Wrightsville Beach officials are closely watching Hurricane Joaquin as the now category 3 storm lingers near the Bahamas before its expected trek north later this week, which could result in a path that comes close to the southeast North Carolina shore.
The threat of the storm has prompted Gov. Pat McCrory to declare a state of emergency as North Carolina officials prepare for a possible hurricane impact. In Wrightsville Beach, town officials are beginning their preliminary storm preparations and will meet again on Friday morning to asses the storm’s path and decide whether additional work is needed to get the town ready for a storm impact.
Standard beginning preparations include making sure all vehicles are fully fueled, all generators are topped off and fully functional, all storm drains are clear and all trash cans are off the beach.
“We’re more or less waiting to see what it’s going to do,” said Tim Owens, Wrightsville Beach town manager. “Tomorrow we’ll decide if we need to ramp it up.”
The National Weather Service forecasts possible tropical storm conditions along the coast and five to seven inches of rainfall for the region this weekend. The service said to expect gusty winds along the southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina coast on Saturday and Sunday.
The NWS said risks of flooding and hazardous marine conditions were the highest risk for the area, while risks for wind and storm surge were also elevated. The NWS also issued forecasts for potential flooding for several inland river sites, but none in New Hanover County.
The storm is also forcing organizers to cancel several events scheduled for the weekend, including this weekend’s Riverfest in Wilmington, which will be moved to November.
