NORFOLK, Va. — UPDATE: Tuesday morning, officials announced that the state of emergency had been lifted. Chincoteague Emergency Management said the voluntary evacuation had been canceled as of Monday evening. The shelter at Arcadia High School closed at 5 p.m. Monday.
Chincoteague Emergency Management declared a state of emergency for the town in preparation for the impending nor'easter, the town said.
The town is issuing a voluntary evacuation for all of Chincoteague and strongly recommending that those in the Bunker Hill area and the Ocean Breeze Community evacuate.
The town noted that no shelter was open Sunday, and the first shelter to open will be at Arcadia High School on Monday at 8 a.m.
The town said impacts from the storm are expected to begin Sunday and worsen through Monday.
Those impacts will include: wind gusts to 50 mph, periods of heavy rain, and significant tidal flooding.
Major flooding is expected Monday afternoon.
The National Weather Service had multiple warnings and advisories in effect for Chincoteague as of Sunday afternoon.
Current warnings for Chincoteague include:
- Wind Advisory in effect from October 2, 07:00 PM EDT until October 3, 08:00 PM EDT
- Hazardous Weather Outlook
- Beach Hazards Statement until October 3, 08:00 PM EDT
- Coastal Flood Warning in effect from October 3, 12:00 AM EDT until October 4, 06:00 PM EDT
- High Surf Advisory in effect from October 3, 12:00 AM EDT until October 4, 06:00 AM EDT
- Coastal Flood Warning in effect from October 2, 12:00 PM EDT until October 3, 08:00 PM EDT
- Wind Advisory until October 3, 08:00 PM EDT
The town said VDOT is monitoring the causeway and will notify the Town approximately one hour prior to any closing, then the Town will notify citizens via the Code Red system and other media outlets.
The town said people should rush to prepare with enough fuel, food and water to last 3-5 days.
