August 20, 2021

Briefing from the National Weather Service

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to bring heavy rainfall today with the potential for localized flooding of low lying areas. If you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around, don't drown.

Download Dare County's Hurricane Guide

Town Efforts Result in Flood Insurance Policy Discounts

The Town participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Community Rating System (CRS), which is a voluntary incentive program that encourages community floodplain management practices and promotes reduced flood risk and damage to properties. 

Planning Director Meredith Guns noted the Town’s first FEMA Flood maps were issued and adopted in 1973. If a property is located in a special flood hazard area and has a mortgage, property owners are required to maintain national flood insurance. To assist citizens with this financial burden, the Town of Kill Devil Hills joined the CRS in 1990. CRS communities can be rewarded for doing more than simply regulating construction of new building to the minimum national standards. CRS criteria are based on community effort to reduce flood risk to buildings, manage development, protect new buildings beyond minimum NFIP protection level, preserve and / or restore natural functions of floodplains, help insurance agents obtain flood data and help obtain flood insurance.   

Ms. Guns stated the CRS recognizes and encourages community and state activities that go beyond the NFIP minimum requirements. The program rewards communities with the use of flood insurance premium discounts. Kill Devil Hills has been a Class 6 community for the past 10 years. 

This year, the Town has undergone its three-year cycle visit and because of the Town’s efforts to protect property and reduce risk from flooding, Kill Devil Hills has been rated a Class 5 community. As a result, all our citizens will receive a 25% discount on flood insurance premiums for NFIP policies, new and renewed after October 1, 2021. She noted that for preferred-rate policies outside of flood zones, there is an expected savings of 10%. This is the tangible result of the flood mitigation activities the Town of Kill Devil Hills implements to protect lives and reduce property damage. Ms. Guns stressed the importance of all property owners maintaining their flood insurance coverage.  

COVID-19 Update from Dare County
Department of Health and Human Services

Dare County is continuing to experience widespread community transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Dare County is in the red category on the CDC’s Level of Community Transmission map. Red indicates a high level of community transmission of the virus. The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests to total COVID-19 tests in Dare County last week was 19.4%. 

All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, ages 5 and over should wear a mask when indoors in public settings. All individuals should consider wearing a mask when outside if gathering in large crowds. Individuals ages 12 and over should get vaccinated for COVID-19 to help prevent serious illness, hospitalizations and death.

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