Road closure and travel information for the NC Deapartment of Transportation.

Road Closure Information From NC DOT

POST HURRICANE MATTHEW BULLETIN
Sunday, October 9, 2016
11:30 am

Emerald Isle Realty Is Open for Business and We
Look Forward To Welcoming Our Visitors Again!

Center Passed South of Emerald Isle Around 11 pm Last Night – Headed Out to Sea

From the bulletin posted at 5:00 am today by the Town of Emerald Isle:  The center of Matthew passed about 35 miles south of Emerald Isle last night around 11 pm, and the Town experienced the strongest winds between 11 pm and 4 am.  The highest gust recorded at Fire Station 1 was 60 mph shortly after 2 am.  Matthew is forecast to become a tropical storm later this morning, and will continue to head east out to the open Atlantic.  Emerald Isle is expected to continue to experience gusty winds throughout the day, but nothing too significant.  

Emerald Isle Fortunate to Escape Matthew with Only Minimal Impacts

From the final Town of Emerald Isle bulletin at 11:00 am today:  Life is now back to normal in Emerald Isle!  It’s a cool, breezy day with sunny skies, and the ocean is finally calm after being churned up for the past few days. Conditions will only continue to improve throughout the day. Emerald Isle suffered only minimal impacts from Matthew, and Town staff is hard at work this morning reopening Town facilities, cleaning up downed tree limbs from streets and the bike path, and removing washed-up tires and other minor debris from the beach strand.  We expect to have the Town all cleaned up later today.

It is a truly beautiful, sunny, crisp October day on the island.  The really good news is the majority of homes on Emerald Isle do have electricity, cable, internet and telephone so we’ve been spared the brunt of the storm.  There will be lots of yard work to do to clean up leaves and tree limbs from the gusty winds.  Eyewitness accounts on the oceanfront have said the beach looks good thanks to beach nourishment providing a wider strand.  The soundfront seems to have fared well also.

Our office is open for business as of 11:00 today and we are already welcoming arriving rental guests from Saturday and look forward to welcoming Sunday’s arrivals this afternoon.  For arriving guests, additional information will be provided to you in your key package concerning post-storm conditions.

Based on wind speed Saturday night and rain we anticipate the damage to homes for the most part will be minimal with shingles, siding and possible wind-blown water entry being the most common factor in homes with minor damage.

Homeowners, you will be notified as assessment reports come in from our crews.

We’re feeling very thankful this morning that Matthew’s close call as a Category 1 was just a glancing blow to our island home.

For our arriving guests today and tomorrow, we are aware that travel in North Carolina is very difficult due to the extraordinary and dangerous road flooding in many areas.  Last night, the Emerald Isle bridge and roads were closed due to curfew after 9:00pm until 7:00am this morning. If you purchased travel insurance, this may be helpful information for you:

In the event of flooding, if you purchased Travel Insurance, and guest is unable to travel from their home to their vacation destination or accommodation due to a “road closure” that lasts more than 6 hours they may delay, interrupt, or cancel their vacation plans and we will reimburse them their non-refundable cancellation penalties.  The “road closure” must be substantiated by the DOT or EIR if the closure is in a private subdivision. The “road closure” applies to a guest’s “normal and anticipated” route of accessing their vacation destination/accommodation. If you have specific questions about your particular situation you may contact RedSky at 1-866-889-7409.

Emerald Isle Back to Normal!
Minimal Impacts from Hurricane Matthew

FINAL Update #9 – Sunday, October 9 – 11 am

The Emerald Isle Bridge is OPEN to Everyone!

Emerald Isle Fortunate to Escape Matthew with Only Minimal Impacts
Life is now back to normal in Emerald Isle!  It’s a cool, breezy day with sunny skies, and the ocean is finally calm after being churned up for the past few days. Conditions will only continue to improve throughout the day.

Emerald Isle suffered only minimal impacts from Matthew, and Town staff is hard at work this morning reopening Town facilities, cleaning up downed tree limbs from streets and the bike path, and removing washed-up tires and other minor debris from the beach strand.  We expect to have the Town all cleaned up later today.

No Significant Damage to Structures Observed
There is no significant structural damage in Emerald Isle, with only a handful of instances of loose siding, lost shingles, and other minor impacts.  The maximum wind gust reported at Fire Station 1 was 60 mph.

Electric, cable, and phone service are intact for nearly everyone, although there may be isolated outages.  Please contact your provider directly to report any service outage.

No Storm Water Issues
Emerald Isle was extremely fortunate to avoid the heaviest rain bands associated with Matthew, and only recorded approximately 2 inches +/- of rainfall for the entire event.  There are no storm water flooding concerns anywhere in Emerald Isle.

Beach Survey Team Will Complete Full Assessment to Determine Extent of Beach Erosion
Fortunately, there were no dune breaches along the Town’s 12 miles of ocean beach, with only minor erosion of the frontal dunes in a few locations.  As expected during any hurricane event, the flat beach profile was flattened somewhat by Matthew’s strong waves and storm surge, and we are uncertain as to the degree of beach erosion that occurred – both on the flat, sandy beach and the important underwater profile.

The Town will be partnering with Carteret County and other towns on Bogue Banks to complete a full post-Matthew survey of the beach strand in the coming days.  The results of this survey will guide the Town’s future efforts to replace any sand lost during Hurricane Matthew.

All Parks and Beach Accesses Open, Except for Emerald Isle Woods Park
Emerald Isle Woods Park, a 43-acre nature park, remains closed due to the presence of several downed tree limbs on park trails.  We expect to reopen the park to the public by Tuesday morning, if not sooner.

Beach Driving Closed Until Monday, October 10
The beach will reopen to vehicles on Monday, October 10 at 5 am.

Travel to and from Emerald Isle – Be Careful and Check NCDOT Road Status
Portions of central and eastern North Carolina are experiencing or are soon expected to experience significant river / creek flooding as a result of rainfall from Hurricane Matthew.  Some routes to and from Emerald Isle may be impassable.  Residents, property owners, and visitors are encouraged to check NCDOT’s website at https://www.ncdot.gov/ for the latest road information.

Stay Informed!
The Town works hard to keep you well-informed, and offers several platforms to keep you updated on Town issues.  Stay in touch on a variety of Town issues by using one or more of the following:

• Visit the Town’s website at http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/
• Sign up for the Town’s email newsletter at top right corner of website – “Join Email List”
• Follow us on Facebook at “Town of Emerald Isle, NC”
• Follow us on Twitter @townemeraldisle
• Download the Emerald Isle App at Google Play and the App Store – search for “Emerald Isle NC”.

Please also contact Town staff at 252-354-3424 during normal business hours if we can be helpful in any way.  A complete directory, including email addresses, is available at  http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/contact-us .

Hurricane Matthew Pulling Away; 
Conditions Will Gradually Improve This Morning

Only Minimal Impacts Reported Thus Far

Update #8 – Sunday, October 9 – 5 am

Town-Wide Curfew Ends at 7 am – BRIDGE OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC AT 7 AM

Current Position – Offshore East of Cape Lookout, 110 miles away
Hurricane Matthew is still a Category 1 hurricane, and the center is located approximately 110 miles due east of Emerald Isle, off of Cape Lookout.  The storm is currently moving east at 14 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.

Center Passed South of Emerald Isle Around 11 pm Last Night – Headed Out to Sea
The center of Matthew passed about 35 miles south of Emerald Isle last night around 11 pm, and the Town experienced the strongest winds between 11 pm and 4 am.  The highest gust recorded at Fire Station 1 was 60 mph shortly after 2 am.  Matthew is forecast to become a tropical storm later this morning, and will continue to head east out to the open Atlantic.  Emerald Isle is expected to continue to experience gusty winds throughout the day, but nothing too significant.

Current Conditions in Emerald Isle
The rain mostly stopped in Emerald Isle by 10 pm last night, and wind gusts at Fire Station 1 and Fire Station 2 are currently in the 20 – 30 mph range.  Winds are mostly out of the north, and have been for several hours.  Electricity is still on in Emerald Isle, and never went out in most places.

Total rainfall associated with Matthew, depending on the exact location in Emerald Isle, is in the 2 inch +/- range.  Fortunately, there are no significant storm water flooding issues in Emerald Isle. (There has been, however, significant rainfall inland in much of North Carolina, and catastrophic river / creek flooding is possible in some areas of central and eastern North Carolina in the coming days.)

The ocean has calmed somewhat, and we are now approaching low tide at 7:39 am.  The center of Matthew passed Emerald Isle at mid-tide last night, so we are hopeful that the beach and dunes did not suffer too much damage.

Water levels in Bogue Sound remain high, but lower than reported yesterday.  No significant soundside flooding problems have been reported thus far.

Town Officials to Assess Damage and Beach Conditions at Daylight
Based on reports through the night, we do not expect to find significant damage in Emerald Isle. Town officials will be surveying the entire Town at daylight to fully determine the extent of any damage, and will include a report in the next Town update.

Town officials will also be assessing the condition of the beach and dunes at daylight, and will include a report in the next Town update.

Beach Driving Closed Until Further Notice
The beach is closed to all motor vehicles until further notice.

Stay Informed!
The Town works hard to keep you well-informed, and offers several platforms to keep you updated on Town issues:

• Visit the Town’s website at http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/
• Sign up for the Town’s email newsletter at top right corner of website – “Join Email List”
• Follow us on Facebook at “Town of Emerald Isle, NC”
• Follow us on Twitter @townemeraldisle

Download the Emerald Isle App at Google Play and the App Store – search for “Emerald Isle NC”.

Center of Hurricane Matthew Heading Our Way – 
Forecast to Pass Offshore South of EI around 11 pm;  
Stronger Winds Expected Over Next 6 – 8 Hours

Emerald Isle Received Only 1 – 2 Inches of Rain Thus Far – May Not Receive Much More

Town-Wide Curfew In Effect Overnight – 9 pm – 7 am
Do Not Attempt to Enter Emerald Isle After 9 pm Tonight

Update #7 – Saturday, October 8 – 8 pm

Current Position – Offshore East of Cape Fear, 60 miles away
Hurricane Matthew is currently a Category 1 hurricane, and the center is located approximately 60 miles south-southwest of Emerald Isle, offshore near Cape Fear.  The storm is currently moving east-northeast at 13 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.

Center of Matthew Forecast to Pass ~ 35 Miles South of Emerald Isle
The latest forecast track projects that the center of Matthew will pass approximately 35 miles south of Emerald Isle around 11 pm tonight as a Tropical Storm (projected 70 mph winds at the center of Matthew at that time).  Emerald Isle is expected to experience winds as high as 50 – 60 mph over the next 6 – 8 hours.  We expect to wake up on Sunday morning to much improved conditions, and conditions should gradually improve throughout the day on Sunday.

Current Conditions in Emerald Isle

Thus far, Emerald Isle has been extremely fortunate, and has only received approximately 1 – 2 inches of rain today, depending on exact location in Emerald Isle.  It is raining only very lightly at this time.  Depending on how the rain bands swing back around, Emerald Isle may not receive much more rain, which would be good news for us.  Thus, there are no significant storm water flooding issues in Emerald Isle.  (There is, however, significant rainfall inland in much of North Carolina, and catastrophic river / creek flooding is possible in some areas of central and eastern North Carolina in the coming days.)

Winds in Emerald Isle are currently only in the 20 mph range, with a high gust of 57 mph recorded at Fire Station One at 4:20 pm. As the center of Matthew approaches Emerald Isle, we are expecting stronger winds over the next 6 – 8 hours.  Electricity remains on for nearly the entire town, thankfully.

The ocean continues to be very rough, but we are now near low tide.  High tide will occur at 1:41 am tonight, and we are hopeful that the center of Matthew will stay far enough offshore to avoid significant storm surge, and also pass Emerald Isle before high tide.

Water levels in Bogue Sound remain very high, continue to touch or top many soundside docks, and are impacting low-lying areas along Bogue Sound and Archers Creek.  No significant soundside flooding problems have been reported thus far, however.

Town-Wide Curfew In Effect from 9 pm until 7 am
Mayor Barber has enacted a Town-wide curfew from 9 pm tonight until 7 am tomorrow morning. Do not move about in Emerald Isle between 9 pm and 7 am, and do not attempt to enter Emerald Isle after 9 pm tonight.

Status of Emerald Isle Bridge – CURRENTLY OPEN, BUT CLOSED DURING CURFEW
The Emerald Isle bridge is currently open, and will remain open until the curfew is in effect at 9 pm tonight.  Because of the curfew, the bridge will effectively be closed during the curfew hours, which corresponds with the highest expected winds in Emerald Isle. Exceptions will be made only for individuals returning directly to their homes from work off the island.  The bridge will be open to all at 7 am Sunday, when the curfew expires.

Beach Driving Closed Until Further Notice
Due to storm surge and wave action associated with Hurricane Matthew, the beach is closed to all motor vehicles until further notice.  The beach will reopen to vehicles after the impacts associated with Matthew have subsided.

Stay Informed!
The Town works hard to keep you well-informed, and offers several platforms to keep you updated on Hurricane Matthew:

• Visit the Town’s website at http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/
• Sign up for the Town’s email newsletter at top right corner of website – “Join Email List”
• Follow us on Facebook at “Town of Emerald Isle, NC”
• Follow us on Twitter @townemeraldisle
• Download the Emerald Isle App at Google Play and the App Store – search for “Emerald Isle NC”.  In the EI App, tap “Town Government” and then tap “News” for Hurricane Matthew updates.

Additional updates will be provided throughout the night and tomorrow morning.   

BE SAFE!

Hurricane Matthew Weakening Slightly – 

Forecast to Pass Offshore, South of Emerald Isle, as a Tropical Storm at 2 am Sunday Morning

Emerald Isle Avoids Rain Thus Far – Only Trace Amounts 

Town-Wide Curfew In Effect Overnight – 9 pm – 7 am

Do Not Attempt to Enter Emerald Isle After 9 pm Tonight

Residents Advised to Stay Indoors for Rest of Saturday and Sunday Morning; Avoid Travel To / From / Within Emerald Isle 

Update #6 – Saturday, October 8 – 3 pm

Current Conditions in Emerald Isle

Thus far, Emerald Isle has been extremely fortunate, and has only received approximately 1/10 inch of rain today.  There is, however, significant rainfall inland in much of North Carolina.  Winds are currently in the 25 mph range, with a high gust of 47 mph recorded at Fire Station 12:22 pm. Electricity remains on for nearly the entire town.

The ocean is very rough, and the waves are “kissing” the base of the dunes on the beach strand. The photo below was taken at the Black Skimmer access near high tide this afternoon.  Water levels in Bogue Sound are also very high, touching or topping many soundside docks, and entering low-lying areas along Bogue Sound.

Current Position – Onshore Near Myrtle Beach, SC, 130 miles away

Hurricane Matthew is currently a Category 1 hurricane, and the center is located approximately 130 miles west-southwest of Emerald Isle, onshore near Myrtle Beach, SC.  The storm is currently moving northeast at 12 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.  It is expected to being moving due east soon.

Center of Matthew Forecast to Pass ~ 70 Miles South of Emerald Isle

The latest forecast track still projects that the center of Matthew will pass approximately 70 miles due south of Emerald Isle around 2 am on Sunday morning as a Tropical Storm (projected 70 mph winds at the center of Matthew at that time).  Emerald Isle is expected to experience tropical storm force winds in the 35 – 60 mph range, with lesser tropical storm force winds occurring periodically now and continuing through 9 am Sunday.

As noted above, Emerald Isle has received very little rain, but we expect more rainfall later today and tonight as the center of Matthew tracks east.  Emerald Isle will still likely experience street flooding in low areas of Emerald Isle later tonight and tomorrow.

Town-Wide Curfew In Effect from 9 pm until 7 am

Mayor Barber has enacted a Town-wide curfew from 9 pm tonight until 7 am tomorrow morning. Please stay inside before, during, and after the storm.  Do not move about in Emerald Isle between 9 pm and 7 am, and do not attempt to enter Emerald Isle after 9 pm tonight.

Do Not Travel To / From Emerald Isle Today

Eastern and central North Carolina are currently receiving extreme rainfall, and significant river / creek flooding is possible along routes leading to and from Emerald Isle.  If you are already in Emerald Isle, we advise you to remain in Emerald Isle during the storm.  If you are planning to travel to Emerald Isle, we advise you not to do so.  Conditions will only worsen as the day progresses.

Status of Emerald Isle Bridge – CURRENTLY OPEN

The Emerald Isle bridge is currently open, and will remain open until the curfew is in effect overnight tonight.  However, we recommend that everyone remain indoors and not travel to / from or within Emerald Isle.  If you must travel across the bridge, please use EXTREME CAUTION.

The Emerald Isle bridge does NOT close at any set wind speed.  The bridge will only close during the curfew hours of 9 pm – 7 am tonight.  Exceptions will be made only for individuals returning directly to their homes from work off the island.

Emerald Isle Community Center is Closed, and will reopen on Monday morning.

Beach Driving Closed Until Further Notice

Due to storm surge and wave action associated with Hurricane Matthew, the beach is closed to all motor vehicles until further notice.  The beach will reopen to vehicles after the impacts associated with Matthew have subsided.

Stay Informed!

The Town works hard to keep you well-informed, and offers several platforms to keep you updated on Hurricane Matthew:

• Visit the Town’s website at http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/
• Sign up for the Town’s email newsletter at top right corner of website – “Join Email List”
• Follow us on Facebook at “Town of Emerald Isle, NC”
• Follow us on Twitter @townemeraldisle
• Download the Emerald Isle App at Google Play and the App Store – search for “Emerald Isle NC”.  In the EI App, tap “Town Government” and then tap “News” for Hurricane Matthew updates.

Additional updates will be provided throughout the day, night, and tomorrow morning.   

BE SAFE!

Hurricane Matthew
Hurricane Warning
Final Pre-Storm Bulletin

Saturday, October 08, 2016

The Emerald Isle Realty offices will close at Noon today. 

As storm conditions and winds permit, we will reopen at Noon on Sunday.

Our offsite Emerald Isle Realty staff will still be able to take telephone calls from rental guests checking out or scheduled to arrive this weekend (252) 354-3315
Homeowners, we have forwarded the homeowner line which will be monitored remotely this afternoon also.

From the Town of Emerald Isle:

Center of Hurricane Matthew Forecast to Pass Offshore South of Emerald Isle at 2 am Sunday Morning

Tropical Storm Force Winds and Significant Rain Expected

Town-Wide Curfew In Effect Overnight – 9 pm – 7 am

Do Not Attempt to Enter Emerald Isle After 9 pm Tonight

Residents Advised to Stay Indoors Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Morning; Avoid Travel To / From / Within Emerald Isle

Currently light rains have begun and winds are ESE at 27 mph.  We hope all of our friends in eastern North Carolina will be safe through hurricane Matthew.  Maximum sustained winds for Emerald Isle are predicted to be 56 mph and maximum gusts may be 71 mph.  Rainfall for our area is predicted to be 10” and storm surge on the ocean and sound could be 2-4 ft above ground level.   We appreciate all the prayers and messages to be safe from our departing rental guests and our homeowners.  We are looking forward to those promised days of beautiful October weather next week!

Center of Hurricane Matthew Forecast to Pass Offshore South of Emerald Isle at 2 am Sunday Morning

Tropical Storm Force Winds and Significant Rain Expected

Town-Wide Curfew In Effect Overnight – 9 pm – 7 am
Do Not Attempt to Enter Emerald Isle After 9 pm Tonight

Residents Advised to Stay Indoors Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Morning; Avoid Travel To / From / Within Emerald Isle 

Update #5 – Saturday, October 8 – 10 am

Current Conditions in Emerald Isle
Thus far, Emerald Isle has only received light rain, and has avoided the more significant rainfall inland in North Carolina.  Winds are currently in the 20 mph range, with a high gust of 42 mph recorded at Fire Station 1 recently.

Current Position – Near Georgetown, SC, 210 miles away
Hurricane Matthew is currently a Category 1 hurricane, and the center is located approximately 210 miles southwest of Emerald Isle, just off Georgetown, SC.  The storm is currently moving north-northeast at 12 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

Center of Matthew Forecast to Pass ~ 70 Miles South of Emerald Isle
The latest forecast track projects that the center of Matthew will pass approximately 70 miles due south of Emerald Isle around 2 am on Sunday morning as a Category 1 hurricane (projected 80 mph winds at the center of Matthew at that time).  Emerald Isle is expected to experience tropical storm force winds in the 35 – 60 mph range, with lesser tropical storm force winds expected to begin around 2 pm on Saturday and continue through around 9 am Sunday.

Rain associated with Matthew just recently began.  Up to 11 inches of rainfall is now forecast for Emerald Isle, which will likely result in street flooding in low areas of Emerald Isle.

Additional movement in the forecast track to the north will result in stronger winds and likely additional rain in Emerald Isle, so please monitor the forecast track.

Town-Wide Curfew In Effect from 9 pm until 7 am
Mayor Barber has enacted a Town-wide curfew from 9 pm tonight until 7 am tomorrow morning. Please stay inside before, during, and after the storm.  Do not move about in Emerald Isle between 9 pm and 7 am, and do not attempt to enter Emerald Isle after 9 pm tonight.

Do Not Travel To / From Emerald Isle Today
Eastern North Carolina is expected to receive significant rainfall, and significant river / creek flooding is possible along routes leading to and from Emerald Isle.  If you are already in Emerald Isle, we advise you to remain in Emerald Isle during the storm.  If you are planning to travel to Emerald Isle, we advise you not to do so. Significant rain has already fallen in much of eastern and central North Carolina, and conditions will only deteriorate as the day goes along.

Status of Emerald Isle Bridge – CURRENTLY OPEN
The Emerald Isle bridge is currently open, and will remain open until the curfew is in effect overnight tonight.  However, we recommend that everyone remain indoors and not travel to / from or within Emerald Isle.  If you must travel across the bridge, please use EXTREME CAUTION.

The Emerald Isle bridge does NOT close at any set wind speed.  The bridge will only close during the curfew hours of 9 pm – 7 am tonight.  Exceptions will be made only for individuals returning directly to their homes from work off the island.

Beach Driving Closed Until Further Notice
Due to storm surge and wave action associated with Hurricane Matthew, the beach is closed to all motor vehicles until further notice.  The beach will reopen to vehicles after the impacts associated with Matthew have subsided.

Prepare Appropriately 
The Town’s website includes hurricane preparedness information at  http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/hurricane-information .

Stay Informed!
The Town works hard to keep you well-informed, and offers several platforms to keep you updated on Hurricane Matthew:

• Visit the Town’s website at http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/
• Sign up for the Town’s email newsletter at top right corner of website – “Join Email List”
• Follow us on Facebook at “Town of Emerald Isle, NC”
• Follow us on Twitter @townemeraldisle
• Download the Emerald Isle App at Google Play and the App Store – search for “Emerald Isle NC”.  In the EI App, tap “Town Government” and then tap “News” for Hurricane Matthew updates.

Additional updates will be provided at more frequent intervals now that Hurricane Matthew presents a more imminent threat to Emerald Isle. 

BE SAFE!

Matthew Now Expected to Come Closer to Emerald Isle -Center Forecast to Pass Within 75 Miles Overnight Saturday Into Sunday

Tropical Storm Force Winds and Significant Rain Expected

Residents Advised to Stay Indoors Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Morning; Avoid Travel To / From / In Emerald Isle 

Update #4 – Friday, October 7 – 1 pm

Current Position – Just Off Daytona Beach, FL, 400 miles away
Hurricane Matthew is currently a Category 3 hurricane, and the center is located approximately 400 miles south-southwest of Emerald Isle, just off Daytona Beach, FL.  The storm is currently moving north-northwest at 12 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.

Center of Matthew Forecast to Pass ~ 75 Miles South of Emerald Isle; 
Emerald Isle Now Under Hurricane Watch; Town Officials Continue to Monitor
The latest forecast track projects that the center of Matthew will pass approximately 75 miles due south of Emerald Isle around 2 am on Sunday morning as a Category 1 hurricane (projected 75 mph winds at the center of Matthew at that time).  Emerald Isle is expected to experience tropical storm force winds in the 35 – 60 mph range, with lesser tropical storm force winds expected to begin around 11 am on Saturday and continue through around 8 am Sunday.

Rain associated with Matthew is expected to begin overnight tonight.  A total of 6 – 12 inches of rainfall is now forecast for Emerald Isle, which will likely result in street flooding in low areas of Emerald Isle.

The latest forecast track brings the center of Matthew closer to Emerald Isle, and Town officials continue to monitor Matthew closely.  Additional movement in the forecast track to the north will result in stronger winds and likely additional rain in Emerald Isle.  Because the track may change again, the Town is currently under a Hurricane Watch.  

State of Emergency Declared
As of 12 noon, Mayor Barber has declared a State of Emergency in Emerald Isle.  At this time, the Town urges all residents to be cautious, avoid travel, and remain indoors from Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning.  Any additional restrictions, if ultimately necessary, will be announced later on Friday or Saturday.

Most of eastern North Carolina is expected to receive significant rainfall, and significant river / creek flooding is possible along routes leading to and from Emerald Isle.  Please avoid travel on Saturday and Sunday.

No Evacuation, Curfew Decisions 
Based on the current forecast track and the projected weakening of Hurricane Matthew, the Town has not issued an evacuation order or curfew.  If ultimately necessary, these actions will be announced later on Friday or Saturday.

Status of Emerald Isle Bridge – CURRENTLY OPEN
The Emerald Isle bridge is currently open, and we remain hopeful that is will not close as a result of Hurricane Matthew.  The Emerald Isle bridge does NOT close at any set wind speed.  The bridge will only close if the Mayor issues an evacuation order and/or imposes a curfew.  Any evacuation order and/or curfew will be posted on the Town’s various digital platforms as soon as it is issued.

Beach Driving Closes at 6 pm Friday, Will Remain Closed Until Further Notice
Due to storm surge and wave action associated with Hurricane Matthew, the beach will be closed to all vehicles as of 6 pm Friday.  The beach will reopen to vehicles after the impacts associated with Matthew have subsided.

Prepare Appropriately and Make Sure You Have Your Hurricane Re-Entry Pass 
The Town’s website includes hurricane preparedness information, including re-rentry pass information, at  http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/hurricane-information .

Additionally, if you don’t have your previously issued hurricane re-entry pass, please visit the Town Administration Building during normal business hours before 5 pm today to secure your pass.

A hurricane re-entry pass will be used to allow entry back into Emerald Isle if the Town re-opens to residents and property owners ONLY, but continues to exclude non-residents, non-property owners, and visitors.  Depending on the degree of damage and current conditions, the Town’s first goal is always to allow EVERYONE back in to Emerald Isle at the same time without a re-entry pass.  The re-entry pass is ONLY utilized if the damage is more significant and the Town needs to limit access to residents and property owners only.

Stay Informed!
The Town works hard to keep you well-informed, and offers several platforms to keep you updated on Hurricane Matthew:

• Visit the Town’s website at http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/
• Sign up for the Town’s email newsletter at top right corner of website – “Join Email List”
• Follow us on Facebook at “Town of Emerald Isle, NC”
• Follow us on Twitter @townemeraldisle
• Download the Emerald Isle App at Google Play and the App Store – search for “Emerald Isle NC”.  In the EI App, tap “Town Government” and then tap “News” for Hurricane Matthew updates.

Stay safe!  Additional updates will be provided at appropriate intervals!

Hurricane Matthew
Friday, October 07, 2016

Carteret County is now under a Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning

With Matthew taking a slight northward turn, our local National Weather Advisory has alerted us that rainfall amounts will be higher and flooding in eastern North Carolina will be extensive.  We can expect sustained tropical force winds of 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph.  Travel will be dangerous in eastern NC on Saturday and Sunday.  Our information for our rental guests scheduled to check out through the weekend or scheduled to arrive Saturday and Sunday may be found below in Thursday’s web bulletin.  Please consider delaying your arrival until road conditions are safer for travel.

The latest local briefing may be found at http://www.weather.gov/media/mhx/LatestBriefing.pdf

Hurricane Matthew
Thursday, October 06, 2016

The hurricane news for our portion of the NC coastline continues to greatly improve, but we are still being cautioned by the National Weather Service that Matthew is a serious storm and one we all need to continue to monitor closely.  On Saturday due to the impending arrival of hurricane or tropical storm Matthew we may need to close our office one hour early to ensure a safe drive home for our staff.   Likewise, we may need to wait to reopen the office until later in the morning on Sunday.  Saturday and Sunday we anticipate very heavy rains and winds in the 35-45 mph range with gusts possibly higher, 50-55mph.  Flooding on Ocean Drive in some areas is likely as well as potential flooding in some of the neighborhoods off Coast Guard Road.  Ocean front locations can still experience high surf and breaking waves resulting in minor erosion. We will advise you of any office hour changes.  At this time it appears unlikely that there will be any evacuation orders.  Please check our website for updates and we will send email alerts as necessary. The good news is we are hopeful for nice sunny fall weather for the remainder of the week.

Whether you are checking out or checking in this weekend, we wish safe travels for you and your family and friends and a
happy and safe Columbus Day weekend.

Rental Guests due to checkout today, October 6 through Sunday, October 9:
Please begin your preparations for departure just in case the storm forecast worsens and we receive the official order for a mandatory evacuation.  Evacuation decisions are made by our local government based on weather conditions and predictions of coastal flooding and wind speed.  Even if there is NOT an evacuation order, only you can make the right decisions for your family.  During the day on Saturday the forecast as of today is for tropical force winds by late afternoon, extremely heavy rain, road flooding in low lying areas and potentially heavy traffic as vacationers depart the NC coast.  The ocean is hazardous due to dangerous rip currents, No Swimming in the ocean!  If you decide to shelter in place, and are due to check out Sunday or Monday, be sure you have ample food, water and flashlights and understand emergency services may be limited or unavailable.

How Rental Guests can help us as you are checking out:

• Remove sheets and pillowcases from beds, and all towels and place inside the rental property, near the entry door.  If a duffle bag was provided by the linen company, please use that; for homes who had the make bed service no duffle bag is provided so we will greatly appreciate just making a neat pile with the used linens and towels.  Unused linen that is still wrapped can be placed there as well. Likewise, place rental items such as cribs, high chairs, beach chairs and so forth conveniently near the entry door.
• Very important to remove all food from the refrigerator as we will probably lose power during the storm.
• Place garbage in the outside garbage receptacle.  If your garbage cans have already been tied down securely, you may leave in the unit but we would be grateful if you could double bag it please.
• Leave A/C thermostat on 78 degrees
• MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL—check every window and every door to ensure all are securely locked.
• Return keys in key package to our office.  If conditions allow, we will operate the Express Drive-Through Check Out.

Rental Guests Scheduled to Arrive Friday, October 7, through Sunday, October 9

• Monitor the weather conditions and this website to make the best decision for your family for what day to arrive.  In your planning, include the possibility that if the storm worsens our town may have a curfew or be under an evacuation order.
• Know we will be working hard to prepare your vacation home for your arrival.  With tropical storm conditions likely late Saturday and early Sunday we will not be able to operate our housekeeping and maintenance departments on our usual schedule.
• We may need extra time to prepare your home and will advise you if check in time changes from 4:00pm to 6:00pm or later for example.
• Please be patient with us after the storm passes and understand we will have crews working long hours until each property is clean and ready. We deeply apologize that our usual famous Southern hospitality will be affected by this storm but we promise a warm welcome to everyone!
• Post storm we will also have maintenance staff going as quickly as possible to turn water and electricity back on, and untie all the porch furniture, grills and garbage cans that had been secured before Matthew’s arrival.
• The Red Sky travel insurance will be in effect only if there is an official evacuation order.

Monthly Rental Guests
If you are scheduled to check in or check out this weekend, please follow the information above as outlined for our other vacation rental guests.  If you have already checked in and choose to voluntarily evacuate, please email the long term department and follow the instructions above for rental guests and below for long term tenants for securing the home before you depart.

Long Term Rental Tenant Guests
Annual tenants should secure any loose items outside that can become flying projectiles due to high winds.  If items cannot be moved inside, use strong rope to tie the items down.  Your rental contract includes the following addendum:

Rules & Regulations – Tenant is required to take a pro-active part in hurricane/storm preparation. Store items that could cause injury and/or damage to a property during high winds in the storage shed or garage. Store bicycles, lawn mowers, grills, gas containers, tools, toys, equipment, lawn furniture, hanging baskets, wind chimes, trash/recycle containers, ladders, garden hoses, etc. in the storage shed or garage.

Please continue to check back to our website for further updates from
Emerald Isle Realty and the Town of Emerald Isle.

Emerald Isle Expected to Dodge Worst of Hurricane Matthew; 
Town Officials Still Monitoring In Case Forecast Changes
Update #3 – Thursday, October 6 – 3:00 pm

Current Position – Approaching SE Coast of Florida, 625 miles away
Hurricane Matthew is currently a dangerous Category 4 hurricane, and the center is located approximately 625 miles south-southwest of Emerald Isle, approaching the southeast Florida coast.  The storm is currently moving northwest at 14 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.  It is expected to make a brief landfall near Cape Canaveral on Friday morning.

Emerald Isle Should Dodge Most Significant Impacts; 
Center of Matthew Projected to Stay ~ 140 miles Offshore of Emerald Isle
The latest forecast track projects that the center of Matthew will pass approximately 140 miles due south of Emerald Isle around 4 am on Sunday morning as a Category 1 hurricane.  Emerald Isle is expected to experience winds in the 30 – 50 mph range for a short period overnight Saturday into Sunday morning.  Rainfall totals could be as much as 2 – 5 inches, depending on the exact track and movement of outer rain bands.

The latest forecast track remains mostly favorable for Emerald Isle, however, Town officials continue to monitor the forecast track of Matthew.  Even slight changes in the position and forecast track for Matthew could result in more significant impacts for Emerald Isle.  The Town will adjust our guidance to our residents, property owners, and visitors as necessary over the next 48 hours.

No State of Emergency, Evacuation, Curfew Decisions 
The Town has not implemented a State of Emergency, evacuation, or curfew for Emerald Isle, and we remain hopeful that there will ultimately be no need for these actions.

Prepare Appropriately and Make Sure You Have Your Hurricane Re-Entry Pass 
The Town’s website includes hurricane preparedness information, including re-rentry pass information, at  http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/hurricane-information .

Additionally, if you don’t have your previously issued hurricane re-entry pass, please visit the Town Administration Building during normal business hours to secure your pass.

Status of Emerald Isle Bridge, Re-Entry
The Emerald Isle bridge does NOT close at any set wind speed.  The bridge will only close if the Mayor declares a State of Emergency, issues an evacuation order, and imposes a curfew.  Any State of Emergency, evacuation order, and/or curfew will be posted on the Town’s various digital platforms as soon as it is issued.

A hurricane re-entry pass will be used to allow entry back into Emerald Isle if the Town re-opens to residents and property owners ONLY, but continues to exclude non-residents, non-property owners, and visitors.  Depending on the degree of damage and current conditions, the Town’s first goal is always to allow EVERYONE back in to Emerald Isle at the same time without a re-entry pass.  The re-entry pass is ONLY utilized if the damage is more significant and the Town needs to limit access to residents and property owners only.

Stay Informed!
The Town works hard to keep you well-informed, and offers several platforms to keep you updated on Hurricane Matthew:

• Visit the Town’s website at http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/
• Sign up for the Town’s email newsletter at top right corner of website – “Join Email List”
• Follow us on Facebook at “Town of Emerald Isle, NC”
• Follow us on Twitter @townemeraldisle
• Download the Emerald Isle App at Google Play and the App Store – search for “Emerald Isle NC”.  In the EI App, tap “Town Government” and then tap “News” for Hurricane Matthew updates.

Stay safe!  Additional updates will be provided at appropriate intervals!

Hurricane Matthew Forecast Slightly Better, 
But Still Need to Monitor Closely
Update #2 – Wednesday, October 5 – 5:00 pm

Current Position – Southern Bahamas, 850 miles away
Hurricane Matthew is currently a Category 3 hurricane, and the center is located approximately 850 miles due south of Emerald Isle, in the southern Bahamas.  The storm is currently moving northwest at 12 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.  It is expected to brush the east coast of Florida sometime Friday.

Center of Matthew Currently Projected to Stay ~ 120 miles Offshore of Emerald Isle; 
Emerald Isle Impacts Expected on Saturday
The latest forecast track projects that the center of Matthew will pass approximately 120 miles due south of Emerald Isle around 8 am on Sunday morning as a Category 1 hurricane.  Emerald Isle is expected to begin to feel rain and wind impacts from Matthew sometime on Saturday afternoon into Sunday.  If Matthew follows this track, Emerald Isle would likely only experience 30 – 50 mph winds for several hours overnight Saturday into Sunday.

The current forecast track is more favorable for Emerald Isle, however, there is still a possibility of more significant hurricane impacts with even minor changes in the forecast track.  Town officials continue to monitor Matthew closely, and are anxious to see how the storm progresses and the forecast track changes over the next 24 – 36 hours.  The Town expects to have a much better handle on Matthew by mid-day Friday, and will adjust our guidance to our residents, property owners, and visitors as appropriate.

No State of Emergency, Evacuation, Curfew Decisions Yet
The Town has not yet made any decisions pertaining to Hurricane Matthew, and we remain hopeful that there will ultimately be no need for a State of Emergency, evacuation order, or curfew. As noted above, we expect to closely monitor the track and computer models over the next 24 – 36 hours, and expect to announce any decisions sometime on Friday, if necessary.

Prepare Appropriately and Make Sure You Have Your Hurricane Re-Entry Pass 
The Town’s website includes hurricane preparedness information, including re-rentry pass information, at  http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/hurricane-information .

Additionally, if you don’t have your previously issued hurricane re-entry pass, please visit the Town Administration Building during normal business hours to secure your pass.  Please don’t wait until the last minute, as there will likely be longer lines.  Additionally, it may be necessary to close the Town Administration Building at some point due to storm impacts.

Status of Emerald Isle Bridge, Re-Entry
The Emerald Isle bridge does NOT close at any set wind speed.  The bridge will only close if the Mayor declares a State of Emergency, issues an evacuation order, and imposes a curfew.  Any State of Emergency, evacuation order, and/or curfew will be posted on the Town’s various digital platforms as soon as it is issued.

A hurricane re-entry pass will be used to allow entry back into Emerald Isle if the Town re-opens to residents and property owners ONLY, but continues to exclude non-residents, non-property owners, and visitors.  Depending on the degree of damage and current conditions, the Town’s first goal is always to allow EVERYONE back in to Emerald Isle at the same time without a re-entry pass.  The re-entry pass is ONLY utilized if the damage is more significant and the Town needs to limit access to residents and property owners only.

Stay Informed!
The Town works hard to keep you well-informed, and offers several platforms to keep you updated on Hurricane Matthew:

• Visit the Town’s website at http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/
• Sign up for the Town’s email newsletter at top right corner of website – “Join Email List”
• Follow us on Facebook at “Town of Emerald Isle, NC”
• Follow us on Twitter @townemeraldisle
• Download the Emerald Isle App at Google Play and the App Store – search for “Emerald Isle NC”.  In the EI App, tap “Town Government” and then tap “News” for Hurricane Matthew updates.

Stay safe!  Additional updates will be provided at appropriate intervals!

October 5, 2016
It is a little cooler and breezy this October day and our current rental guests are enjoying another nice day at the beach.  We are very closely monitoring the progress of hurricane Matthew. The 5am forecast has given us a bit more optimism as it shows a higher probability that the storm may not make landfall in the Carolinas but pass off of our coastline some time on Saturday-Sunday.  We pray this more eastward track continues but we all need to prudently continue to monitor this storm throughout the next few days.

The advice from the National Hurricane Center:

“When a hurricane is forecast to take a track roughly parallel
to a coastline, as Matthew is forecast to do from Florida through
South Carolina, it becomes very difficult to estimate impacts this
far in advance.  For example, only a small deviation of the track to
the left of the NHC forecast could bring the core of a major
hurricane onshore, while a small deviation to the right could keep
all of the hurricane-force winds offshore.  It will likely take
another day or so for the potential impacts of Matthew in the United
States to clarify.

Tropical storm or hurricane conditions could affect Georgia,
South Carolina, and North Carolina later this week or this weekend,
even if the center of Matthew remains offshore.  It is too soon to
determine what, if any, land areas might be directly affected by
Matthew next week.  At a minimum, dangerous beach and boating
conditions are likely along much of the U.S. east coast during the
next several days.

For our current Rental Guests already on the island, you can anticipate email updates on Matthew as conditions deteriorate or if an official evacuation order comes from the town or the county.  Our maintenance crews may be coming by Thursday and Friday to secure porch furniture and we request your cooperation.  Please advise our office if you do plan to check out early.  When you depart, you may help us by securing all windows and doors and double checking they are securely locked.  Place all garbage in outside trash receptacles and make sure the lids are securely fastened.  Do not leave any food in the refrigerator as there is a high probability we will lose power.
Homeowners of Emerald Isle Realty please log-in to our Homeowner page for more information and we will also send email updates as necessary.
Rental guests scheduled to arrive Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, continue to monitor hurricane Matthew’s progress.  We remain hopeful for nice beach weather for the remainder of next week with some beautiful fall days in the forecast.

Town Officials Closely Monitoring Hurricane Matthew
Update #1 – Tuesday, October 4 – 10:00 pm

Current Postion
The Town of Emerald Isle continues to monitor Hurricane Matthew, which is currently a Category 4 hurricane located approximately1,020 miles south-southeast of Emerald Isle, near eastern Cuba. The storm is currently moving north at 9 mph.

Forecast Impacts on Emerald Isle
The latest forecast track (shown below) projects that the center of Matthew will cross Carteret County sometime Saturday evening.  Emerald Isle is expected to begin to feel rain and wind impacts from Matthew sometime Friday night into Saturday morning.  The forecast track will likely continue to change in the next 24 – 48 hours, and Town officials will be monitoring closely, and will adjust our guidance appropriately.

State of Emergency, Evacuation, Curfew Decisions
The Town has not yet made any decisions pertaining to Hurricane Matthew.  Town officials will meet with County and other Town officials on Wednesday afternoon to discuss prudent strategies, and any Town decisions will be publicized via the email newsletter, the Town’s website, Facebook, Twitter, and the Emerald Isle App.  At this point, we expect to monitor the track and computer models over the next 24 – 48 hours, and expect to announce any decisions sometime on Wednesday or Thursday, if necessary.

Prepare Appropriately and Make Sure You Have Your Hurricane Re-Entry Pass 
The Town’s website includes hurricane preparedness information, including re-rentry pass information, at  http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/hurricane-information .

Additionally, if you don’t have your previously issued hurricane re-entry pass, please visit the Town Administration Building during normal business hours to secure your pass.  Please don’t wait until the last minute, as it may be necessary to close the Town Administration Building at some point due to storm impacts.

Status of Emerald Isle Bridge, Re-Entry
The Emerald Isle bridge does NOT close at any set wind speed.  The bridge will only close if the Mayor declares a State of Emergency, issues an evacuation order, and imposes a curfew.  Residents and visitors should follow the Town’s website, sign up for email newsletter, follow Facebook, Twitter, or the EI App — any State of Emergency, evacuation order, and/or curfew will be posted accordingly as soon as it is issued.

A hurricane re-entry pass will be used to allow entry back into Emerald Isle if the Town re-opens to residents and property owners ONLY, but continues to exclude non-residents / non-property owners.  Depending on the degree of damage and current conditions, the Town’s first goal is always to allow EVERYONE back in to Emerald Isle at the same time without a re-entry pass.  The re-entry pass is ONLY utilized if the damage is more significant and the Town wants to limit access to residents and property owners only.

Stay Informed!
The Town works hard to keep you well-informed, and offers several platforms to keep you updated on Hurricane Matthew:

• Visit the Town’s website at http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/
• Sign up for the Town’s email newsletter at top right corner of website – “Join Email List”
• Follow us on Facebook at “Town of Emerald Isle, NC”
• Follow us on Twitter @townemeraldisle
• Download the Emerald Isle App at Google Play and the App Store – search for “Emerald Isle NC”.

Stay safe!  Additional updates will be provided at appropriate intervals!

Please monitor these sites for updated Weather and Travel Information:

www.nhc.noaa.gov
www.Weather.com
http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/severeweather/summer.html
www.EmeraldIsleRealty.com

Your friends at,

Emerald Isle Realty