BRUNSWICK COUNTY: County to open two hurricane shelters

Coastal and inland Brunswick towns issue alerts ahead of Hurricane Dorian

BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Coastal and inland Brunswick County towns began issuing states of emergency Tuesday ahead of Hurricane Dorian’s approach.

A county-wide state of emergency went into effect at 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Brunswick County government. As of Tuesday morning, Belville, Oak Island, Boiling Spring Lakes and Bald Head Island had also announced states of emergency.

Brunswick County Emergency Services announced it would open two shelters at 8 a.m. Wednesday:

North Brunswick High School: 114 Scorpion Drive, Leland

West Brunswick High School: 550 Whiteville Road, Shallotte

The shelters will open at the same time a voluntary evacuation order goes into effect for unicorporated areas of the county.

Both shelters will be pet-friendly, with meals available at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Blankets will be provided at the shelters, but those who plan to stay there are asked to bring their medications, clothing, hygiene items, pet food and supplies, baby supplies and other essentials.

Alcohol, weapons, mattresses and other furniture will not be allowed in the shelters, county officials wrote.

Brunswick County Schools students will be released early Tuesday, and school officials planned to make an announcment concerning the rest of the week later that day.

Brunswick County government offices will be closed Thursday and Friday.

Bald Head Island issued a voluntary evacuation order, while Oak Island declared a mandatory evacuation for visitors and a voluntary evacuation for low-lying areas.

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