local evacuation orders.
Mandatory and voluntary evacuations have been issued for the following counties and towns:
- Brunswick County: A mandatory evacuation is in effect for all unincorporated areas of the county. The county is now under a Hurricane Watch as well as a State of Emergency. Life-threatening rain, wind, storm surge, and flooding are likely. (Brunswick County’s list of shelters are below.)
- Leland: A mandatory evacuation went into effect for residents who live in low-lying and flood-prone areas or substandard or mobile homes, beginning at daylight (7 a.m.) Tuesday. A town-wide curfew, which also bans public consumption of alcohol, will be in effect from 9 pm to 6 a.m. starting Wednesday, September 12 and will remain in effect until further notice.
- New Hanover County: Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville beaches are under a mandatory evacuation. All of New Hanover County is under a voluntary evacuation. (New Hanover County’s list of shelters are below.)
- Wrightsville Beach: A mandatory evacuation begins at 8 a.m on Wednesday, September 12. Utilities will be shutting off at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Access to Wrightsville Beach will be limited to Wrightsville Beach residents only – no visitors or contractors are allowed once the mandatory evacuation is in place. No one, even residents, will be allowed on the beach after 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
- Kure Beach: Mandatory evacuation effective 8 a.m. Tuesday to be completed by 8 p.m on Wednesday, September 12, 2018.
- Carolina Beach: A mandatory evacuation began on Tuesday at 7 a.m. and all residents shall be off the island by no later than 8 p.m. Wednesday. The bridge will be closed to inbound traffic at that time.
- Pender County: Mandatory evacuation for all of Pender County effective Wednesday at 9 a.m. (Pender County’s list of shelters are below.)
- Topsail Beach: A voluntary evacuation is in effect now and a mandatory evacuation will go into effect Wednesday at 8 a.m.
- Surf City: A mandatory evacuation went into effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday and a curfew will go into effect 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Shelters
All county shelters prohibit alcohol, illegal narcotics, and firearms. Those taking shelter are encouraged to bring non-perishable food (on-site options will be limited), bedding, any necessary supplies. All those taking shelter should have identification for themselves and their pets; pets must remain with their owners.
- Brunswick County: shelters (all pet-friendly – proof of pet vaccination required) opened Tuesday at 2 p.m. at:
- West Brunswick High School (550 Whiteville Rd., Shallotte)
- North Brunswick High School (114 Scorpion Dr., Leland)
- South Brunswick High School (100 Cougar Rd., Boiling Springs Lakes)
- New Hanover County:
- A shelter in Forsyth County for New Hanover County residents will open on Wednesday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m. Learn more here.
- Eaton Elementary School will open to the public on Wednesday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m. Learn more about county shelters here.
- Noble Middle School will open to the public on Wednesday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m. Learn more about county shelters here
- Codington Elementary School is at full capacity.
- Johnson Pre-K Center is at full capacity.
- Trask Middle School is at full capacity.
- Garner High School is at full capacity.
- Knightdale High School is at full capacity.
- Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School is at full capacity.
- Pender County:
- Burgaw Middle School – pet-friendly, opened Tuesday at 4 p.m.
- Topsail Elementary School – open Tuesday at 7 p.m.
- Cape Fear Middle School – open Wednesday at 8 a.m.
- Malpass Corner Elementary – open Wednesday at 8 a.m.
