Emergency declaration issued for Swan Beach flooding

By on July 26, 2018

Several feet of water cover some of the sand roads in Carova. (Don Hufnagle)

Currituck County has declared a State of Emergency for the Swan Beach subdivision in the four-wheel drive area north of Corolla as a first step to address flooding issues from the heavy rains of the past week.

County Public Information Officer Randall Edwards said the declaration authorizes county staff to begin the emergency pumping of floodwaters from some of the sand roads in the neighborhood that have become impassible.

They will be pumped clear of storm water to allow for safe passage of emergency vehicles, Edwards said.

Some residents say officials have not been doing enough to address the chronic flooding of neighborhoods in the four-wheel drive area, and that it has become a constant public safety issue.

“If this was Moyock, they’d already have been pumping,” said Carova Beach resident Don Hufnagle on Wednesday. He has been a vocal critic of how Currituck County government manages the Outer Banks portion.

Federal and state environmental regulations have limited the amount of maintenance that can be done to the sand roads, many of which are privately-maintained, and restricted when and where flood waters can be pumped.

Details about what streets and when the pumping will start were not immediately available.

See what people are saying:

  • El Rico

    Water on some roads making It impassible,come on folks that’s the whole reason people like this area the siclution.what about bad stormy weather in the Atlantic Ocean where waves are right up agains the dune line same sanarrio,should the county pump the Atlantic Ocean away? Quit whining and go to vacationing.

    Thursday, Aug 2 @ 6:50 am