Shorm shifts west, Hatteras evacuation ordered

  Dare County has announced a mandatory evacuation for all residents and visitors on Hatteras Island effective 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1. The latest storm track has shifted Hurricane Earl to the west, putting hurricane force winds over Hatteras Island early Friday morning.

  The evacuation order does not yet include areas north of Oregon Inlet.

  Today, Gov. Bev Perdue declared a state of emergency for North Carolina in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Earl. The governor’s order calls for all state and local agencies to cooperate in the implementation of provisions of the N.C. Emergency Operations Plan. North Carolina is running extra ferry routes from Ocracoke Island andestablished an emergency shelter in Pitt County at North Pitt High School at 5659 N.C. Highway 11 North in Bethel, N.C.

  All Dare County schools will be closed Thursday and Friday. Make-up days are set for Saturday, Sept. 11 and Friday, Oct. 29. All after-school activities are canceled for Thursday and Friday, including the After-School Enrichment Program.

  Court sessions at the Dare County courthouse are canceled for Thursday and Friday. Those with cases scheduled for either of these days will receive a letter from the court advising of a new date.

  Dare County Parks and Recreation has canceled all activities for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.