Severe Weather Quick Links:
*Sign-Up for Dare County Emergency Alerts*
Storm Updates: Midgett Realty Facebook Page
Dare County Evacuation and Reentry Updates: Dare County Emergency Management
NC Highway 12 Travel Updates: NCDOT NC 12 Facebook Page
Travel Insurance Information: Midgett Realty Vacation Policies Page
Evacuation Check-Out Instructions: Midgett Realty Storm Prep Instructions
Hurricane Preparedness: ReadyNC
Weather Updates: National Hurricane Center
Beach Closure & ORV Driving Update: Cape Hatteras National Seashore Facebook Page
Evacuation Check-Out Instructions:
PRIOR TO THE STORM:
Once an Evacuation Order is issued, you have three hours to vacate the premises of your vacation rental property. During this time, you must remove ALL of your belongings just as you would during normal check-out. Do not plan on being able to come back and retrieve items that are left. Items left behind will be immediately discarded and will not be the responsibility of Midgett Realty or the homeowner. Just like at normal check-out, we ask that you perform your regular Departure Responsibilities along with a few quick tasks to help our team quickly and efficiently secure your home for the impending storm.
House Prep Instructions:
1. Make sure all windows and doors are locked.
2. Secure all deck furniture. If it is wooden and heavy, turn it over and place it against the house. If it is plastic and/or lightweight, please bring it indoors.
3. Get all of your trash out of the house and place it in the rolling black trashcan outdoors. Make sure you can close the lid. Place the black trashcan in the most protected area under the house. If you have more trash than your trashcan holds, please take it to the nearest dumpster or empty trashcan.
4. While we ask that you take all of your belongings with you, we ask that you not overlook the refrigerator and make sure it is completely empty. Again, we cannot be responsible for ANYTHING that is left in the home. Even if you are a multi-week guest, all food items will be disposed of in preparation for a potential power outage and spoilage.
Severe Weather FAQ’s:
When is Hurricane Season?
Atlantic Hurricane Season officially begins June 1 and ends November 30.
Does Hatteras Island get many Hurricanes?
Due to Hatteras Island’s unique location as one of the far eastern points of the lower United States, it’s position in the Atlantic makes it no stranger to storms that form off of Africa and travel up the East Coast. As global warming creates a larger threat worldwide, we have definitely seen an uptick in Hurricanes and strong storms, even in the cooler months. This is why we always recommend purchasing Travel Insurance, even outside of Hurricane Season.
Why should I pay extra for Travel Insurance?
Purchasing Travel Insurance is the only way to protect your vacation investment. For a minimal upcharge, you are protecting your vacation costs should your trip be interrupted or cancelled due to an Evacuation Order for an impending storm.
What does the Travel Insurance specifically cover?
The Travel Insurance provider is independent of Midgett Realty, and as they are not a Midgett Realty entity, we cannot answer questions regarding coverage on their behalf. To answer any and all questions regarding Travel Insurance, please call them directly at the applicable phone number below. You may also find more information at the appropriate provided link below:
STANDARD TRAVEL PROTECTION:
Play Travel Protection
Claims, Policy and Coverage questions:
• Within U.S./Canada: (833) 610-0736, More Information
• Outside U.S./Canada: (843) 494-5909,
Without Travel Insurance, do you provide refunds if we are to get evacuated due to a storm?
No, that is why we offer Travel Insurance. As per the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act (NCVRA 42A-36 “Mandatory Evacuation”), if Travel Insurance is waived (which you must decline on your signed lease if you choose not to purchase it), neither the homeowner or Midgett Realty is liable for refunds.
Will you transfer our week if we get evacuated?
Unfortunately, no. If evacuated, a Travel Insurance claim must be made so that everyone can be made whole. This protects the guest, the homeowner, and Midgett Realty from a loss of funds.
Who is responsible for calling an Evacuation Order?
Dare County. The Dare County Control Group takes all of the data at hand and decides if/when to call an evacuation. Midgett Realty does not have input or control over Evacuation Orders, nor do we receive advance knowledge of those decisions being made.
How will I know if an Evacuation Order is issued?
In the event of an Evacuation Order, we will immediately post the order on our homepage at midgettrealty.com and on our Facebook page. Additionally, we will email the leaseholder on file. If the technology is available, we will also send out a text message to the leaseholder on file. If you are coming during the time a storm is a potential threat, you can also sign up for alert notifications from Dare County.
Why are Evacuation Orders issued so early? I want to enjoy as much of my vacation as I can before the storm.
We understand and realize that is seems like an added inconvenience. During these events, officials have to consider the added traffic from the surrounding areas of Ocracoke Island as well as the northern beaches of Dare County. Ocracoke is usually evacuated first as they are only accessible by ferry and takes a considerable amount of time to evacuate. Once their Evacuation Order is issued, that also effectively closes the outbound ferry route from Hatteras, allowing folks occupying Hatteras Island only one way on and one way off of the island. As you can imagine, even with staged evacuations, with only one travel route, traffic congestion is significant at best. Additionally, road conditions often deteriorate in advance of the storm, so time is of the essence.
What is the procedure if an Evacuation Order is issued?
PRIOR TO THE STORM:
Once an Evacuation Order is issued, you have three hours to vacate the premises of your vacation rental property. During this time, you must remove ALL of your belongings just as you would during normal check-out. Do not plan on being able to come back and retrieve items that are left. Items left behind will be immediately discarded and will not be the responsibility of Midgett Realty or the homeowner. Just like at normal check-out, we ask that you perform your regular Departure Responsibilities along with a few quick tasks to help our team quickly and efficiently secure your home for the impending storm.
House Prep Instructions:
1. Make sure all windows and doors are locked.
2. Secure all deck furniture. If it is wooden and heavy, turn it over and place it against the house. If it is plastic and/or lightweight, please bring it indoors.
3. Get all of your trash out of the house and place it in the rolling black trashcan outdoors. Make sure you can close the lid. Place the black trashcan in the most protected area under the house. If you have more trash than your trashcan holds, please take it to the nearest dumpster or empty trashcan.
4. While we ask that you take all of your belongings with you, we ask that you not overlook the refrigerator and make sure it is completely empty. Again, we cannot be responsible for ANYTHING that is left in the home. Even if you are a multi-week guest, all food items will be disposed of in preparation for a potential power outage and spoilage.
DURING/AFTER THE STORM:
Check electronic channels first. We cannot stress this enough. As Dare County Emergency Management issues additional updates, we will post them on our website homepage as well as our Facebook page. It is quite possible that there will be times that we may be unable to staff our office depending on conditions. Everyone’s safety is our first priority. We understand that you want updates regarding your vacation and that you are trying to make last minute travel plans. Please, do not call to inquire about the condition of your home or the impacts of the storm. We will post updates as soon as they are available. If you are a multi-week guest, and your stay would be affected by storm damage we will contact you as soon as we are able. No news is good news! Please allow us to direct all of our efforts into getting the homes assessed and up and running as soon as possible. With limited staff after an evacuation (evacuations are usually for visitors and residents alike), we do not wish to have to commit staff to phone lines when they could be helping to get homes ready for your vacation. With the information provided on our website and the additional sites and numbers listed you should be able to answer many of the questions you have on your own.
Do I have to leave if an Evacuation Order is issued?
Yes, this is an absolute non-negotiable under the NC Vacation Rental Act law:
42A-36. Mandatory evacuations. If State or local authorities, acting pursuant to Article 1A of Chapter 166A of the General Statutes, order a mandatory evacuation of an area that includes the residential property subject to a vacation rental, the tenant under the vacation rental agreement, whether in possession of the property or not, shall comply with the evacuation order.
The decision to issue an Evacuation Order is not made lightly by Dare County. Familiar with the circumstances unique to our area, such as a fragile travel route and limited emergency services, our local government officials have decided these safety measures are imperative to everyone’s well-being if called.
Should you choose not to vacate your vacation rental property within three hours of the issuance of the Evacuation Order, you will be in breech of your signed lease agreement and will be trespassing. Should this be the case, law enforcement will be called, a citation will be issued, and you will be escorted from the property. While that may seem drastic, time is of the absolute essence when a storm is approaching.
Why do I only get three hours to vacate the property if the storm isn’t coming for a couple of days?
Once an Evacuation Order is issued, we have an “all hands on deck” policy that goes into effect. Our employees are divided into teams and immediately enter the field to close down each of our properties in preparation for the storm. Even with your help at check-out, it still takes a considerable amount of time to secure more than 500 properties, and then each of our offices for a storm. Properties are prepped in anticipation of high winds, loss of power and flooding. We then have to secure our personal property and get to safety, which in many cases means evacuating ourselves. Road conditions often deteriorate in advance of the storm, so time is of the essence.
It seems unfair that I don’t have the choice to ride out the storm in the home that I paid for.
It does, but again, hunkering down for a storm on Hatteras Island is a lot different than other areas and it is no joke. Even the most weathered islanders have had to fight for survival during strong storms, and everyone’s safety is a top priority.
There is only one way on and one way off of Hatteras Island and that travel route is extremely fragile. There have been storms that have taken the highway, eliminating the possibility of any travel at all. Low-lying areas of the island and homes that are on the soundfront or oceanfront are also at a high risk for flooding, which frequently totals vehicles in large quantities. Should damage occur to your vacation rental property or vehicle, it’s not as simple as putting you in another property or getting a rental car.
Additionally, Emergency Services are very limited and everyone that stays during a storm must be aware that those services are largely unavailable should an emergency or accident occur. The ability to move from one location to another is often impossible during/after a storm due to flooding.
In preparation for inclement weather conditions, we often pull the power main to our properties at the direction of the Electric Cooperative in an effort to prevent a fire should water come into the home(s) among other things.
Additionally, the island often operates under temporary generator power after a storm. These temporary sources of electricity are only able to supply power to essential businesses and residential homes, and sometimes even that must happen in shifts. Depending on the severity of the storm, we could also be completely without power for several days. This can make food sources and grocery stores unavailable for longer than just the duration of the storm.
