Emergency Management Information

The Southern Shores Emergency Management Team is organized to provide assistance to residents and visitors in times of natural disaster, such as hurricanes and flood events. To view a copy of the Town Emergency Plan go to Plan.

To view a copy of the Town's Hazard Mitigation Plan go to this link Dare County Plan that has the Town's plan incorporated into their plan.

The Team consists of:

Volunteers
Town Employees
Town Council
Town Staff
Police Department
Volunteer Fire Department members
Local nurses and physicians and
Ham radio operators.

In addition, there are a number of contractors on stand-by who have agreed to supply certain services that would normally be provided by a Department of Public Works.

Before each hurricane season, the Team gathers to review procedures and make sure everyone knows her or his responsibilities. In the event of a named storm that appears capable of reaching the Outer Banks, the Team is activated. By 36 hours before an expected landfall, all support services will be in place and, very likely, an evacuation order will have been given by the Dare County Control Group.

The mayors of the municipalities, plus County emergency management staff, make up the Control Group, which is chaired by the Vice-Chair of the Board of Commissioners. That group decides when to order an evacuation and announces the order through all possible media. Visitors especially are encouraged to evacuate promptly. Residents are encouraged to leave as soon as they have secured their houses for the on-coming storm.

Since it takes more than 36 hours to evacuate Ocracoke Island (because the ferries have to be secured before the storm hits), an early evacuation order is often given to start moving vacationers from Ocracoke Island.

Need to see what a hurricane can do? Go to Ike, these taken at Galveston, TX. This could be us someday!!

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

Know your evacuation route.
Keep tuned to local radio and TV stations. (Have a battery-powered radio on hand for the time when local power will likely be shut off.)

Dare County has no shelters. For more information go to Hurricane. Follow instructions and evacuate early to avoid traffic problems and flooded roads. There is a motor vehicle permit system for reentry for residents and property owners. Keep your car's gasoline tank at least half full at all times. Keep basic supplies on hand: batteries, flashlights, canned food, water, medications.

For more information, contact:
Sandy Sanderson
Director
Dare County Emergency Management
475-5655

Please e-mail, telephone or fax us with your questions and comments on Town matters. The Town Hall Office is open Monday - Friday 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. We are always happy to hear from you and try to respond to questions promptly .

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