September 18, 2003
North Carolina Update on Hurricane Isabel
The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development offers the following information to NTA members:
North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley has activated a 24-hour, bilingual emergency hotline to provide information during and after the hurricane. The hotline will provide updated weather information, highway closings, sheltering information, feeding sites, evacuation orders and will also serve as a referral line for citizens in need of help following the hurricane.
For English and Spanish-speaking citizens: 888-835-9966
For deaf and hard of hearing citizens: 877-877-1765
The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, located in Raleigh, will have current hurricane status updates daily on its Web site, visitnc.com. Additionally, its 1-800-visitnc (847-4862) phone line will provide callers with answers regarding the hurricane, hotel availability, road conditions and other information. In case of loss of phone service at the Outer Banks, calls made to the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau will automatically be received at 1-800-visitnc.
The Heartlands area of North Carolina will most likely experience some winds and rains, but all attractions and accommodations are open.
The mountains of North Carolina are 500 miles away from the coast and are not affected by the current predicted path of the storm. All attractions and accommodations in the mountains of North Carolina are operating on a normal schedule.
Weather conditions have prompted state transportation and Amtrak officials to cancel all passenger trains Thursday that provide service in North Carolina. No decisions have been made about train services for Friday. Customers with questions regarding train schedules and tickets should call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245).
