New Hanover, Brunswick and Bladen counties all are in a state of emergency as Hurricane Florence approaches.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
New Hanover County recommends a voluntary evacuation for the whole county, including Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington.
Residents and visitors should be in a safe location before 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Trask Middle School will open and operate as a shelter beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m. This is a pet co-location shelter and cats and dogs are welcome. No exotic animals. Limited food service will be provided for those seeking shelter.
A hotline for evacuation, shelter and other storm-related questions will open up at noon Tuesday. Call 910-798-6800.
CAROLINA BEACH
A mandatory evacuation will begin Tuesday at 7 a.m. and all residents should be off the island no later than 8 p.m. Wednesday. A state of emergency was declared for Carolina Beach on Monday.
The town has established an 8 p.m. curfew beginning Wednesday night.
Trask Middle School is the first evacuation shelter and it will open beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m.
KURE BEACH
A mandatory evacuation will begin Tuesday at 8 a.m. and all residents should be off the island no later than 8 p.m. Wednesday. A state of emergency was declared for Kure Beach on Monday effective at 11 a.m.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY
Brunswick County has issued a mandatory evacuation for its residents in unincorporated areas who live "in low-lying and flood-prone areas or substandard or mobile homes" beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Officials said that this includes but is not limited to Waccamaw, NC 904/Pireway Road, areas on Town Creek, residents along NC 133, the Daw's Creek Area and other flood-prone areas.
A voluntary evacuation has been issued for all other residents in unincorporated areas of the county.
Brunswick County offices will be closed as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11.
“I highly encourage people to move out of the county,” said Emergency Management Director Brian Watts. “The best thing to do is to get out the county.”
For those staying in Brunswick County, officials will open shelters at the following locations at 2 p.m.:
- West Brunswick High School (550 Whiteville Road, Shallotte). It is pet-friendly.
- North Brunswick High School (114 Scorpion Drive, Leland). It is pet-friendly.
- South Brunswick High School (100 Cougar Road, Boiling Spring Lakes) It is pet-friendly.
Residents who want to evacuate but don't have transportation can call the Citizen Phone Bank at 910-253-5383.
BELVILLE
The town of Belville declared a state of emergency effective at noon on Monday. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for residents living in low-lying areas, mobile homes, and structures that will not sustain high winds to evacuate.
BOILING SPRING LAKES
Boiling Spring Lakes officials announced that a state of emergency has been declared in the city. A voluntary evacuation for all non-essential person from city limits effective 8 a.m. Tuesday. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for those living in low-lying or flood-prone areas or in substandard or mobile homes for the following streets:
- Pinecrest (From Greenview to Berry Hill)
- Greenview
- Wimberley
- Berry Hill (from Warmouth to Wimberley)
- Oakhurst
- Dartmouth
- Cherokee Drive
- Mohawk
- Lumbee
- Sioux
- Navaho
- Tuscarora
A city-wide curfew in BSL will also be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Wednesday. The curfew will remain in place until lifted by the chief of police.
HOLDEN BEACH
A voluntary evacuation also is in place for the Town of Holden Beach. Town officials have issued an immediate, mandatory evacuation for non-resident renters and visitors by 12 p.m. Tuesday. A mandatory evacuation will also be in effect for residents who must leave the island by 8 a.m. Wednesday.
LELAND
The Town of Leland has issued a state of emergency.
The town also has issued a mandatory evacuation for "residents who live in low-lying and flood-prone areas or substandard or mobile homes, beginning at daylight (7 a.m.) Tuesday. A voluntary evacuation also has been issued for all other residents.
A town-wide curfew will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting on Wednesday, Sept. 12.
Also, effective at 9 p.m. Wednesday, the possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverage other than on your own property is prohibited.
NAVASSA
The Town of Navassa declared a state of emergency and has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents living in low-lying and flood-prone areas or substandard or mobile homes beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday. A voluntary evacuation for all other residents is recommended.
Shelters in Brunswick County will open at West Brunswick High School on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and at North and South Brunswick High schools on Wednesday at 8 a.m.
Residents are strongly advised to seek shelter outside Brunswick County, possibly in Johnston or Cumberland counties. Evacuees should bring identification, any needed medications, clothing for three to seven days, sheets and/or bedding and cots and air mattresses if available.
Dogs and cats will be allowed in the West Brunswick High School shelter.
OAK ISLAND
The town of Oak Island has issued a state of emergency effective at noon on Monday. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for visitors and tourists and a voluntary evacuation for residents have been issued as of noon on Monday.
SOUTHPORT
The Southport Board of Aldermen declared a state of emergency for the city effective at 2:15 p.m. Monday. They also issued a mandatory evacuation for all visitors and tourists and a voluntary evacuation for residents. A mandatory evacuation for city residents will go in effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
SHALLOTTE
The Town of Shallotte declared a state of emergency effective at 4 p.m. Monday.
A mandatory evacuation for those living in low-lying and flood-prone areas or in substandard or mobile housing begins at 7 a.m. Tuesday. A voluntary evacuation is recommended for all other Shallotte residents beginning Tuesday at 7 a.m.
Town office will close Wednesday at noon.
BLADEN COUNTY
Bladen County plans to open shelters at noon on Wednesday. The locations of the shelters are:
- East Bladen High School, 5600 NC-87 E, Elizabethtown, NC 28337
- West Bladen High School, 1600 NC-410, Bladenboro, NC 28320
- Bladen Lakes Elementary School, 9554 Johnsontown Rd, Elizabethtown, NC 28337
- East Arcadia Elementary School, 21451 NC-87 E, Riegelwood, NC 28456
Any resident needing transportation to the shelters can call BARTS beginning at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at 910-862-6930. Residents are encouraged to contact BARTS early since it will not be available after winds reach a sustained 25 miles per hour.
Residents with special needs are encouraged to go to West Bladen High School. Residents who require assistance at home with personal care, feeding, wound care or who are bed bound are requested to have their caregiver accompany them to continue providing this care. If you use any special medical equipment such as an oxygen machine, nebulizers, etc., bring them with you. West Bladen High School will also be the location of the pet friendly shelter.
Remember to bring the following items with you to the shelter:
- Personal Medicines/Medical Supplies/Bottled Water
- Ready to Use Baby Formula/Milk/Snacks/Treats. Please make sure all food is prepackaged, ready to use; no home cooked foods.
- Canned Foods/Can Opener/ Diapers/Wipes
- Toilet Paper
- Feminine Products/ Flashlight/ Batteries
- Soap (liquid)
- Paper Towels
- Tissue/ Toothbrush/Toothpaste/ Brush/Comb/Pillow/Blanket
- 2-3 Days Change of Clothes/ Dentures/Dental Adhesive /Glasses/Contacts
- Hearing Aids/ Radio
- First Aid Supplies
- Air Mattress/Sleeping Bag/Reading Material/Games
- Important papers, driver’s license, identification.
COLUMBUS COUNTY
WHITEVILLE
The city of Whiteville declared a state of emergency, effective 2 p.m. Monday, according to a news release issued Monday afternoon.
PENDER COUNTY
Officials with Pender County have declared a state of emergency in the county effective at 3 p.m. on Monday.
“We are tracking Hurricane Florence,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager. “The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be fully activated starting this week.”
George Brown, chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners, signed the state of emergency declaration.
A voluntary evacuation is in effect, starting Wednesday, Sept. 12, for low-lying and flood-prone areas in the county, including the Intracoastal Waterway, the Northeast Cape Fear River, the Black River, and anyone who lives in manufactured or substandard housing.
Starting Sept. 11, Pender County, in cooperation with the American Red Cross and Pender County Health Department, Pender County Schools, and the Pender County Sheriff’s Department, four shelters will be activated – Burgaw Middle School, Topsail Elementary School, Cape Fear Middle School, and Malpass Corner Elementary. Burgaw Middle, the pet-friendly shelter will open Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. The remaining shelters will open Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 8 a.m.
All Pender County government departments will supply personnel to answer telephones, work in shelters, report damage assessments, answer emergency telephones, and a myriad of other tasks.
Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the website http://www.penderem.com. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.
BURGAW
The town of Burgaw has declared a state of emergency effective 8 a.m Monday.
SURF CITY
Surf City officials, around 4:30 p.m. Monday, announced that the town is under a voluntary evacuation. Residents are encouraged but not required to leave at this time. Hurricane key cards must be obtained prior to noon, Tuesday, September 11 as Town Hall will be closing at this time.
TOPSAIL BEACH
The town of Topsail Beach declared a state of emergency at 9 a.m. Monday. A voluntary evacuation went into effect at 12 p.m. Monday. The town will begin mandatory evacuations at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
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