Re-Entry Plan into the Town of Wrightsville Beach

September 15, 2018

Town of Wrightsville Beach
Press Release

Beginning on Saturday, September 15th, Town Staff will begin assessing the Town’s infrastructure and facilities and bringing them back on-line barring any major issues. This full scale re-entry operation takes time and hard work by all those involved. All personnel are working as quickly and safely to accomplish these tasks in a timely manner.

The Town is also in contact with Duke Energy, Spectrum and AT&T regarding their damage assessment measures and restoration of their infrastructure.

All water, sewer, roads, and utilities must be assessed and restored in some capacity to help insure that there are no injuries, deaths or other significant issues that arise as a result of allowing citizens and businesses back to the island. Staff fully recognizes that residents and businesses wish to get back to their properties and assess their own potential damage and ultimately get back to normal operation.

Following today’s assessment, staff can more accurately project a re-entry date and time in which residents and business owners can return. Re-entry must be made during daylight hours. The re-entry date and time will be communicated through the Police Department Facebook page, the Town’s Facebook page, the Town’s website, the Town’s email contact list, and local media outlets. It is projected that this re-entry could be early next week or sooner if at all possible. As stated, an announcement about re-entry will be made soon following today’s assessment of Town infrastructure and following information from other utility carries regarding their infrastructure.

When Re-entry is announced, the following groups will be allowed back on the island first:
· Only residents that have a tax decal (re-entry decal) posted on their windshield or proof of residency (tax bill, water bill, etc.) and a photo ID will be able to return. Residents, at some point early in the re-entry process, will be allowed to meet their contractors at the bridge and escort them to their property and off the island following any work done at their residence or business. This will not be immediately after re-entry. This activity will be allowed following further notification by the Town.
· Business owners will be allowed back but they will need to have a commercial pass to re-enter. The Town will also allow the press to enter the Town but only with press credentials. Finally, the Town will allow those that have a caretaker pass to enter at the same time.

Based on the situation, contractors will be able to enter approximately 12 to 24 hours later. The general public will also be notified when re-entry will occur at some point following the previously listed groups. If conditions permit, both of these groups may be able return at the same time.

Please be respectful of private property and the work that town’s staff, residents and businesses need to do to recover. Please be respectful to law enforcement that must insure that only those that need to return do so. Thank you for your patience.

If you have any other questions, please contact (910)524-0092