Residents, tourists evacuating Sandbridge ahead of hurricane

VIRGINIA BEACH

As Hurricane Irene edged closer to North Carolina and Virginia today, Virginia Beach City Manager Jim Spore declared a local state of emergency.

In the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach, residents and tourists were moving out ahead of a mandatory evacuation. City officials on Thursday ordered residents to evacuate beginning at noon today. Evacuations should be complete by noon Saturday.

The scene was calm at Sandbridge this afternoon.

The beach was unusually empty for a sunny summer day, with just a few people playing in the prestorm surf. Surfers and body boarders reveled in the first good waves they've had in weeks.

Swells were about waist high, with the occasional shoulder-high set, said Michael Richardson, who pulled himself from the water about 1 p.m. to finish payroll at work.

"It's just starting to get fun out there," he said. "This is the first time I've surfed since Memorial Day."

On Sandfiddler Road, most rentals appeared empty as maintenance workers nailed plywood over windows and the remaining visitors loaded cars with duffel bags, coolers and beach gear.

At their beachfront rental about 1:30 this afternoon, Sandy Nottingham and her family were packed up and ready to return to their homes in Washington, New York City, Denver and New Canaan, Conn. Irene cut their week-long vacation a day short.

"We actually weren't going to leave until tomorrow, but the realty company called and said we have to leave," Nottingham said. "We don't really know how to prepare for a hurricane. We don't have them where we live."

But some locals, such as Andrew and Nicole Roper and their three children, planned to stay. They worked at their home on Sand Bend Road on the bay this afternoon to stow lawn furniture, board up windows and secure the family trampoline.

With a reinforced bulkhead, several days' worth of food and a propane generator that can power their five-bedroom home for a week, they said they felt ready to ride out the storm.

"I'm pretty confident for this storm that we'll be alright, even if the ocean does start coming up," Andrew Roper said as he cut plywood. "It would be a different story if it was a Category 3 or higher. We'd definitely be high-tailing it out if here."

It's a Class 1 misdemeanor to ignore a mandatory evacuation order. Battalion Chief Tim Riley, a spokesman for the Virginia Beach Fire Department, said he wasn't aware of any enforcement plans, but that would be up to police.

"People are adhering to the advice of officials," he said. "People have to be responsible for their own actions. ... We don't have the resources to go around and knock on people's doors."

Further north on the city's coast line, hotel managers at the Oceanfront said most tourists had left by Friday afternoon. Only 13 out of 75 guests remained at the Ocean Sands Resort, manager Bill Mitchell said. Those who were left planned to check out first thing Saturday, he said.

“Can you blame them?” Mitchell said.

The boardwalk, normally bustling with pedestrians and cyclists, was nearly empty.

“We knew it was time to get out of here when the governor declared a state of emergency,” said Pittsburgh resident Roberta Meyers, who had hoped to stay through Sunday. “We’re leaving tonight.”

Rachid Jabri, owner of Beach Food Mart and Deli, said he had done everything he could to prepare for the storm. The words “Good night Irene” were spray painted on plywood hung across the storefront. The Morocco native said the tiny shop weathered Isabel and Floyd without sustaining too much damage.

“We are just going to anchor in and stay here,” Jabri said. “What else can you do? There is nothing else that can be done.” 

Virginia Beach officials also are asking residents in mobile homes and campgrounds to voluntarily evacuate, beginning at noon today.

Oceanfront parking garages will open for residents' cars; for details,see www.vbgov.com.

The Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is offering to care for the pets of emergency workers and evacuees staying at local Red Cross shelters. The shelter will accept animals until 8 p.m. today. The shelter should be considered as a last resort, SPCA officials said.