The Picture of Dorian...
The new trajectory puts Ocracoke the the Outer Banks in its track.
I asked our county commissioner, Tom Pahl, if/when the Ocracoke Emergency Control Group would meet. They are, in fact, meeting this evening and will put out a statement soon after about whether or not they expect to do anything about the weather.
The Control Group consists of representatives from Hyde County government, infrastructure organizations, local businesses, including, but not limited to: the Hyde County manager, Hyde County emergency manager, sheriff’s deputies, Hyde County commissioners, National Park Service, NCDOT Ferry Division, Tideland EMC, OVFD, Ocracoke School, Coastal Gas, and the Ocracoke water plant.
These meetings are not open to the public, but due to some public pressure, the group decided to be more transparent in its decision-making.
According to county manager Kris Noble, who reported on it at the July Civic Affairs meeting, the control group met earlier in the year to do some pre-hurricane season prep about how to get information out. Although what's said in the control group is supposed to stay in the control group until the official Hyde County press release goes out, there were always loose lips. And texts. And Facebook posts. By the time the county would give out information, the news had already burned up the lines of the coconut telegraph (and the information being passed around wasn't always reliable.)
In past years, the control group didn't put out a statement unless they had significant news to share, but it turns out that people just want to know what they're thinking even if decisions haven't been made yet.
So, the Current staff is waiting to hear from Hyde County PIO Donnie Shumate as soon as the control group meeting is over. We hope and expect more better communication in hurricane season 2019.
In the meantime, it's never a bad idea to clean up the yard. And/or enjoy seafood, auctions, and dancing tonight at the 1st Annual Ocracoke Seafood Festival at the Berkley Barn!
