PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Officials across the viewing area have declared states of emergency ahead of Hurricane Dorian.
Hampton Roads
Portsmouth officials announced an emergency declaration in a tweet Wednesday morning, citing the threat of Dorian and its potential impact on Portsmouth.
An emergency shelter opened at I.C. Norcom High on Thursday at noon as an emergency shelter, and closed it at 5 p.m.
City schools and school administrative offices were closed both Thursday and Friday.
Portsmouth city offices will be closed on Friday, but essential personnel must report. City garages will open Thursday at 8 a.m. for people to store vehicles, which can remain in the garage until 7 a.m. Monday morning.
Chesapeake announced Tuesday it was declaring a state of emergency, allowing it to mobilize resources and make emergency-related purchases.
Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency for Virginia on Monday as Dorian was battering the Bahamas.
Hampton is opening two shelters at 5 p.m. Thursday. Phenix School, at 1061 Big Bethel Road, will be equipped to handle those with medical needs. People with pets should go to nearby Bethel High School. People evacuating to shelters should bring bedding, toys for children, medicine and any special food items. Do not bring weapons or alcohol.
Norfolk is opening three emergency shelters at 7 p.m. Thursday:
- Bayview Rec Center (pet friendly) – 8613 Willow Terrace Blvd.
- Norview High School (medical services) – 6501 Chesapeake Blvd.
- Southside STEM Academy – 1106 Campostella Rd.
If you need transportation to a shelter, please call Norfolk Cares Call Center at 757.664.6510
Newport News opened a shelter at Warwick High School, 51 Copeland Lane, at 5 p.m. Thursday, and announced it was closing at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Pets are welcome, but owners must remain at the shelter with their pets and must bring food, water and a crate or kennel. The city is offering bus service to the shelter between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday. Citizens can meet at the Doris Miller Community Center, 2814 Wickham Avenue, or Brittingham-Midtown Community Center, 570 McLawhorne Dr., to be taken to the shelter.
Residents with questions can call the 311 Center at 757-933-2311. The Four Oaks Day Service Center, 7401 Warwick Boulevard, will have extended hours and will be open throughout the night to serve as shelter for the homeless.
Suffolk opened a shelter Thursday at 5 p.m. at King’s Fork High School, but announced it was closing at 4 p.m. Friday. The city says five people used the shelter.
North Carolina
The Kitty Hawk Police Department posted on its Facebook page Wednesday that the Outer Banks town had declared a state of emergency amid preparations for the storm’s arrival.
Officials in Pasquotank-Camden-Elizabeth City declared a state of emergency effective 9 a.m. Wednesday. Camden County officials called for a voluntary evacuation of people in Zone A to go into effect at 8 a.m. on Thursday.
The Pasquotank-Camden-Elizabeth City Emergency Operations Center will be activated fully at 8 a.m. on Thursday.
A shelter in Camden County will be opened at K.E. White Center in Elizabeth City at that time.
Camden County offices will close at 3 p.m. Thursday and will stay closed on Friday. Pasquotank County offices will be closed on Friday.
In Hertford, N.C., a Red Cross shelter is now open at Perquimans County High School, located at 305 South Edenton Road Street.
The Gates County Emergency Operations Center is opening a shelter at Gates County High School at US Highway 158 on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. Alcohol and weapons will not be permitted at the shelter.
You will be able to bring your pets, but they will be housed in a separate location.
Localities along the Outer Banks issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents and visitors earlier this week.
The emergency declarations comes as Dorian is threatening to bring hurricane conditions to the Outer Banks and northeast North Carolina. A hurricane warning was extended Wednesday to include the Outer Banks.
Dorian’s Outlook
Dorian is moving north-northwest along of the Florida coast as a Category 2 hurricane.
It forecast to move up the East Coast, weaken to a Category 1 hurricane and pass near Hatteras along North Carolina’s Outer Banks early Friday morning. Read more about possible impacts from Dorian in Jeremy Wheeler’s blog.
