Camps, parks close; shelters open for Arthur

Here is a list of places that are closed because of Hurricane Arthur, which is expected to impact the North Carolina coast Thursday and Friday:

Posted 3:48 p.m. Jul 3, 2014 — Updated 1:11 p.m. Jul 16, 2018

Campgrounds are closed at Carolina Beach, Hammocks Beach, Goose Creek and Pettigrew state parks this weekend as the Outer Banks recovers from Hurricane Arthur. Visitors with reservations can apply for refunds through the parks’ reservations provider. Swimming was suspended at Hammocks Beach and Fort Fisher because of the danger of rip currents.

The YMCA closed camps Sea Gull and Seafarer in Arapahoe and moved the campers and staff to Wake County, a spokeswoman said. Jennifer Nelson, of the YMCA, said organizers hoped they'd be able to return to the coast Friday afternoon.

Camp Don Lee, also in Arapahoe, planned to allow campers to ride out the storm. Director Rev. John A. Farmer wrote on his blog, "We have over 60 well-trained and highly motivated staff to help with 186 campers. We are planning a camp-wide dance early this evening and then we will separate groups into a 'hurricane slumber party.' ... "I am going to be here, and I am going to care for each child as if they were mine."

Shelters open to house evacuees

The Red Cross is operating shelters away from the North Carolina coast for residents and tourists who must leave coastal areas as Hurricane Arthur approaches.

The following shelters allow pets:

Burgaw Middle School, 500 S. Wright St.
Jacksonville Commons Middle School, 315 S. Commons Drive
Newport Middle School, 500 E Chatham St.

Other shelters are available at:

Swansboro High School, 161 Queens Creek Road
Dixon Middle School, 200 Dixon School Road in Holly Ridge
Northside High School, 7868 Free Union Church Road in Pinetown
Southside High School, 5700 N. NC Highway 33 in Chocowinity
Bend D. Quinn Elementary School, 4373 Highway 17 South in New Bern
Vanceboro Farmlife School, 2000 Farmlife Road
Havelock High School, 101 Webb Blvd.
Brinson Memorial Elementary, 319 Neuse Forest Ave. in New Bern
Pamlico County-Pamlico County Community College, 5049 Highway 306 South in Grantsboro

Residents should bring pillows, blankets, water, food, medication and chargers for electronic devices. Where shelters allow pets, owners are asked to bring restraints, pet food and material for pet waste cleanup.

A number of other places along the coast closed and some events were canceled in anticipation of Hurricane Arthur's impact:

New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington declared a State of Emergency effective 10 a.m. Thursday.

Carolina Beach closed access to Freeman Park at 2 p.m. Thursday.

The North Carolina ferry system shut down the Ocracoke-Hatteras route at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The naturalization ceremony scheduled to mark the Fourth of July in Southport has been canceled.

The Port of Morehead City is closed to all traffic until further notice.

Fourth of July events postponed along the coast

North Carolina Coastal Reserve Sites closed from noon Thursday through noon Friday:

Currituck Banks reserve near Corolla
Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve in Kitty Hawk
Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve in Columbia
Buxton Woods Reserve on Hatteras Island
Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort

State parks along the coast, including Carolina Beach, Fort Macon, Hammocks Beach, Goose Creek, Jockey’s Ridge and Pettigrew were closed at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area closed at 2 p.m.

Curfews start at 11 p.m. Thursday until canceled for the following locations: