Carteret County Emergency Services

06/03/2026

Congratulations to Assistant Fire Marshal Brandon Doshier on earning his North Carolina Certified State Fire Investigator certification from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. This certification requires years of fire service experience, specialized training, documented fire investigations, and successful completion of a written examination. We are proud of Brandon's accomplishment and grateful to have him serving Carteret County.

06/01/2026

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Now is the time to prepare before a storm is approaching.

Hurricane Preparedness Tips:

Review your family emergency plan.

Know your evacuation route and destination.

Build or refresh your disaster supply kit.

Sign up for local emergency alerts and warnings.

Check insurance coverage and document property.

Prepare for power outages by charging devices and having backup power options.

Trim trees and secure outdoor items around your home.

Refill prescriptions and stock essential medications.

Keep important documents in a waterproof container.

Preparation today can make all the difference tomorrow. Stay informed, stay prepared, and stay safe throughout hurricane season.

05/29/2026

NEWS RELEASE: Carteret County Residents Encouraged to Attend Hurricane Preparedness Expo

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (May 14, 2026) – With hurricane season approaching, Carteret County Emergency Services is encouraging residents to make plans and gather information ahead of potential storms by attending the annual Hurricane Preparedness Expo on Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell St., Morehead City.

The free, family-friendly event offers residents a one-stop resource for storm preparation. Attendees can learn from local, state and federal experts about what to expect during the 2026 hurricane season and how to better prepare their homes, businesses and families.

The expo will feature presentations from meteorologists, emergency managers, county staff and community organizations, including the Salvation Army and local volunteer groups. Representatives from North Carolina Emergency Management, Carteret County departments and other organizations will also be available throughout the event to answer questions and provide preparedness resources.

The expo will also include:
• Hurricane season outlook from the National Weather Service
• Evacuation zone look-ups
• Special Needs Assistance Program registration
• Expert presentations, including "Preparedness for Hurricane Season 2026" by Erik Heden, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the US National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC Forecast Office. Informative presentations will begin at 9:30 a.m.

A limited number of vendor spots remain available for businesses and nonprofits that provide storm-related services, supplies and resources. Organizations interested in connecting with residents and supporting community preparedness are encouraged to apply. To reserve a vendor space or learn more about the event, visit www.carteretcountync.gov.

The event is co-organized by Carteret County Emergency Services, Carteret County Government and the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Newport/Morehead City. For more information, contact Carteret County Emergency Services at 252-222-5841.

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05/29/2026

05/27/2026

Carteret County Emergency Services and other department leaders within Carteret County Government participated in a “Ready Carteret” tabletop training exercise designed to navigate the days leading up to and during a significant mock hurricane event.
Throughout the exercise, each department was challenged to prepare for and respond to evolving scenarios and injects that could change at any moment, testing coordination, communication, decision-making, and emergency response capabilities across county operations.

05/04/2026

NEWS RELEASE: Carteret County to Host Interactive Post-Disaster Simulation to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness

CARTERET COUNTY, NC (April 27, 2026) – Carteret County Emergency Services, in partnership with Trillium Health Resources, will host an interactive, hands-on post-disaster simulation on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The event is designed to help improve emergency response and recovery planning by showing the real-life challenges people may face after a disaster.

Participants will step into assigned roles and work through short 15-minute scenarios that reflect common recovery challenges, including securing supplies, filing insurance claims, and accessing medical care or other essential services.

Carteret County is seeking participants from communities across the county to ensure a wide range of perspectives are included. Information gathered from the exercise will help improve emergency planning and support services for residents in future disasters.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. to noon
Location: Maranatha Pentecostal Holiness Church, 130 Airport Road, Beaufort, NC
Registration: https://registration.socio.events/e/carteretcopds

Space is limited, and residents are encouraged to register early.

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05/03/2026

NEWS RELEASE: Plan Ahead Now to Stay Safe This Hurricane Season

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (May 3, 2026) – The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1, and Carteret County Emergency Management is encouraging residents to take time during National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3 – 9) to prepare now.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), North Carolina Emergency Management and Carteret County, hurricanes can bring storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, damaging winds, tornadoes and dangerous rip currents. Carteret County, as a coastal community, is especially vulnerable to these impacts.

Emergency Management urges residents to prepare early and understand their individual risk.

Know your risk, know your zone and know your home:
• Know your evacuation zone and flood risk
• Understand your home’s ability to withstand wind, storm surge and heavy rain
• Keep vehicles fueled and be ready to evacuate when directed
• Follow evacuation orders from local officials without delay
• If you are not in an evacuation zone, you may be able to shelter in place safely

Prepare before hurricane season:
• Develop a family emergency plan
• Build an emergency supply kit with at least seven days of food and water
• Maintain a two-week supply of necessary medications
• Include supplies for pets and household needs
• Sign up for local emergency alerts and weather notifications

Understand weather alerts and forecasts:
• Use multiple ways to receive warnings, including phone alerts, television and NOAA Weather Radio
• Know the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning
• Focus on expected impacts such as flooding, storm surge and wind, not just storm track or category

Stay safe during a storm:
• If sheltering in place, stay in a small, interior room away from windows
• Do not go outside until officials say it is safe
• Follow all guidance from Emergency Management

After the storm:
• Avoid flooded roads and standing water
• Stay away from downed power lines
• Use generators safely
• Use caution when clearing debris and fallen trees

Emergency Management emphasizes that the hurricane category does not reflect all risks. Even lower-category storms and tropical systems can produce life-threatening flooding, wind damage and extended power outages along the coast.

Residents with medical or functional needs are encouraged to register for the Carteret County Medically Fragile Registry to support emergency planning and response.

This hurricane season, stay safe with Carteret County. Connect with the County on official social media channels, sign up for Carteret County CodeRed, the County's emergency alert system, and regularly visit the Carteret County Hurricane Preparedness page for everything you need to prepare for disasters, monitor real-time updates during emergencies, and find recovery resources after the threat passes.

UPCOMING HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS EVENTS

Carteret County will host several public events to help residents prepare for the upcoming season:

Post-Disaster Simulation
Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Maranatha Pentecostal Holiness Church
130 Airport Road, Beaufort
Interactive exercise focused on disaster recovery and response challenges
Registration: https://registration.socio.events/e/carteretcopds

Storm Night Community Roundtable
Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 4 p.m.
Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center
1785 Island Road, Harkers Island
Community discussion on storm preparedness, response, and lessons learned
Website: https://www.coresound.com/events/stormnight26

Hurricane Preparedness Expo
Saturday, May 30, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Crystal Coast Civic Center
3505 Arendell Street, Morehead City
Free public event with local, state, and federal partners providing preparedness resources

Additional information on severe weather and hurricane preparedness can be found at www.carteretcountync.gov/138/Emergency-Services or www.ReadyNC.gov.

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