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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Wrightsville Beach declares state of emergency for Hurricane Matthew

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Mayor Bill Blair declared a state of emergency for Wrightsville Beach today as officials prepare for the impact this weekend from Hurricane Matthew, which is not forecast to directly hit the state. Wilmington and other area towns also declared a state of emergency at noon today.

Despite today’s declaration, town officials said today that at this point, many emergency precautions weren’t needed. Town manager Tim Owens said being in a state of emergency gives town officials options to quickly respond in the event of the storm changing course. In an update to town officials, Owens said that at this point, there would be no need to set up a command center, staff wouldn’t need to work emergency 12 hour shifts, and that the town could be under tropical storm watch at some point today. The town will continue to sell vehicle tax identification passes, which are needed for resident re-entry, for $30 at Lanier Parking at 321 Causeway Dr.  Contractors, property managers, businesses, marina, caretakers, media and boat owners will also need special re-entry passes, which are issued by the Wrightsville Beach Police Department. If the town goes under hurricane warning, distribution of these passes will be suspended.

The National Weather Service forecasts up to 10 inches of rain this weekend from the storm, with the worst winds coming on Saturday afternoon into Sunday. The center of Hurricane Matthew is expected to remain about 100 miles offshore, which could kick up to 4 feet of storm surge to the area.

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