6pm Update:

Dare County Emergency Management is closely following the approach of Hurricane Earl. Based upon the latest forecast, the storm will pass approximately 75 miles off the Outer Banks at approximately 3:00 a.m. Friday morning.

Early this evening Hatteras Island will begin feeling the impact of Hurricane Earl’s approach. Throughout the evening weather conditions will progressively deteriorate, first for Hatteras Island, and then for the northern portions of Dare County, until the storm leaves the area around daybreak Friday morning.

Hurricane Earl will produce high seas, ocean overwash, dangerous rip currents, and strong winds. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for all of Dare County and the North Carolina coast. A state of emergency has been issued by the County of Dare, North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue and President Obama.

Evacuation orders are in effect. Complete details are available at www.darenc.com. Access to Dare County is not restricted and bridges leading to the Outer Banks are not scheduled to close unless storm winds become a factor.

There are no Red Cross approved emergency shelters available in Dare County. The closest available shelter is in Bethel, North Carolina. It is located in Pitt County at the North Pitt High School, 5659 NC Highway 11 North.

Town of Duck
Residential trash collection scheduled for Friday, September 3 has been cancelled. 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
Main office and support divisions will operate on a limited schedule Friday, September 3 based on weather conditions and staff availability. Should there be any questions, please call 252-449-5300. Residential solid waste will not be collected on Friday and the Recycle Center will be closed. The Recycle Center is expected to operate on its normal schedule Saturday, September 4, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Town of Kitty Hawk
The Town of Kitty Hawk today issued a mandatory evacuation for all residents on the Ocean Front. All Ocean Front houses within the Town of Kitty Hawk have been notified about the mandatory ocean front evacuation.

Town of Nags Head
For those staying in the area during the storm, you may lose electricity and water services. Please be prepared. Should travel for public safety personnel become unsafe, then calls for emergency response may be delayed. Sections of South Nags Head could lose water prior to the storm, in addition to after the storm, if conditions warrant. There will be no trash collection in Nags Head on Friday. The regular collection schedule will resume Saturday, weather permitting.

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 and will remain closed until further notice. The reservation system for Ocracoke Campground has been temporarily suspended until further notice. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is closed until further notice. All ocean-side beach access for off-road vehicles is closed until after Hurricane Earl passes and a post-storm assessment can be completed.

School Closings
All Dare County Schools will be closed Friday including after-school activities and the After-School Enrichment Program. Makeup days are scheduled for Saturday, September 11, and Friday, October 29.

Other Closings
Court sessions at the Dare County Courthouse are cancelled for tomorrow. Those with cases scheduled Friday will receive a letter from the Court advising of a new date.

All Dare County offices will be closed Friday, September 3.

Dare County Parks and Recreation has cancelled all activities for today, Friday and Saturday.

Baum Senior Center activities are cancelled today. The Center will reopen on Tuesday, September 7 at 8:30 a.m.

The Dare County Transportation System has cancelled all scheduled rides for Friday.

The Dare/Currituck County Child Support Office will be closed on Friday.

Notices
The Dare County Water Department as a precautionary measure before the storm has valved off water service on ocean side streets in Northern Rodanthe including Corbina Drive, Southgate Drive, Beacon Road, East Point Drive, and America Drive. The Hatteras water tank will be valved off at the base of the tower and the Hatteras distribution system will operate off the Buxton elevated storage tank. Once the storm has passed, all valves will be reopened pending repairs of any leaks or breaks.

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.

In order to keep 911 phone lines open for emergency communications, please do not call 911 for general inquiries. 911 should be used only for emergencies.

Noon update:

The following evacuation orders have been issued by the Dare County Control Group in preparation for coastal flooding and ocean overwash when Hurricane Earl passes the Outer Banks early Friday morning:

Mandatory evacuation for All visitors throughout the entire County

Mandatory evacuation for All visitors and residents on Hatteras Island

Mandatory evacuation for South Nags Head residents & visitors, (South of Whalebone Junction (NC 1243/S. Old Oregon Inlet Road)

Special Advisory – Residents along the oceanfront are advised to relocate due to coastal flooding and ocean overwash

Weather conditions will deteriorate this evening as the storm approaches. There are no emergency shelters available in Dare County. A shelter has been established in Bethel, North Carolina. It is located in Pitt County at the North Pitt High School, 5659 NC Highway 11 North.

A state of emergency has been issued by the County of Dare, North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue and President Obama.

Town of Duck
Residential trash collection scheduled for Friday, September 3 has been cancelled. 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
Residential solid waste will not be collected on Friday.

Town of Nags Head

For those staying in the area during the storm, you may lose electricity and water services. Please be prepared. Should travel for public safety personnel become unsafe, then calls for emergency response may be delayed. Sections of South Nags Head could lose water prior to the storm, in addition to after the storm, if conditions warrant. There will be no trash collection in Nags Head on Friday. The regular collection schedule will resume Saturday, weather permitting.

National Park Service

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

School Closings

All Dare County Schools are closed today and Friday including after school activities and the After-School Enrichment Program. Makeup days are scheduled for Saturday, September 11, and Friday, October 29.

Other Closings

Court sessions at the Dare County Courthouse are cancelled today and tomorrow. Those with cases scheduled either of those days will receive a letter from the Court advising of a new date.

The Dare County Office on Hatteras Island is closed today.

On Friday, September 3, all Dare County offices will be closed.

Dare County Parks and Recreation has cancelled all activities for today, Friday and Saturday.

The Dare County Transportation System has cancelled all scheduled rides for Friday.

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is closed today.

Notices
Dominion Power reports all operating conditions are normal at this time and they have implemented the Hurricane Watch phase of their Hurricane Prepardness Plan.

All loose outside objects should be secured as part of storm preparation and evacuation procedures. Other recommended steps include assembling an emergency kit with nonperishable food, water and clothing to sustain each family member for three days.

Household emergency kits should also include a flashlight, radio, spare batteries, medications, blankets and rain gear. Also recommended are photocopies of important family documents, such as birth certificates and insurance policies. Pet owners are reminded to make sure their animals have an identification tag on their collar.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to 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.

Update: Dare County officials have expanded the mandatory evacuation for all visitors throughout the entire county effective 6:00am Thursday, September 2nd.

The evacuation ordered yesterday for visitors and residents on Hatteras Island remains in effect. In addition, residents along the oceanfront are advised to relocate due to coastal flooding and ocean over wash that will occur.

Hurricane force winds are expected during the early morning hours Friday as the storm passes approximately 70 miles off the Outer Banks. Weather conditions will deteriorate this evening as the storm approaches.

Dare County and the North Carolina coast is under a Hurricane Warning, which indicates that sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher are expected within 24 hours.

Town of Nags Head

The Town of Nags Head has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents and visitors in South Nags Head, which includes the area south of Whalebone Junction, NC1243/S. Old Oregon Inlet Road.

School Closings

All Dare County Schools will be closed today and Friday along with all after-school activities including the After-School Enrichment Program. Makeup days are scheduled for Saturday, September 11, and Friday, October 29.

Court Sessions Closed

Court sessions at the Dare County Courthouse are cancelled for today and Friday. Those with cases scheduled for either of these days will receive a letter from the Court advising of a new date.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to 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.

Previous Story:

Dare County officials have issued a mandatory evacuation for all Hatteras Island visitors, effective immediately. Authorities cite concerns about high waves and ocean over wash on Highway 12, which will make travel dangerous.

Officials say the order is only for visitors and does not apply to areas north of Oregon Inlet. The order does not include the towns of Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Southern Shores, Roanoke Island or the mainland of Dare County.