The Village strongly encourages following evacuation orders as they are issued. However, if you choose to remain on Bald Head Island despite a mandatory evacuation, we need to hear from you. Please contact Public Safety at 910-457-5252 or public.information@villagebhi.org by email with your name, address, and phone number.

Several factors are considered when issuing an evacuation order.  Among those are the protection of life, health, and safety.  When the Village loses electricity the sewer system is impacted.  The sewer system cannot handle a large number of people on the system during a long-term power outage.  Loss of sewer can become a serious public health issue.

If you chose to stay on the island do the following:

• Listen for current emergency information and instructions (please obey curfews).
• Make sure you have water.  You should already have drinking water in your emergency kit.  You will need water for sanitation purposes, so fill up your bathtub(s) and containers so you have water on hand for the loss of utilities.
• Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters. Floodwater may be contaminated and 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock you down.
• Use a generator or other gas-powered machinery outdoors ONLY and away from windows.
• If trapped in a building by flooding, go to the highest level of the building. DO NOT climb into a closed attic.
• Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.  Implement your communication plan, if you do not have one and you have a cell phone, establish a text group so that you can quickly and easily send messages to multiple loved ones at one time.  Texts tend to work more reliably during storms than voice calls.

If you were unable to evacuate, and strong winds have arrived, go to the safest place in your home.  This is ideally a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.   If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:

• Close all interior doors-secure and brace external doors.
• Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm – winds will pick up again.
• Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
• Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.