COVID-19 Bulletin #8 from Dare County Emergency Management

Dare County
Dare County is taking actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and offering services in alternative ways. As the situation progresses, office closures may occur, however, services will continue to be provided. For any type of service, please call the department or office before you visit to reduce the need for in-person interactions. While there may be changes to some programs and services, County staff will continue to provide essential operations for our residents and businesses. For a full listing of departments and online services, visit www.darenc.com/covidservices.

Public Works - Trash Collection and Recycling in Unincorporated Dare

Sanitation Services are running on a normal schedule. Recycle Centers are open and operating during normal hours. At this time, recycling pick up services for commercial businesses is not available.

Dare County Libraries
All library locations are closed and programs and events are cancelled. If you currently have library materials checked out, no overdue fines will be charged while the libraries are closed. Dare County Libraries offers a variety of digital offerings through the Virtual Library.

If you need assistance or are unsure how to use our online resources, please call any of the Dare County Libraries during weekday hours and a staff person will be happy to set up your account, and tell you more about our digital resources. For contact information please visit darenc.com/library.

Health and Human Services

• Food and Nutrition Benefits Recertifications
  Food and Nutrition Services will automatically extend eligibility for March and April Food benefits for families whose cases are due a review for continued eligibility.  If you have questions please call 252.475.5500. If you wish to apply for Food and Nutrition Services you may do so online at Epass.nc.gov.

• Clinical Services
  Northern Beach Offices will be closed for clinical services beginning Friday, March 20, 2020.  Limited clinical services will be available in Manteo and Frisco. For clinical services, please call 252.475.5003 for Manteo or 252.475.9320 for Frisco.

• Environmental Health Services
  Environmental Health will be conducting all future business over the phone or electronically until further notice. Applications and plans can be left in a drop box located to the right of the main entrance. In person inspections must be scheduled ahead of time, and will be on a case by case basis. Please call 252.475.5080 or email laurag@darenc.com 

• Emergency Economic Services
  We have temporarily changed some of our procedures to ensure your health and wellness as well as that of our staff.  At this time, please call before coming into the office, as most needs can be resolved via email, fax and phone. If you are in need of assistance, please dial 252.475.5500 and ask to speak with an emergency intake social worker.

Parks and Recreation
All programs are cancelled and all facilities are closed. County parks remain open, but public restroom facilities are not available. Please remember to use social distancing and stay 6-10 feet away from other people. Registration for summer programs and activities is available online.

Public Services
The Dare County Center, Fessenden Center, and Thomas A. Baum Senior Center are closed. At this time, the Dare County Center and the Baum Center will continue the Senior Nutrition Program, delivering meals to homebound clients and providing drive through pickup lunches to anyone 60 years of age and over. For more information, please call 252.475.9270. 

Planning
Building or subcontractor permits can be requested by calling the Dare County Planning Department. Arrangements will be made for the issuance of the permit. 

• Mainland Dare County, Roanoke Island – 252.475.5870
• Colington/Baum Bay, Martin’s Point – 252.475.5871
• Hatteras Island – 252.475.5878

Tax Department
The mapping, assessment, land transfer, tax collections and tax listing lobbies are closed to visitors. Contact the appropriate department for inquiries. The complete list of phone numbers and email contacts can be found online at the Tax Department tab on the darenc.com/covid-service-changes page. All tax payments can be made online, at the drop boxes, or by mail. Visit www.darenc.com/departments/tax-department/pay-taxes for more information on ways to pay.

Water Department
The Dare County Water Department has suspended all in-person access to its customer service offices.
Water bills can be paid in a variety of ways: online, by phone (to a toll free number), by mail, by bank automatic payment, at billing office drive-through areas, or by at a deposit box. 

• Dare County Kill Devil Hills Office: 1.888.998.9283 or 1.252.475.5990
• Dare County Frisco Office: 1.877.613.4005 or 1.252.475.5760
• Email: water@darenc.com

The Outer Banks Hospital
The Outer Banks Hospital has implemented new visitor restrictions.  Only one immediate family member over the age of 16 and not exhibiting any symptoms of illness may visit a patient at The Outer Banks Hospital and/or Medical Group clinic.
Starting today, Tuesday March 17, The Outer Banks Hospital will begin screening patients and visitors for symptoms of illness as they enter the Medical Office Building and Main Lobby.  Patients and visitors with illness will be masked and asked to sanitize their hands prior to going to their appointment.

Surf Pediatrics and Medicine
Surf Pediatrics and Medicine will continue to see all of their patients in their practice; for both well and sick problems. 
They will see well/ non-sick patients in the Kitty Hawk office (252.255.5321).
They will see sick patients in the Kill Devil Hills office (252.449.5200).  
They do have the ability to screen and test patients for suspected COVID-19 illness.  Please continue to call them if you are a patient to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions.

PORT Health
PORT Health is open and providing services. Next week virtual counseling and groups will be offered. Please call 252.441.2324 for more information.

Town of Kill Devil Hills
Access to Town Hall offices is by appointment only. If you have business with the Town call, email, or visit our website to schedule an appointment or to gain additional assistance. 

Please refer to our website www.kdhnc.com for Department’s contact information and updates to their daily operations. 

While we miss our regular daily face-to-face interactions with the public, we have been applying precautionary measures in an effort to keep both our Staff and customers protected, as our priority is the health, safety, and well-being of everyone. 

Social distancing is one of those measures. It can help slow the spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19. 

You can practice social distancing by:
• Avoiding crowded places
• Maintaining a six-foot distance between you and others
•Telecommuting if possible
• Using virtual facetime resources
• Giving a wave and a smile instead of a handshake 

During this challenging time, it is also important to take care of your emotional health:
• Take care of your body - eat healthy & exercise.
• Check in with others.
• Take breaks. Breathe deep.
• Get information from reliable sources.
• Seek support when needed.

We are all facing this pandemic together as a community. Practice patience, provide support to your neighbor, and choose to keep smiling. The Town of Kill Devil Hills will continue to be here for its citizens, communicating information, sharing preparedness measures, and providing our usual top-notch customer service.

Town of Duck
Town Hall remains open, but we encourage you to call or email the office to ask how we may be able to assist you remotely. 
252-255-1234 
info@townofduck.com
There is no change to the trash and recycling schedule, except the addition of recycling collection on March 30.
The Public Safety building is closed to non-emergent issues, including facility tours and the T-shirt shop.
Plans for streaming the Council meeting scheduled for April 1, 2020, are being evaluated. A final decision will be communicated the week of March 23.
To find contact information for online or phone orders from Duck shops and restaurants, visit doducknc.com.

Town of Nags Head
The Town’s Capital Improvement Plan workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 9 am. The public is encouraged to listen remotely to the meeting instead of attending. A news item will be posted to the Town’s web site at nagsheadnc.gov that will direct listeners to the livestream. 

To ensure we are keeping our public safety employees healthy, we have decided to close the administrative offices for our police department and two fire stations, to the public. It is critical that our first responders remain healthy so they can continue to keep our community safe. To be clear, police and fire employees will continue to work and provide assistance. For questions or needs concerning police-related matters, call the Police Department at 252-441-6386 / 252-449-2026. For fire and rescue-related matters, call the Fire Department at 252-441-5909.  

As always, call 911 for any emergency.  Non-emergency calls can be made to Dare Central at 252-473-3444.

We are highly discouraging people from entering Nags Head’s Town Hall unless it is absolutely necessary. Please help us keep our community and our employees safe by conducting your business with the Town either via the phone or online. 

Water and tax bills can be paid via the drop box near the flag pole in front of Town Hall.
For additional assistance, please call the following departments:
Planning Department – 252-441-7016 / 252-449-2002
Building Permits – 252-449-6048
Trade permits can now be applied for and issued online. Additionally, in some cases we are able to make arrangements over the phone or by email to coordinate the submittal of building permit applications and materials, issue permits and take payments. 
If you need assistance or would like to discuss how we may be able to meet your needs remotely, please call 252-441-7016 or email planning@nagsheadnc.gov.
If you have other questions:
Receptionist – 252-441-5508
Water – 252-449-2004
Taxes – 252-449-2008
Town Manager’s Office – 252-449-2021
Town Clerk’s Office – 252-449-2009
Police Department (Non Emergency)– 252-441-6386 / 252-449-2026 
Fire Department (Non Emergency) – 252-441-5909
Public Works Department - 252-441-1122

Town of Manteo
The Town of Manteo’s highest priority is the health, safety, and welfare of community members, staff, and other stakeholders. We are working hard to maintain continuity of government while continuing to deliver critical services to the community. Please limit access to Town Hall to urgent situations only. Please call 252-473-2133 first to see if your item can be handled over the phone, online, or through other means.

Water and Sewer
Utility payments can be made online at HTTPS://WWW.PAYBILL.COM/TownOfManteo or by phone at 866-245-5285. Also, payments can be placed in the drop box on the side of Town Hall next to the parking lot, or they can be mailed to P.O. Box 246 in Manteo (27954).
Clean tap water and sanitary sewer service are important in maintaining public health. Therefore, the Town has suspended disconnection of water and sewer service during this emergency period. Please note that all utility fees will still be charged.

Sanitation
Trash and recycling collection services are continuing on their normal schedules.

Permits and Inspections
Permit applications and inspection requests can be sent via FAX to 252-473-2135, e-mailed to mdickerson@manteonc.gov, placed in the drop box on the side of Town Hall next to the parking lot, or mailed to P.O. Box 246 in Manteo (27954). Permit fees can be placed in the drop box or mailed to the post office box. If you have questions regarding your application, please call Town Hall at 252-473-2133.
Inspections are continuing, but contractors are expected to limit their presence to one or two people at most, with social distancing to be observed throughout the inspection.

Police Department
If you have an emergency, dial 911. For non-emergency situations, please call 252-473-2069 for assistance by the Manteo Police Department. Also, there is a call box located at the police department entrance, so please use this box especially if you are feeling ill or have been exposed to sickness.

Marina
In accordance with access restrictions under the Dare County emergency declaration, the Downtown Marina will prohibit visitors (from outside of Dare County) from docking or mooring at Town facilities.

Board Meetings
The Budget Retreat with the Board of Commissioners scheduled for March 27, 2020 has been postponed. The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners scheduled for April 1, 2020 will be held via telephone conference or other means in accordance with NC General Statute 143.318.13. The public will be allowed to access or listen to the meeting, and the access numbers and information will be published as soon as possible.

National Park Service
To minimize potential spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), consistent with federal, state, and local advisories, visitor centers at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial are temporarily closed, effective immediately.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore

• Off-road vehicle (ORV) permits can be purchased online at www.recreation.gov. The status of each ORV ramp and beach route can be found at http://go.nps.gov/beachaccess.
• Beachgoers should use caution in the ocean as no lifeguards are on duty at this time of year.
• The Oregon Inlet Campground, the Seashore’s only year-round campground, is closed.
• The grounds of Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, and Ocracoke Lighthouses are open.
• The Ocracoke Island roadside cleanup scheduled for March 26 is canceled.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

• The grounds of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site are open.

Wright Brothers National Memorial

• The collection of park entrance fees at Wright Brothers National Memorial is suspended until further notice.
• The grounds of Wright Brothers National Memorial are open.