evacuation, curfew and decals

A proclamation by the Town which enacts special ordinances and/or prohibitions during emergency situations to protect the public, public health and property. These prohibitions can include limitations on movement, curfews, directing of evacuations, controlling ingress and egress to the emergency area, alcoholic beverages, and more.  State of Emergencies are issued in accordance with N.C.G.S. 166A-19.22. 

A curfew is an order, typically during a State of Emergency, which requires all persons in the affected areas to remain on their own property. During a curfew, you are not free to move about public domain areas or on others’ property.  Violations of a curfew could lead to arrest in certain situations. 

A voluntary evacuation creates a recommendation for all parties in the affected area to get their affairs in order hastily and evacuated. 

A mandatory evacuation means you MUST leave the area in which an order has been issued. You do not have the option of staying in an area under an order of mandatory evacuation.  

Often the sewer system is turned off during storms which have the potential to create significant flooding on the island. The system is turned off to protect its integrity. If it were left on, it could pose a significant threat to the public health.  When the system is manually shut down, it also greatly reduces the time needed to bring it back up after an event which equates to getting residents and guests back on the Island much faster. 

After a storm, many things must occur before even limited access can be allowed. Some of those things include making sure the streets are passable; the sewer system must be restarted to comply with state laws; the utilities (water, sewer, electricity, propane supplies) must be checked to ensure no safety risk are present; and the post-storm damage assessment team needs to perform an initial assessment. 

You can sign up for the Town email service by clicking here. The newsletter, along with the Town’s website will be the main sources of information during an emergency situation. Links to the Town’s official Facebook and Twitter pages can be found below. 

Please refrain from calling Town Hall and Police Department phone lines with general information questions. These lines need to remain open for emergencies, storm management and post-storm mitigation.  All updates concerning re-entry, general access, etc. may be found on the Town's website and other media outlets.

If a curfew order is in place, you must stay on your own property.  You may see many other vehicles moving about the Island.  We often receive assistance from other local, state, federal and contract personnel during events. It is likely these are the personnel you are seeing and they are involved in the mitigation process for the event. Please do not assume that a curfew order has been lifted and/or you are free to move about the island. 

If a curfew order is in place, you may ONLY travel to your personally owned property.  Traveling about the Island to check on others’ property is not allowed.  

Only property owners and businesses who service the island can obtain a decal.   

If I am an owner?      

Decals will be mailed out in water bills to property owners before the season starts. 

If I am a renter?     

You must contact the owner of the property to obtain a decal. 

If I am a business owner on the island?     

You must contact Town Hall to obtain a decal.

If I am a business owner off the island that provides services on the Island?     

You must contact Town Hall for eligibility and to obtain a decal.   

All decals expire on the last day of the calendar year as indicated on the decal.  

Decals must be displayed in the lower left-hand corner of the windshield, where they are not obstructed by any other items to include window tinting, other decals, etc.  Officials must be able to clearly read the decal from outside the vehicle.  Please note that re-entry will not be allowed if a current, intact decal is not affixed to the windshield as designated. 

If you trade a vehicle or otherwise need a replacement decal, you may obtain them from Town Hall during normal business hours. A fee may apply, check the current fee schedule. 

While most of the storms we deal with are tropical in nature with some type of advanced warning, we do experience many other types of events that could create a State of Emergency without warning. All eligible parties should obtain decals as early as possible each year to avoid being denied access to the Island.  Decals shall not be issued during the 24-hour period prior to an anticipated order of evacuation so staff can concentrate on properly preparing the Town for the storm/event. 

No. You MUST have a decal to re-enter the island until it is open to the general public. 

Once it is safe, property owners with valid decals will be allowed back on the island after a storm/event.  At this point, you can travel to your property, in accordance with the rules of the specific State of Emergency Order currently in place. 

If you live out of the area, please do not travel to the island until you are certain you will be allowed access.  Stay tuned to those media outlets and email services that are of official nature for this information. Also, be certain you have your current, valid decal properly affixed to your vehicle.

It is a good idea to be sure your contact information is current with the Town tax office as this is the location Town officials will use in the event you need to be contacted.