The fire department will begin testing hydrants in Corolla on April 19, 2024. Fire hydrant flushing is necessary to ensure that adequate flow and pressure is available and removes sediment from the distribution pipes to maintain water clarity and quality.
Below are some Q & A’s regarding this process:
How does hydrant flushing work?
Running hydrants will increase water flow through the system. This increase in flow stirs up any minerals and deposits in the pipes and clears them out.
When does hydrant flushing occur?
Currituck County performs fire hydrant flushing as part of its regular, annual distribution optimization program to ensure the best water quality for customers. Flushing also occurs to clear out pipes after water main repairs.
Can I still use water during the flushing process?
Flushing will not interrupt your water service; however, it is common to see a drop in water pressure while crews are doing work in your area. If pressure seems low after flushing is finished, check your faucet for trapped particles.
Is my water safe to drink after hydrants have been flushed in my area?
Water can become discolored after flushing; however, it is safe to drink. If this happens, run your cold water tap for a few minutes until the water is clear. If it is not clear the first time, wait a few minutes and repeat this process. Avoid washing clothes until the water clears. If your laundry does become stained, do not put it in the dryer. Rewash clothes with detergent and a rust removing agent. Rust remover can also remove stained fixtures.
What if discoloration persists after flushing?
Discoloration may linger for a few hours. Discoloration only affects the appearance of the water, but does not affect water quality. There are no health concerns associated with discolored water from hydrant flushing. If you have any concerns; however, Currituck County will test your water for free. Please call the Southern Outer Banks Water Department at 252-453-2620 or email Cody.edwards@currituckcountync.gov between 7:30 am and 4 pm, Monday – Friday.
Currituck County will host 5K and 10K races, along with a children’s Fun Run, on Saturday, October 5 at the Currituck Regional Airport. The “Race on the Runway” includes running on the airport’s taxiway and service roads. All proceeds from the races will benefit a local group that works with abused or trafficked children.
Registration for “Race on the Runway” is available online at www.tarmac10k.com.
After running, stay to have fun at “Planes & Plows” which is hosted by the Currituck Regional Airport and the Currituck County Center of NC Cooperative Extension. More information on this special event will be available soon!
Grants are available from the Currituck County Tourism Development Authority for community groups, non-profit organizations, and local tourism-related businesses. These Event Grants assist local groups who plan events to attract visitors to Currituck County. Grants of up to $20,000 are available for individual organizations and businesses.
Event Marketing assistance grants are also available. Funding levels for these grants are based on the size of the event.
Local organizations and businesses can find complete information and applications for grants on the Tourism website. The deadline for submitting applications is April 15, 2024.
The Currituck County Tourism Advisory Board will hold a special meeting on April 22 in the Historic Courthouse conference room, at 5:00 pm, to allow Event Grant applicants to present their grant requests. For more information, contact the Tourism Department at 252-435-2947.
Currituck County is working with Dare County and other partners to update the Outer Banks Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2024. This plan helps local communities stay prepared for various types of emergencies and ensures all jurisdictions in the Outer Banks remain eligible for federal disaster assistance funding. It also provides an opportunity to identify hazard risks, understand vulnerability, and develop ways to proactively mitigate risk.
Joining Currituck and Dare counties in this effort are the towns of Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Manteo, Nags Head, and Southern Shores. The project group also receives input from local businesses and citizens, as well as the North Carolina Department of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Citizens are invited to attend two public meetings currently scheduled to learn about the plan and provide input on hazards, risks, and mitigation opportunities. These meetings are as follows:
April 22 at 5:00 pm, at the Dare County Emergency Operations Center, 570 Airport Road, Manteo, NC, 27954
April 23 at 5:30 pm, at the Public Safety Center, 125 College Way, Barco, NC, 27917
The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced that it will conduct a safety analysis of Highway 168 in Moyock. The study area will encompass a five mile stretch from the North Carolina/Virginia border to the railroad crossing on Hwy. 168 south of Moyock. NCDOT hopes to identify possible safety improvements to the highway such as increased shoulder widths, traffic signal improvements, and pedestrian accommodations.
The Currituck County Planning & Inspections Department seeks public input as part of its process to update the county’s Stormwater Manual and Ordinance. Staff will receive comments and suggestions from citizens through an online survey.
Please use the QR code to access the survey. The survey will be available through April 30, 2024.
The current Stormwater Manual can be accessed online here. For more information, contact the Planning Department at 252-232-3055.
Results for the March 5, 2024 North Carolina Primary Election are provided online by the NC State Board of Elections. The election results dashboard shows the results for all races including local, state, and federal contests.
Users can search results by county, contest, or office. Anyone with questions about local results may contact the Currituck County Board of Elections at 252-232-2525.
The North Carolina Department of Insurance denied the proposed insurance rate increase made by the North Carolina Rate Bureau. A hearing on this issue has been scheduled for October 7, 2024. Read the news release from the NCDOI here.
January 24, 2024
The Currituck County Board of Commissioners encourages all local property owners to submit public comments to the state government in opposition to a proposed rate increase to homeowners insurance.
The North Carolina Rate Bureau has filed a request with the North Carolina Department of Insurance for a statewide average increase of 42.2 percent to homeowners insurance rates. The Currituck County Board of Commissioners strongly opposes these proposed rate increases, which would have a significant financial impact on citizens, and has sent an official letter to Mike Causey, NC Commissioner of Insurance, explaining the Board’s stance.
For Currituck County, if the request is approved, homeowners insurance rates would increase by 45.1 percent for properties located in beach communities (Territory 110) and by 33.9 percent for properties located in inland areas (Territory 130).
For example: Based on an insurance coverage of $200,000, the rate increase would be $4,220 for a property in the beach area and $1,775 for an inland property.
Submit public comments to the North Carolina Department of Insurance:
Public comments may be mailed to: Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III, 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1201. Comments submitted by mail must be received by February 2, 2024.
The complete 2024 Homeowners Rate Filing by the NC Rate Bureau can be accessed here.
A Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grant is funding a project to provide broadband Internet access to 2,430 homes and businesses in Currituck County.
Brightspeed is utilizing a $4 Million GREAT grant from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s Broadband Infrastructure Office to connect 2,314 households and 116 businesses in Currituck County to broadband service. These locations can be viewed in the online map at https://www.nconemap.gov/pages/broadband.
The grant agreement requires that construction begin by April 2024, with 10% of locations completed by October 2024 and 100% of locations completed by April 2025.
The GREAT program, established in 2018, aims to provide broadband access to unserved areas in North Carolina. The Currituck County project was included in a round of grants announced in August 2022 and required a $2.3 Million match, paid by Brightspeed. The project does not require any funding from Currituck County.
Brightspeed has quarterly reporting requirements on its progress to the NC Department of Information Technology. In its most recent update on Dec. 31, 2023, Brightspeed reported that 48% of the project’s network engineering and design work has been completed.
Currituck County’s Moyock Welcome Center and Corolla Visitor Center, on Friday, January 19, 2024, received the NC Coast Host Tourism Impact Award for the Northern Coast at the organization’s annual meeting hosted by Elizabethtown/White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery, Elizabethtown, NC. The Tourism Impact Award recognizes organizations, groups and individuals that have made a significant contribution to tourism in North Carolina and its visitor economy.
NC Coast Host is a membership organization that represents the counties, towns, attractions and lodging east of I-95. The organization provides members with visibility through marketing on the website, www.coasthost-nc.com, coop advertising, networking and sharing of best practices.
Accepting the award is Nancy Garris (center left), visitor relations specialist at the Corolla Visitor Center, and Robert Smith (center right), visitor centers supervisor.
