4th of July Fun - No Fireworks Needed!
While the 4th of July will look different on the Outer Banks this year with professional fireworks shows cancelled or rescheduled due to COVID-19, families can still enjoy their traditions and celebrations in a re-imagined way.
There are still numerous ways in which you can celebrate the 4th of July that are without fireworks:

Proudly wear your red, white, and blue, and go all out!
Fly the American flag and decorate your home.
Seeking some more stimulation for the kids? Stock up on bubbles, glow sticks, or glow wands.
On a clear night, throw a blanket down on the beach and look for shooting stars in the sky.
Summertime is synonymous with barbecues and seafood boils. Spend the day outside, on the beach or water, eating your favorite barbecue classics, or throwing a fresh catch reeled in from the local waters on the grill. Gather around a table with the family and dig into a low country seafood boil, with crabs, shrimp, potatoes and corn.
Plan a relay race or a watermelon seed spitting competition.
Have a 4th of July dessert contest! Every member of the family teams up or individually creates a delicious festive 4th of July treat. Everyone gets to taste the desserts and give a score of 1 to 10 for theme, taste, and presentation! Winners get bragging rights for next year! Start the judging early so people can enjoy the treats all day long.

Even though things will be different this year, the celebration of our great country will endure.

Consumer Fireworks Safety
There are many inherent dangers with fireworks. The National Fire Protection Association reports that fireworks caused an estimated 19,500 fires in 2018, including 1,900 structure fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 17,100 outside and other fires. These fires caused $105 million in direct property damage. These devices also cause nearly 9,100 injuries each year.
If you do decide to use legal consumer fireworks in an area where allowed, here are a few tips to keep you safe:

Don't allow children to play with or light the devices.
Light only one device at a time and quickly move away to enjoy the show.
Never place any part of your body overtop the device.
Have a bucket of water or water hose readily available where you are lighting the fireworks in case a fire starts.
Do not attempt to relight a device that does not ignite and properly fire.
Thoroughly soak the device prior to disposing.

Historic Landmarks Commission Meeting Notice

The Kill Devil Hills Historic Landmarks Commission will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 in the meeting room at 102 Town Hall Drive, Kill Devil Hills, off Colington Road. In order to maintain the safety of Town residents, Staff, and Historic Landmarks Commission members, limited public seating observing social distancing guidelines will be available during the meeting in the meeting room.

View meeting agenda: https://www.kdhnc.com/DocumentCenter/View/12464

KDH Capital Projects Update

See the latest Capital Projects Update from the Town of Kill Devil Hills.

Beach Safety

Swimming in the ocean is not the same as swimming in a pool or lake. Wind, waves, the change of the tide, the slope of the beach, an other factors can cause strong currents to be present in the water even on the calmest days. Ocean conditions can change from day to day and hour to hour. Before going in the water, spend a few moments watching the waves. Wave patterns are a good indicator of the presence of currents and of places where deep water and other "surprises" are located.

Some clues that a rip current may be present:
• A channel of churning, choppy water
• A difference in water color
• A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving seaward
• A break in the incoming wave pattern

If you are caught in a rip current:
• Stay calm and don’t fight the current.
• Escape the current by swimming in a direction following the shoreline. When free of the current, swim at an angle away from the current and toward shore.
• If you are unable to escape by swimming, float or tread water. When the current weakens, swim at an angle away from the current toward the shore.
• If at any time you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, yell and wave for help.

When in doubt, don’t go out. ALWAYS check with a lifeguard for beach conditions and answers to your beach questions. A list of KDH beach accesses with lifeguards stands can be found here: https://bit.ly/31iEJsA

Take extra precautions by signing up to receive beach related alerts by texting "Join OBXBEACHCONDITIONS" to 30890. Once you no longer need updates, simply text "STOP" to 30890.

Thank you for wearing a mask, waiting 6 feet apart, and washing your hands

(There may be medical and justifiable reasons individuals are not wearing a mask or cloth face-covering in public. Please be kind, show compassion, and wear your mask to protect those can’t.)