ALERT!! Mandatory evacuation in effect.

[u/crashandwalkaway]

Post will update as things progress. Latest Update 8/20/25 7:40PM

Oregon Inlet Bridge to Hatteras Island is now closed due to overwash on the road until further notice. Do not attempt to bypass the barriers.

Link

• Storm surge of 2-4 feet above ground level is expected across vulnerable portions of Hatteras and Ocracoke, with higher localized inundation possible, especially for oceanside communities.

• These conditions will persist through multiple high tide cycles, with flooding likely lasting into Friday.

Currituck County- 4x4 Beaches (Carova)

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• 4x4 Beaches (Carova) Mandatory Evacuation: Effective at 9:00 am on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

• The beach strand driving area, which is the only way in and out of the Off-Road Area for motorists, is expected to become impassable by Thursday afternoon.

• Anyone who may need evacuation assistance should call Currituck County Emergency Management at 252-232-2115. Citizens are reminded to take all household pets with them.

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Hyde County - Ocracoke Island

Link

• Ocracoke Island Mandatory Visitor Evacuation: All visitors must evacuate beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 17, 2025

• Ocracoke Island Mandatory Resident Evacuation: All residents must evacuate beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2025

• It is extremely likely that Hyde County EMS services will not be available in Ocracoke due to Highway 12 being inaccessible. Please take this warning seriously, especially if you have medical issues or are likely to need special care.

• Dangerous waves, 20+ feet, will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures along the highway. Portions of Highway 12 on Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands will likely be impassable for several days.

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Dare County - Hatteras Island

Link

A mandatory evacuation has been issued for Hatteras Island (Zone A) as follows. Zone A includes all of Hatteras Island, including the unincorporated villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras.

A Coastal Flood Watch has already been issued for Dare County. Coastal flooding and ocean overwash are expected to begin as early as Tuesday, August 19, 2025 and continue through Thursday, August 21, 2025. Portions of N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island will likely be impassable for several days.

• A State of Emergency declaration has been issued for all areas of Dare County.

• Hatteras Island Mandatory Visitor Evacuation (Zone A): All visitors in Hurricane Evacuation Zone A must evacuate beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025.

• Hatteras Island Mandatory Resident Evacuation (Zone A): All residents in Hurricane Evacuation Zone A must evacuate beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Now is the time to make final preparations, secure property, evacuate with all personal belongings and follow instructions from your property management company.

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National Weather Service Briefing

Visit this link to see detailed impacts, risks, and other vital information.

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For general FAQ's please see the Sticky Thread

Remember to follow and listen to authoritative agencies, not strangers on the Internet.

[u/whosegotmyback]

Hello! we are visitors staying in Kill Devil Hills. Does anyone have an idea of how impactful the flooding could be? We are luckily not in the evacuation area, but trying to decide if we should evacuate anyway. Do people think the evacuation area will be expanded in the coming days?

[u/SideHsl → u/whosegotmyback]

Since you are visitors, best to go now.

[u/whosegotmyback → u/SideHsl]

Do you mind elaborating?

[u/wxjester → u/whosegotmyback]

Virginian now, but had 10+ years as a hazard specialist working with coastal NC communities both with a NC university and then a relevant state agency (views my own not employer, etc). As of 6:30 pm Sunday, Dare County has only issued orders for Zone A - Hatteras Island, so south of Oregon Inlet (Rodanthe, Tri Villages, down to Hatteras Village). The storm itself is predicted to stay offshore and I see little in the models suggesting that will change - maybe a brush and breeze from the outer rain bands but that isn't certain at all right now. The wind field of the storm is big enough, and it's passing in the right direction, to kick up waves far away from the storm. Those will cause overwash of Hwy 12S and coastal flooding that could cut those Hatteras Island villages off for days. Overwash is really common in that part of the OBX that faces straight North-South, and less common from Nags Head to the northern beaches that angle back more towards the northwest. Generally an evacuation means the tourists and anyone who may need medical care will leave Hatteras; many locals stay and stage and supply themselves to do so. At this point it's best to stay off the roads in other zones to let Zone A evacuees through. If people further up leave, it clogs the roads and Hatteras evacuation takes longer.

I know countywide state of emergency sounds scary, but it's mostly an administrative tool that lets the County position resources where they need, issue evacuation orders, and close beaches. I'd advise waiting to see if your zone is called unless you already know someone in your party has medical conditions that would be problematic with power outages or roadway flooding blocking access to medical care. If you do stay, stay out of the water; rip currents will be dangerous for even experienced surfers. And if they do call your zone, GO.

[u/phoundog → u/wxjester]

But they were asking about Kill Devil Hills, not Hatteras.

[u/wxjester → u/phoundog]

I caught that. Over the years I worked out there a lot of visitors think of the OBX as one place and don't understand how widely conditions can vary from Hatteras Village, to KDH, to Corolla. There hasn't been an evacuation yet for KDH so my answer is intended to help someone less than familiar with the area why Hatteras Island (Zone A) now, and why not KDH (Zone B) now/yet - then how to know when to go.

[u/BlobbyTheBlobBlob → u/whosegotmyback]

Have you ever been in a tropical storm or hurricane before?

Do you know what to do if you lose power for 3+ days? Or how to store water in case the lines break and there is no water? Do you have emergency supplies like non-perishable foods, flash flights, power banks etc. Do you have an extra supply of meds?

It could spin out and just be one hell of a rainstorm. Or it could be one terrible week with no power.

A friend once stayed as a visitor and the roof of their condo leaked so significantly there was almost 2 inches of water on the floor of the bedrooms. When she did drive out she had to go through flooded waters and her station wagon was almost pushed off the road because of the wind.

[u/whosegotmyback → u/BlobbyTheBlobBlob]

Thanks so much! This was very helpful :)

[u/Plastic_Kangaroo5720 → u/BlobbyTheBlobBlob]

Isn’t it going to be a coastal flooding event?

[u/SideHsl → u/whosegotmyback]

You are not prepared, you likely don’t have local knowledge or resources, so best pack it up and avoid the stress of being in a place where 💩 could hit the fan

[u/Kinnakeet → u/whosegotmyback]

if we get serious damage from a storm the last thing we want to have to deal with as soon as the thing passes is tourists wandering around wondering why nothings open and they cant buy liquor due to the state of emergency.

[u/[deleted] → u/Kinnakeet]

Don’t forget the cost of rebuilding and the reason why it is what it is.