Dare County Emergency Management is closely following the approach of Hurricane Earl. Based on the latest forecast, the storm will pas about 75 miles off the Outer Banks at about 3 a.m. Friday morning.

  Early Thursday evening, Hatteras began feeling the impact of the storm’s approach. Throughout the evening, weather conditions will progressively deteriorate, first for Hatteras Island, then for the northern portions of the county, until Earl leaves the area around daybreak Friday morning.

  Hurricane Earl will produce high seas, ocean overwash, dangerous rip currents and strong winds. A hurricane watch is in effect for all of Dare County and the North Carolina coast. A state of emergency has been issued by the county, Gov. Bev Perdue and President Obama.

  In the town of Duck, residential trash collection scheduled for Friday, Sept. 3, has been canceled. Residential trash will be picked up on the next regularly-scheduled day, Monday, Sept. 6. Commercial trash pick-up is not affected.

  In Kill Devil Hills, the main office and support divisions will operate on a limited schedule Friday based on weather conditions and staff availability. For information, call 449-5300. Residential solid waste will not be collected Friday, and the recycle center will be closed. The recycle center is expected to operate on its normal schedule Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  Kitty Hawk has issued a mandatory evacuation for all residents on the oceanfront.

  Nags Head advises those staying in the area during the storm that they may lose electricity and water services. The regular trash collection schedule will resume Saturday, weather and conditions permitting.

Baum Center activities are canceled until Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 8:30 a.m.

  The Dare County Water Department, as a precautionary measure before the storm, has valved off water service on oceanside streets in northern Rodanthe, including Corbina Dr., Southgate Dr., Beacon Rd., East Point Dr. and America Dr. The Hatteras water tank will be valved off at the base of the tower, and the Hatteras distribution system will operate off the Buxton elevated storage tank. Once the storm has passed, all valves will be reopened pending repairs of any leaks or breaks.

  In order to keep 911 phone lines open for emergency communications, do not call 911 for general inquiries. 911 should be used only for emergencies.

  Helpful contact information:

  Dare County Emergency Management, 475-5655 or www.darenc.com

  N.C. Ferry Division, 1-800-BY-FERRY or www.ncferry.org.

  Dominion North Carolina Power, 1-800-637-3000 or www.dom.com

Cape Hatteras Electric, 1-866-511-9862 or www.chec.coop

Tideland Electric, 1-800-637-1079 or 1-800 -882-1001 or www.tidelandemc.com

  North Carolina Road conditions, 1-877-DOT-4YOU or www.ncsmartlink.org 

  North Carolina Highway Patrol, 1-800-441-6127

  Virginia Department of Transportation, 1-800-367-7623

  THE LAZY LUCY is tied down on the Manteo waterfront and ready for Hurricane Earl.

  A HURRICANE FLAG in downtown Manteo speaks volumes.

  ONLY A FEW SHOPS were boarded up in Manteo Thursday in preparation for Hurricane Earl. Lets hope the fish stay on the outside of this one which is painted with fishes.

  MOST SAILBOATS have already been readied for the storm. Shown here, a boat on the Manteo waterfront gets a last minute look.

  The following evacuation orders have been issued by the Dare County Control Group in praparation for coastal flooding and ocean overwash when Hurricane Earl passes the Outer Banks early Friday morning:

  Mandatory evacuation is ordered for all visitors throughout the entire county. Residents along the oceanfront are advised to relocate due to coastal flooding and ocean overwash.

  Weather conditions will deteriorate this evening as the storm approaches. There are no emergency shelters available in Dare County. A shelter has been established in Bethel, in Pitt County at North Pitt High School, 5659 N.C. highway 11 North.

  The town of Nags Head advises those staying in the area during the storm that they may lose electricity and water services. Please be prepared. Should travel for public safety personnel become unsafe, calls for emergency response may be delayed. Sections of South Nags Head could lose water prior to the storm as well as after it, if conditions warrant. Friday trash pick-up will occur Saturday, weather permitting.

  The Dare County office on Hatteras Island is closed. All Dare County offices will be closed Friday, Sept. 3.

  Hurricane force winds are expected during the early morning hours in Dare County Friday as the storm passes about 70 miles off the Outer Banks. Weather conditions will deteriorate this evening as the storm approaches. Dare County and the North Carolina coast is under a hurricane warning, which indicates that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected within 24 hours.

  The town of Nags Head has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents and visitors in South Nags Head, which includes the area south of Whalebone Junction, NC1243/S, Old Oregon Inlet Road.

  Schools are closed and court sessions canceled. Those having cases that were to be heard Thursday and Friday will be notified via a letter from the court advising of a new court date.

  Bulletins will be issued as needed and available at ww.darenc.com and on Government Access Channel 20.

  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.

  A hurricane warning has been issued for all of Dare County and the North Carolina coasst from north of Surf City to Virginia, including the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.

  A hurricane warning indicates that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected in 24 hours or less. Warnings can remain in effect when dangerously high water or waves exist even though winds may be less than hurricane force.

   Dare County Emergency Management urges all residents and visitors to take necessary precautions. Expect high seas, dangerous rip currents and 50-60 mph winds as Hurricane Earl passes early Friday morning.

  Protective measures should include securing property including all loose outside objects. In advance of a hurricane, everyone should prepare an emergency kit including nonperishable food, water and clothing to sustain each family member for three days. The kit should also include a flashlight, radio, spare batteries and medications. Blankets, rain gear and appropriate footwear are also recommended. The kit should include photocopies of important family documents, such as birth certificates and insurance polices. Pet owners are reminded to make sure their animals have an identification tag on their collar.

  The latest storm advisories from Dare County and the National Park Service are as follows:

  NPS – All ocean-side beach access for off-road vehicles in Cape Hatteras National Seashore are closed. At Oregon Inlet, high tides on Thursday are set for 2.06 a.m. and 2:52 p.m., and Friday Sept. 3, high tides will be at 3:13 a.m. and 4 p.m. Severe coastal storm surge flooding is expected beginning on Thursday. If conditions permit, pedestrian access is allowed.

  Nonessential  NPS staff have been released. All essential incident command staff and law enforcement personnel will remain on duty.

  To report violations and emergencies, dial 911 or call 252-473-3444.

  Dare County – The town of Duck’s residential trash collection scheduled for Friday, Sept. 3 has been canceled. Residential trash will be picked up on the next regularly-scheduled collection day which is Monday, Sept. 6. Commercial trash pick-up is not affected.

  The town of Kill Devil Hills will not have residential solid waste collection on Friday, Sept. 3; however, there will be town-wide residential collection on Thursday, Sept. 2. Roll-out containers should be placed at the road Wednesday night and should be properly secured after they have been serviced Thursday. Normal collection will resume Monday, Sept. 6.

  The town of Nags Head advises all residents and visitors staying on or off of South Old Oregon Inlet Road in South Nags Head to closely monitor the news and weather. It is expected that the area will experience ocean overwash and everyone should be prepared to leave their homes if conditions warrant or if an evacuation is called.

  As part of readiness precautions being taken by the Dare County Social Services Department, contact is being made with Hatteras Island residents on the special needs list.

  All scheduled rides through the Dare County Transportation System have been canceled for Friday, Sept. 3.

  Residents and visitors are encouraged to monitor local news outlets for further advisories from the national Weather Service and state and local emergency management officials. Bulletins will be issued as needed and available at www.darenc.com and on Government Access Channel 20.