Bulletin Number: 8
Date/Time: 8/4/04 5:37:58 PM

Bulletin Text: There is no restricted entry and no evacuation orders in place for any areas of Dare County. Dare County encompasses the towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo, Wanchese, the Dare mainland, and on Hatteras Island the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras. An evacuation was ordered for visitors on Ocracoke Island earlier today. Ocracoke Island is located south of Dare County in Hyde County, North Carolina. Entry to Ocracoke Island via ferry service from Hatteras is restricted to essential personnel and residents with a valid re-entry permit. For updated re-entry information, call 1-800-BY FERRY. Motorists are asked to exercise caution and drive slowly through standing water. In the villages of Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras, brackish saltwater remains on roadways and will cause damage to vehicles. The Fessenden Center in Buxton will no longer be operating as a shelter location. The North Carolina Baptist Men have organized a Disaster Recovery Center and will be available to assist with clean-up and small repairs beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, August 5. The Disaster Recovery Center will be located at the Community Center in Hatteras Village and priority will be given to residents. For more information and to receive assistance call (252) 986-2356 beginning Thursday. Those with flooded vehicles should first contact their vehicle insurance company. If unable to make arrangements for a rental vehicle through the insurance company or otherwise, local rental car agencies include APCO Rent-A-Car in Manteo at (252) 473-4508, Berry Automotive in Manteo at (252) 473-6111 and Enterprise Rental Car Company in Kill Devil Hills at (252) 480-1838. Additional information about rental car services will be provided as it becomes available. Damage assessment teams worked on Hatteras Island today. State assessors will be in the area tomorrow and coordinated preliminary damage estimates will be available on Thursday, August 5. Approximately 250 to 300 flooded vehicles were reported on Hatteras Island. Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative reports 200 customers without power on Hatteras Island. Outages are scattered throughout Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village. Well Water Safety Information Dare County residents south of Oregon Inlet who have wells for drinking water are urged to check their well for flooding from Hurricane Alex. All flooded wells should be disinfected according to the following procedures prior to calling the Dare County Health Department for testing. Residents with flooded wells should continue using bottled water or water that has been boiled at a rolling boil for three minutes until their well has been disinfected and sampling shows no contamination. To disinfect a private water system, chlorine must be completely spread throughout the well and plumbing system. First, pour one gallon of non-scented household bleach (5.25 % sodium hypochlorite) into the well point before any check valve. Next, turn on all the water faucets in the home until there is a strong chlorine odor. Then, turn the faucets off and let the chlorine stand in the well and plumbing system for at least 24 hours. Last, connect a garden hose to an outside faucet and run water away from the house foundation and septic tank system until the chlorine smell is gone. Do not pump the highly chlorinated water into a septic system. After the disinfecting process is complete, contact the Dare County Health Department at 475-5080 or 475-5082 to have water sampled. For more information about disinfecting or sampling a private well, call the Dare County Health Department at the numbers listed above. Regular Garbage Collection – Dare County regular garbage collection is in effect and on schedule. Storm Debris Removal Instructions for the Villages of Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Storm debris removal - Property owners in the villages of Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras should push all storm debris to the right-of-way – the County cannot go onto private property to remove debris and clean-up yards. Storm debris removal for Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras Village begins Thursday, August 5. No storm debris removal is scheduled for areas north of Buxton. Hurricane Alex, Bulletin 8 p.3 Separate debris into three piles: 1. Woody – tree limbs, brush, etc. 2. C&D – furniture, carpet, mattresses, etc. 3. Metal – appliances, BBQ grills, etc., except propane tanks (see below for propane tank instructions) Propane Tanks – Dare County will not collect propane tanks from the right-of-way. Property owners should follow the instructions below: Large Tanks - Property owners should contact their propane dealer. Owners should NOT attempt to reconnect or fix tanks on their own. Small tanks (like BBQ grill tanks) – Property owners should return tanks to their local hardware store or vendor where they purchased the tank Storm debris removal outside of the Villages of Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras – Storm debris removal is not scheduled for any other areas of unincorporated Dare County. Residents of municipalities should contact their Town to inquire about garbage collection and debris removal (if any).

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Bulletin Number: 7
Date/Time: 8/4/04 9:51:46 AM

Bulletin Text:  There is no restricted entry into any areas of Dare County. However, all motorists, especially those in small vehicles, are strongly encouraged to proceed with caution. Pockets of standing water are present on Highway 12 and many secondary roads on Hatteras Island. Ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke is restricted to essential personnel and residents with a valid re-entry permit or a North Carolina driver’s license with an Ocracoke address. Those with flooded vehicles should first contact their vehicle insurance company. If unable to make arrangements for a rental vehicle through your insurance company or otherwise, you may call Enterprise Rental Car Company in Kill Devil Hills at 480-1838. Enterprise provides rental car services to Hatteras Island customers with shuttle service. Those with flooded vehicles due to Hurricane Alex will be given priority. Additional information about rental car services will be provided as it becomes available. Damage assessment teams on Hatteras Island began working this morning and will continue to work throughout the day to compile preliminary assessments. Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative reports 500 customers without power on Hatteras Island. Outages are scattered throughout Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village. Crews from outside the area are assisting to restore service. The goal is to have service restored to all customers in the next 48 hours. Debris Removal Instructions Hatteras Island Only Regular Garbage Collection – Dare County regular garbage collection is in effect and on schedule. Storm debris removal for Hatteras Island - Property owners should push all storm debris to the right-of-way – the County cannot go onto private property to remove debris and clean-up yards. A schedule for storm debris pick-up will be announced late Wednesday afternoon. Separate debris into three piles: 1. Woody – tree limbs, brush, etc. 2. C&D – furniture, carpet, mattresses, etc. 3. Metal – appliances, BBQ grills, etc., except propane tanks (see below for propane tank instructions) Propane Tanks – Dare County will not collect propane tanks from the right-of-way. Property owners should follow the instructions below: Large Tanks - Property owners should contact their propane dealer. Owners should NOT attempt to reconnect or fix tanks on their own. Small tanks (like BBQ grill tanks) – Property owners should return tanks to their local hardware store or vendor where they purchased the tank Storm debris removal outside of Hatteras Island – Storm debris removal is not scheduled for any other areas of unincorporated Dare County. Residents of municipalities should contact their Town to inquire about garbage collection and debris removal (if any).

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Bulletin Number: 6
Date/Time: 8/3/04 6:15:42 PM

Bulletin Text: Following Hurricane Alex, residents and visitors on Hatteras Island in the villages of Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras are encouraged to stay off roadways as rainwater and debris make traveling dangerous. Damage Assessment Teams will begin working on Hatteras Island on Wednesday, August 4 at 7 a.m. to begin preliminary assessments. The Fessenden Center, located at 46830 Highway 12 in Buxton, is open for those needing shelter. No pets are allowed in the facility. Call 475-5650 for more information. All bridges in the county are open. Ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke is restricted to essential personnel only. For updated ferry information call 1-800-BY FERRY. As clean-up begins, tree limbs and vegetative debris should be moved to the right of way. Household goods and appliances should not be placed at the right of way at this time - a schedule for these items will follow. Safety awareness is very important following a hurricane. Some safety tips are as follows: Beware of Outdoor Hazards Watch out for loose or dangling power lines, and report them immediately to proper utility authorities. Hatteras Island customers should call the Cape Hatteras Electric. Walk Outdoors Cautiously Debris-filled streets are dangerous. Snakes and poisonous insects may be a hazard. Guard Against Spoiled Food Food may spoil if refrigerator power is off more than a few hours. Freezers will keep food several days if doors are not open after power failure, but do not refreeze food once it begins to thaw. Also, if food is not safe for you, it is not safe for your pets. Do Not Attempt to Self Connect Propane Gas Propane consuming appliances or other devices which are suspected to have been subjected to flooding conditions should not be put in operation until checked by qualified service personnel. Be Aware of Standing Water on Roadways Motorists should proceed with caution through standing water as it is difficult to determine the depth and can cause brake failure or loss of control.

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Bulletin Number: 5
Date/Time: 8/3/04 2:59:33 PM

Bulletin Text: Hurricane Alex continues to track northeast past Cape Hatteras with the eye of the storm moving offshore. Winds will diminish over the next several hours, although we will continue to experience heavy rains. Severe soundside flooding is occurring in the southern villages of Hatteras Island. Soundside flooding will subside quickly as the hurricane continues to track northeast at a rapid pace. Residents and visitors on Hatteras Island are advised to stay indoors due to flying debris, accumulated rainwater and soundside flooding. Motorists attempting to drive may float off roadways. Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative has restored power to approximately 4,010 customers on Hatteras Island. There are currently just under 3,000 customers from Buxton south to Hatteras Village without power. Cape Hatteras Electric will continue to work to restore service to customers. To report power outages north of Oregon Inlet, customers may call Dominion North Carolina Power at 1-888-667-3000; customers on the Dare County mainland may call Tideland Electric at 1-800-637-1079. Ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke is not operational at this time. For updated ferry information, call 1-800-BY FERRY. All bridges in the county are open. The Hatteras Library, located in the Community Building in Hatteras Village, will be closed on Tuesday, August 3. Persons interested in renewing items or for other information, call the Manteo Library at 473-2373 or the Kill Devil Hills Library at 441-4331.

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Bulletin Number: 4
Date/Time: 8/3/04 11:43:11 AM

Bulletin Text:  The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center indicates that Hurricane Alex is now a Category Two storm that will brush the coastline of southern Hatteras Island this afternoon and then quickly move off the coast to the northeast. Winds have reached 40 m.p.h. in Hatteras Village and will continue to increase. Hurricane force winds of up to 75 m.p.h. with stronger gusts will reach the villages of Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras by early afternoon. Residents and visitors on Hatteras Island are encouraged to stay off roadways which are already flooded with rainwater. Remain indoors as winds increase - flying debris is anticipated. Power outages are likely as winds increase. To report power outages, customers south of Oregon Inlet may call Cape Hatteras Electric at 995-5616; customers north of Oregon Inlet may call Dominion North Carolina Power at 1-888-667-3000; and customers on the Dare County mainland may call Tideland Electric at 1-800-637-1079. Hatteras Medical Center and Avon Medical Center are closed. Ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke is not operational at this time. For updated ferry information, call 1-800-BY FERRY. High winds are not expected north of Oregon Inlet. Rip currents throughout the county will remain strong with the high seas and rough surf. Residents and visitors are advised to closely monitor the storm’s progress.

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Bulletin Number: 3
Date/Time: 8/3/04 7:36:13 AM

Bulletin Text: Ferry operations between Hatteras and Ocracoke are running on a regular schedule. Ferry operations have been suspended for Ocracoke/Cedar Island and Ocracoke/Swan Quarter.

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Bulletin Number: 2
Date/Time: 8/3/04 6:44:53 AM

Bulletin Text: Hatteras Island remains under a Hurricane Warning. Areas north of Oregon Inlet (including Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo/Dare Mainland) remain under a Tropical Storm Warning. Hurricane Alex is predicted to remain offshore as it continues to track northeast. While the storm has increased in intensity, hurricane force winds are not expected to reach Hatteras Island or other areas of Dare County. Tropical force winds (34 m.p.h. to 50 m.p.h.) will reach southern Hatteras Island by 9 a.m. and are expected to remain on Hatteras Island until about 7:00 p.m. Tuesday. No tropical force winds are expected north of Oregon Inlet. Storm force and hurricane force winds are not expected to reach the area, but are forecasted to remain offshore, east of Hatteras. Boaters should remain in port today. Campers and those outdoors should remain vigilant as high wind gusts associated with rain bands and thunderstorms are expected. Swimming is not advised as rip currents will be strong with high seas and rough surf. Motorists should use precautions while driving, particularly south of Oregon Inlet. Residents and visitors are advised to closely monitor the storm’s progress throughout the day. ###

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Bulletin Number: 1
Date/Time: 8/2/04 6:00:00 PM

Bulletin Text: The National Hurricane Center has announced that areas in Dare County south of Oregon Inlet (Hatteras Island) are under a Hurricane Warning meaning that hurricane conditions are expected in the area within the next 24 hours. Areas north of Oregon Inlet (including Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo/Dare Mainland) are under a Tropical Storm Warning. The Dare County Control Group met at 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 2 to receive updated information about the storm’s track. According to the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center, gale force winds (ranging from 34 to 50 m.p.h.) are expected to reach Hatteras Island by 8:00 a.m. Tuesday and will remain in the Hatteras area until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday. Sustained winds for Hatteras Island on Tuesday afternoon will reach 60 to 65 m.p.h. with gusts reaching minimal hurricane strength by 2:00 p.m. Tuesday. Residents and visitors on Hatteras Island should exercise caution traveling on Tuesday as rain conditions may be heavy at times. High profile vehicles should stay off the road after 8:00 a.m. Tuesday until weather conditions improve late in the day. Campers are advised to seek shelter indoors. Rip currents throughout the county will be strong with high seas and rough surf. Beaches north of Oregon Inlet can anticipate winds of 30 to 35 m.p.h. throughout the day with rain bands and gusts exceeding 40 to 45 m.p.h. No evacuation orders have been issued for any areas of Dare County; however, residents and visitors are advised to closely monitor the storm’s progress.

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