By Staff
Beaufort County officials declared a state of emergency at 8 p.m. Wednesday as Hurricane Earl approached the North Carolina coast.
The emergency declaration announces a voluntary evacuation from locations vulnerable to high wind, the opening of shelters and driving restrictions in effect late tonight to early Friday morning.
Shelters in Beaufort County open at 3:30 p.m. today. Northside High School and Southside High School will serve as shelters. No meals will be provided at the shelters this evening. The shelters are expected to close at 9 a.m. Friday.
Beaufort County’s public schools will close two hours earlier than usual today. They will open three hours later than usual Friday.
The county and the seven municipalities in the county — Aurora, Bath, Belhaven, Chocowinity, Pantego, Washington and Washington Park — have restricted travel to emergency circumstances only between 11 p.m. tonight and 5:30 a.m. Friday.
The fine for violating the county’s state of emergency ordinance is $100.
The state of emergency remains in effect until lifted by the chairman of the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners.