SEVERE WEATHER
TRAVEL UPDATES
TROPICAL STORM DEBBY
We are actively monitoring Tropical Storm Debby and will provide official town updates on this page as soon as they are available. Additional resources can be found below.
Reservation Questions? Call (866) 586-6980
Severe Weather Travel Updates
Tropical Storm Debby – Update #1
Wednesday, August 07, 2024
FOR OUR IN-HOUSE RENTAL GUESTS and arrivals August 8 – August 11
and RENTAL GUESTS departing August 9-11, 2024
Currently, Carteret County is under a Tropical Storm Watch for Debby
There is no order to evacuate Bogue Banks.
Based on the latest forecasts, Tropical Storm Debby will move slowly just offshore of the South Carolina coast today, make landfall in South Carolina late tonight, before lifting north through central North Carolina Thursday night and Friday morning. Additional rainfall amounts will range from 4-8 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through Thursday night. In addition, there is a limited threat for gusty winds and tornadoes today through Friday. The current forecast is for winds of 25 – 41 MPH starting later today and into the night.
Shelter in Place at your vacation rental home or condo beginning late this afternoon and have your storm preparation for your family complete. Travel after tropical force winds begin is not recommended.
- Be sure all doors and windows are closed and securely locked.
- Please turn porch furniture upside down on deck, if you are physically able.
- Make sure your cell phones and laptops remain fully charged in case of power outages.
- We may experience power outage and loss of cable and internet service.
- Keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries handy in case of a loss of power. Avoid open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light.
- Tornadoes are always a possibility during tropical weather and a weather app with an audible warning is highly recommended.
- Storm surge and higher tides than usual are also possible with inundation of 1 – 3 feet. However, we believe there will be minimal risk of breaching the dune and ocean over wash because of recent beach nourishment projects.
- Only you can make the best decision about the safety and welfare of your family. If concerned, you may wish to relocate to an inland hotel for the night of the storm.
Once the Storm has Passed Safely by…
- If you have a maintenance repair issue that is storm related, please email: maintenance@EIRealty.com or call (252) 354-2690. Be sure to give the address and property name where you are staying, a phone number where we can reach you and state the issue.
- Be mindful that there may be debris on the beach or in the ocean and sound.
- Pool Cleanings – We are hopeful that by Saturday we can begin cleaning pools again. We are sorry for the inconvenience but with wind, rain and lightning it is not feasible to clean pools until then.
Beach Safety—High Risk of Rip Currents
- Dangerous ocean conditions are currently happening and will bring a HIGH RISK for RIP currents especially around the time of low tide.
- Red Flags are flying along the Bogue Banks.
- The public is asked to avoid the water for your own safety during Red Flag times.
Arriving Guests traveling to Emerald Isle and those Departing
- The biggest impact from TS Debby will be life-threatening flash flooding due to several days of heavy rainfall, lasting through Friday. Be mindful of flooding on your trip; due to the slow moving nature of this storm we expect flooding to occur along parts of North Carolina’s highways. Please see below for NCDOT road closures. https://www.ncdot.gov/travel-maps/traffic-travel/Pages/default.aspx
Rainy Day Activities
- NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
- Beaufort Maritime Museum
- Mac Daddy’s Bowling and Arcade in Cape Carteret
- Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center, Harkers Island
- Emerald Plantation, shops, restaurants and cinema
- KIDZ@PLAY FAMILY CAFÉ Morehead City
- Friday once Debby passes by will be a good time for shelling!
Please monitor these sites for updated Weather and Travel Information:
https://www.weather.gov/media/mhx/LatestBriefing.pdf
https://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/hurricane-alert-information
https://www.ncdot.gov/travel-maps/traffic-travel/Pages/default.aspx
Additional Resources
RIP CURRENT SAFETY
Rip currents are very powerful channels of water that move at very fast speeds away from the shore and can quickly pull even a strong swimmer out to sea. It is important for all swimmers to know the signs of a rip current and avoid those areas. A few indicators provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) include:
- A channel of churning, choppy water
- Notable differences in water color
- Lines of foam, seaweed or debris moving steadily seaward
- A break in the incoming wave pattern
If caught in an ocean rip current:
- Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
- Never fight against the current.
- Think of the rip current like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, but that you can step to the side of.
- Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle, away from the current, towards shore.
- If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
- If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arms and yelling for help.
