For the fourth year, volunteers are spending their days on Shackleford Banks and Rachel Carson Reserve in an effort to guide visitors on safely observing Carteret County’s wild horses.
public safety
BoatUS Foundation offers free, online boating safety course
An online boating safety course available at no charge through BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has been approved by the state.
Lejeune officials remind public, Browns Island is off-limits
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune officials recently issued a potentially lifesaving reminder that Browns Island in Onslow County remains strictly off-limits due to ongoing live-fire training exercises and the presence of dangerous unexploded ordnance.
Wildlife Resources, Highway Patrol urge safe holiday boating
Though the number of boating incidents reported in North Carolina is down slightly this year, compared to 2025, boating fatalities have increased.
Carteret hurricane preparedness expo scheduled for May 30
Carteret County Emergency Services, Carteret County government and the National Weather Service’s Newport/Morehead City office are offering the expo ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
NC’s PFAS crisis a warning as Congress debates chemical laws
Supporters call the changes modernization; critics warn they could weaken safeguards in the Toxic Substances Control Act, the nation’s primary chemical safety law.
Winter storm takes 4 Buxton houses, leaves inches of snow
The weekend storm that covered North Carolina with more than a foot of snow in some places caused four unoccupied Buxton houses to collapse in about 24 hours on Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches.
Meteorologists to offer two hurricane forums in September
National Weather Service forecasters are to give presentations on hurricane preparedness in Belhaven Sept. 9 and in Merrimon Sept. 13.
Hurricane Erin poses hazards despite expected offshore track
National Weather Service forecasters warned Wednesday that, although the forecast path of Hurricane Erin is well offshore, threats of rip currents, damaging beach erosion, major coastal flooding and overwash, and extremely dangerous surf remain.
Beach survey truck driver runs over 15-year-old’s legs
The young woman was evaluated on scene and later transported to Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center in Bolivia.
Oak Island restricts depth, tools used for digging on beach
After filling hundreds of large, deep holes beachgoers have left behind on the ocean shore, Oak Island officials have updated a town ordinance to tighten its “hole digging” rule.
Hurricane community forums to take place along the coast
The National Weather Service’s Morehead City office staff have scheduled community forums to take place along the coast ahead of peak hurricane season.
Fireworks displays July 2 in Ocracoke, July 4 at Avon pier
Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials encourage the public to attend the two permitted fireworks shows celebrating Independence Day and note that it is illegal to detonate or possess fireworks on all seashore beaches.
North Carolina braces for ‘another summer of record heat’
As North Carolina readies for another extremely hot summer, Gov. Josh Stein’s office warns that federal cuts could affect the state’s heat-related programs.
Officials urge Dare, Hyde beachgoers to sign up for alerts
Beachgoers to Hyde or Dare counties during the busy season can sign up for ocean and beach condition text alerts from Outer Banks lifeguards, ocean rescue agencies and the National Weather Service.
State under burn ban until further notice: NC Forest Service
Forest Service officials have issued a ban on all open burning and canceled all burning permits across the state because of the increased risk of fire.
