OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. (WECT) – The Town of Ocean Isle Beach declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, Aug. 6, due to Tropical Storm Debby.

Mayor Debbie Smith tells WECT that the town made that decision because of the possibility of life-threatening flooding.

Due to the current conditions of road ponding and heavy rainfall, Mayor Smith also issued a voluntary evacuation, meaning those who want to evacuate can and should.

The voluntary evacuation order goes into effect Wednesday at 7 a.m.

Mayor Smith says the town made this decision for the safety of those who may have never experienced a tropical storm, such as tourists.

“We did that mostly for those that aren’t familiar with the coastal rainwaters and how it affects our roads and so many of our visitors here are traveling back home, and we were concerned about their routes possibly being flooded,” said Mayor Smith.

Some businesses in the area are operating as normal, while others have closed for the next couple of days.

“If they decide to leave, they need to check those road closures. They just need to be cautious. This is a lot of rain predicted, a lot of rain,” said Mayor Smith.

For those in the area who are choosing to stay, it’s important to drive slowly, stay out of the ocean, avoid hydroplaning, and stay inside if you see lightning.

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