Wrightsville Beach hurricane guide¶
Wrightsville Beach is an island town reached by a drawbridge, and the town's Board of Aldermen decides when to order an evacuation. Under a mandatory evacuation everyone must leave, the bridge stays down, barricades go up, and traffic onto the island stops. The town has its own police and fire departments and runs its own water and sewer system.
Checked on October 2, 2026
Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from the Town of Wrightsville Beach. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.
Official website: townofwrightsvillebeach.com
What to know in Wrightsville Beach¶
- Residents show a Wrightsville Beach vehicle tax decal at checkpoints to get back on the island after an evacuation. Buy it in person at the Pivot Parking office, 321 Causeway Drive, each year by April 1, with photo ID and a bill showing your Wrightsville Beach address. Decals are not mailed, and sales stop once a hurricane warning is issued.
- During a mandatory evacuation, emergency services may be suspended when conditions are too dangerous, and refusing to leave is a misdemeanor. After the storm, residents cannot move back in until the town says the water system is safe and the sewer works.
- After a hurricane, normal debris rules apply unless the town announces free pickup. If it does, the town will post what it will collect and when, and free pickup covers only storm debris on your own property.
Emergency and information numbers¶
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Town Hall | 910-256-7900 | Office line. Not for emergencies. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Police non-emergency | 910-452-6120 | For police matters that are not emergencies. Police station: 910-256-7945. |
| Public works | 910-256-7935 | Office line. Not for emergencies. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Wrightsville Beach CodeRED: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. The town uses it for hurricanes, flooding, bridge and road closures, and evacuations. Website.
- Wrightsville Beach Hurricane Preparation: The town's official hurricane information page. Website.
- Hurricane Event FAQs: The town's answers about evacuation orders, the drawbridge, re-entry decals, utilities, and debris. Website.
County services that cover Wrightsville Beach¶
New Hanover County manages evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts for everyone who lives in Wrightsville Beach. The New Hanover County guide has the full list of county numbers, radio stations, and recovery help.
- Look up your evacuation zone
- Official list of open evacuation centers
- ReadyNHC: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Text READYNHC to 24639, or LISTONHC to 24639 for alerts in Spanish. Use the online portal to choose alerts for your neighborhood and your language. Website.
- EmergencyNHC.com: The county's official hurricane information page. Evacuations, shelters, and safety instructions are posted here during an emergency. Website.
Related guides¶
- Should I evacuate?
- What to expect at a hurricane shelter
- Hurricane supply list
- After a hurricane: the first 24 hours
- Insurance claims and disaster aid
Sources¶
Checked on October 2, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.
- https://www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/8785/Hurricane-Event-FAQs-2024
- https://www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com/
- https://www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com/160/Police
- https://www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com/168/Public-Works
- https://www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com/544/CodeRED-Emergency-Alert-System
- https://www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com/153/Hurricane-Preparation