To know the areas with the greatest meteorological risk In North Carolina, the state has a disaster evacuation system called Know Your Zone. This is a website that displays evacuation zones, the areas most at risk from hurricanes, tropical storms, and other damage.
The program has a research tool which allows you to enter your address and check the evacuation zones near your home.
This is an interactive, color-coded map that you can use to determine the evacuation zone where you live, work, or visit based on your mailing address.
What are the evacuation zones in North Carolina?
Evacuation zones highlight the areas at greatest risk of flooding and storm surges. Local officials will determine which areas should be evacuated. Areas in Zone A will generally be evacuated first, followed by areas in Zone B, then Zone C, and so on.
While not all areas will be evacuated in all cases, emergency managers will work with local media and use other means to disclose and notify residents and visitors about the impacted areas and evacuation instructions.
Knowing your area and when to evacuate can ultimately save your family's lives.
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Which counties have evacuation zones in North Carolina?
Twenty counties in eastern North Carolina, at risk of storm surge or river flooding, have predetermined evacuation zones.
These are Beaufort, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquo Camden, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell and Washington counties.
How do I find my evacuation zone?
To know your evacuation zone you must enter the Learn Your Zone interactive map. Once you've entered the map, you can type your address into the search bar in the top left corner.
After entering your address, a box will appear with details of your evacuation zone. You can also click on the desired area of the map to see if it's an evacuation zone or not.
The red areas of the map belong to Zone A, the yellow areas to Zone B, the purple areas to Zone C, the green areas to Zone D, and the blue areas to Zone E. This is the order of risk in each area, which will also be taken into account when prioritizing evacuation. However, it's important to keep in mind that all colored areas pose risks.
What is an evacuation?
According to the National Response Plan, an evacuation is an organized, gradual, and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or transfer of civilians from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas. It includes their reception and care in safe areasInitiating a mass evacuation can be one step in a comprehensive emergency response to a major disaster.
Evacuations can take many forms:
Spontaneous EvacuationResidents or citizens in threatened areas observe an emergency event or receive unofficial information about a real or perceived threat and, without instructions to do so, choose to evacuate the area. Their movement, means, and direction of travel are not organized or supervised.
Voluntary EvacuationThis is a warning to people within a designated area that a threat to life and property exists or is likely to exist in the immediate future. Those issuing such a warning or order are not required to evacuate; however, it would be advantageous to do so.
Mandatory or directed evacuationThis is a warning to people within the designated area that there is an imminent threat to life and property and that they should evacuate in accordance with the instructions of local officials.
shelter in place
Depending on the nature and timing of a disaster, emergency managers may advise people whether it is safer to evacuate or shelter in place.
In some cases, it is safer for people to quickly seek shelter indoors—in homes, schools, businesses, or public buildings—than to attempt to travel.
On the other hand, Know Your Area It also provides information on available resources that are updated during emergency situations. At these times, such as during a hurricane, you can find available shelters and the specifications and requirements for accessing each one.
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Sources for this article:
- North Carolina Evacuation System Know Your Area
- North Carolina Department of Public Safety
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