Wrightsville Beach Hurricane Resource Guide
Everything you need to prepare for, survive, and recover from a hurricane in Wrightsville Beach - county-specific evacuation zones, local shelters, hardware stores, supplies checklist, the moment-by-moment timeline, plus FEMA and insurance help if you need it after.
This guide is provided as a public service by Pro GC & Restoration. Pro GC has no financial relationship with any of the agencies, retailers, public adjusters, or attorneys referenced below - those are state-licensed, publicly-listed independent resources. Pro GC's role kicks in after the storm: if your home takes damage, we handle the restoration scope from emergency tarping through the final rebuild. Every other resource on this page is independent of Pro GC.
Six sections, top to bottom
- Local evacuation + shelter info (New Hanover County specifics) - know your zone, know the route, know where you are going BEFORE the storm forms
- Supplies + boarding-up - what to buy, where to buy it locally, and how to install plywood the right way
- Before / during / after timeline - the moment-by-moment playbook
- FEMA, Red Cross, SBA aid - what each agency covers and how to apply
- Insurance help - if your carrier denies or underpays your claim, state-regulated paths exist
- Pro GC services - when you need restoration work, what we handle and how to reach us
Know your evacuation zone + how the county runs hurricane response
New Hanover County Emergency Management: https://www.nhcgov.com/196/Emergency-Management - emergency line: 910-798-6900
Emergency information portal: https://emergency.nhcgov.com/preparedness/shelters-evacuation/
Evacuation zone: NC Know Your Zone tiered system. Wrightsville Beach is in the most vulnerable zone tier - evacuated first. Look up your specific address at https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/emergency-preparedness/know-your-zone.
Shelter strategy: New Hanover County opens shelters based on event severity - the Emergency Operations Center coordinates with the state to open inland shelters when needed. Wrightsville Beach residents should plan to evacuate inland to a friend / family / hotel rather than relying on a public shelter as Plan A.
Town of Wrightsville Beach Hurricane Preparation: https://www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com/153/Hurricane-Preparation
Where to get supplies, fuel, and groceries before the storm
Hardware stores (plywood, tarps, generators, supplies)
- Lowe's (Wilmington, S. College Rd) - primary plywood/tarp/generator supply
- Home Depot (Wilmington, Independence Blvd) - second source, often better generator stock
- Wrightsville Beach Hardware (on the island, Causeway) - last-minute small supplies
Grocery stores
- Robert's Grocery (on-island) - small island grocer, sells out fast
- Harris Teeter (Wrightsville Ave + Eastwood Rd) - closest mainland full-size grocer
- Food Lion + Lowes Foods (Wilmington) - backup options
Gas stations + fuel
- Shell + BP (Causeway approach) - last fuel before the island
- Costco gas (Monkey Junction / Wilmington) - best price if you have time
- Wawa + 7-Eleven (Wilmington) - distributed mainland options
Local logistics: Wrightsville Beach is a bridge-only barrier island. The Heide Trask Drawbridge is the only exit. Plan evacuations 24-36 hours ahead of mandatory evacuation orders to avoid the bridge bottleneck.
The 20-item hurricane supplies checklist
- Water - 1 gallon per person per day, 7-day supply (a family of 4 needs 28 gallons minimum)
- Non-perishable food - 7-day supply: canned goods, peanut butter, granola, dried fruit, baby formula if needed
- Manual can opener - the most-forgotten item every storm
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio - for NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards alerts when power is out
- Flashlights + extra batteries - one per person, plus spares
- First aid kit - with any prescription medications (request a 30-day refill ahead of the storm)
- Whistle - to signal for help if trapped
- Dust masks or N95s - for breathing in contaminated air post-storm
- Plastic sheeting + duct tape - for emergency window covers if you cannot board up
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags, plastic ties - for sanitation without running water
- Wrench or pliers - to turn off utilities (gas + water mains)
- Cell phone with chargers + backup battery - and a portable solar or hand-crank charger
- Cash - ATMs and card readers do not work without power; keep $200-$500 in small bills
- Important documents - IDs, insurance policies, deed/title, medical records - in a waterproof bag
- Sleeping bags + warm blankets - for each person
- Change of clothes + sturdy shoes - for each person
- Pet supplies - 7-day food + water, carrier, leash, vaccination records, medications
- Fire extinguisher - ABC-rated
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Personal hygiene items - feminine supplies, toothpaste, soap
Boarding up windows + doors
Boarding up windows + doors - the right way
Plywood thickness: 5/8" exterior-grade plywood is the minimum. 3/4" is better for high-wind zones. Do not use OSB (oriented strand board) - it delaminates in driven rain.
Cut to fit: measure each window opening and add 8 inches in both directions so the plywood overlaps the frame by 4 inches on every side. This prevents wind from getting underneath an edge and ripping the board off.
Fasteners: use 2.5" or 3" galvanized lag screws or wood screws, NOT nails. Space them every 12-18 inches around the perimeter. Pre-drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the plywood.
For masonry walls: use 2.5" Tapcon concrete screws into pre-drilled anchor holes. Do not try to lag-bolt into stucco - it will pull out.
Doors: double front doors are a major failure point - interior bolts on top and bottom of each panel are critical. Garage doors need a brace kit (most home garage doors fail at 100 mph wind without one).
If you cannot board up: heavy plastic sheeting + duct tape is a poor substitute but better than nothing - it slows wind-driven rain intrusion enough to limit interior damage. Storm shutters or impact-rated windows are the permanent answer.
What to do before the storm
72 hours before the storm
- Top off all vehicles' fuel tanks - fuel runs out at coastal gas stations 24-36 hours pre-storm
- Refill all prescription medications - pharmacies close + delivery routes shut down
- Withdraw cash - ATMs offline when power is out
- Charge all phones, tablets, portable batteries to 100%
- Fill bathtubs and any clean containers with water (for flushing toilets + non-drinking use)
- Photograph the interior + exterior of your home for insurance documentation
- Move outdoor furniture, planters, grills, and anything not anchored INDOORS - these become projectiles at 75+ mph wind
- Trim dead branches over the roof if there is time + safe to do so
- Confirm evacuation plan: where you are going, two routes, who you have notified
- Pack a go-bag for each family member
24-48 hours before - final calls
- Board up windows + doors per the instructions above
- Anchor or relocate the garage door
- Unplug all non-essential electronics to prevent surge damage when power restores
- Set fridge + freezer to coldest setting
- Fill freezer bags or empty milk jugs with water, freeze them
- Turn off propane tanks at the source
- If evacuating: leave a note with destination + contact info inside the house
- If staying: identify your safe room (interior, lowest floor, no windows)
What to do during the storm
During the storm
- Stay in your safe room - interior room, no windows, lowest floor (but ABOVE flood elevation if in a surge zone)
- Do not open windows - the old myth about "equalizing pressure" has been debunked for decades
- Do not go outside during the eye - calm eye passage means the eyewall winds are coming back from the opposite direction within 30-60 minutes
- Stay away from windows + exterior walls - wind-driven debris is the #1 injury source during hurricanes
- Monitor NOAA Weather Radio - battery or hand-crank, since cell + internet often fail
- If water starts rising inside the home, move to the highest floor - do NOT enter the attic unless you have an axe to break through the roof
- Do not use candles - fire risk is high with debris everywhere. Use flashlights only
What to do after the storm
Immediately after the storm
- Do not go outside until officials clear it - downed power lines, gas leaks, structural collapse, and unstable trees are everywhere
- Do not walk through standing water - could be electrified by downed lines, contaminated by sewage, hiding sharp debris or wildlife
- Do not drive on flooded roads - 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, 12 inches can float a car, 24 inches can wash away an SUV
- Document EVERYTHING - photograph every angle of damage before you touch anything. This is your insurance claim evidence
- Tarp the roof within 72 hours if there is any opening - covered exterior holes prevent the secondary water damage that often exceeds the original storm damage
- Do not make permanent repairs until your insurance adjuster has documented the damage - but DO make emergency mitigation repairs and keep all receipts
- Do not accept cash-and-carry repair offers from out-of-state contractors - contractor fraud spikes after every storm
- File your insurance claim within the first 7 days
- Apply for FEMA disaster assistance if the area was declared a federal disaster
First 30-90 days after
- Watch for mold - it starts within 24-48 hours of water intrusion
- Watch for delayed insurance claim denials - get every adjuster conversation in writing
- Watch for electrical issues as power restores - surge events, slow-burning faults in damaged circuits, generator-related fires
- Keep ALL receipts for emergency expenses - reimbursable under most policies and FEMA Individual Assistance
- If your claim is denied or underpaid, the state insurance department's Consumer Services Division can intervene at no cost
FEMA, Red Cross, and SBA - what they cover and how to apply
FEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP)
What it covers: Individuals and Households Program (IHP) - housing assistance, repair grants, replacement grants. Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services.
How to apply: 4 paths - (1) online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov, (2) the FEMA mobile app (iOS + Android), (3) by phone at 1-800-621-3362, or (4) in person at a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) opened after declared disasters.
Eligibility: the affected area must be a presidentially-declared federal disaster zone, and you (or someone in your home) must be a US citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen. Apply within 60 days of the declaration.
American Red Cross - shelter, food, water
What it covers: immediate shelter, hot meals, clean water, basic supplies, contact + reunification services. All free, no documentation required at intake, pets welcome at most shelters.
How to access: shelter map at https://maps.redcross.org/website/maps/arc_shelters.html, the Red Cross Shelter Finder app (iOS + Android), or call 1-800-733-2767 (1-800-RED-CROSS).
All services free. Pets welcome at most Red Cross shelters. No ID required at shelter intake.
SBA Disaster Loans - repair + replacement financing
What it covers: Home + property disaster loans (up to $200K home, $40K personal property), business physical disaster loans (up to $2M), economic injury disaster loans for small businesses.
How to apply: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance or call 1-800-659-2955.
If your insurance carrier is not cooperating
Most hurricane claims get paid without drama. When they do not, two state-regulated paths exist - and Pro GC has no financial relationship with anyone on either list.
Step 1 - File a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Insurance (Consumer Services Division)
The state insurance department's Consumer Services Division can intervene on your behalf at no cost. They can compel the carrier to respond, investigate claim-handling practices, and document patterns of bad-faith claim handling that may matter in later legal action.
Consumer help: https://www.ncdoi.gov/ - phone: 1-855-408-1212
File a complaint: https://www.ncdoi.gov/contact/contact-ncdoi
Important limitation: the state DOI cannot resolve contract disputes or compel claim payment - only the carrier or a court can. The DOI's role is regulatory pressure + documentation.
Step 2 - Verify any public adjuster's license before signing
A public adjuster represents YOU (not the insurance carrier) in negotiating the claim, typically for 10-20% of the recovered amount. Public adjusters are state-licensed - verify any individual you are considering through the official state directory before signing a contract.
Public adjuster license lookup (NC): https://sbs.naic.org/solar-external-lookup/?jurisdiction=NC&searchType=Licensee
Pro GC's posture: we have no referral relationship with any public adjuster. If you want a referral, we will point you at the state directory above so you can verify license + read consumer reviews independently. Selecting a public adjuster is your call, not ours.
Step 3 - If the dispute requires legal action - state bar attorney referral
If the claim dispute reaches the point of needing legal representation (most do not), the state bar's Lawyer Referral Service can match you with attorneys who handle insurance bad-faith and property-claim litigation. The referral is free; the attorney consultation is typically a discounted flat fee.
NC State Bar Lawyer Referral Service: https://www.ncbar.gov/for-the-public/find-a-lawyer/ - phone: 1-800-662-7660
Pro GC's posture: same as for adjusters - no referral relationships. The state bar directory is the right starting point for an independent search.
Important notes on this resource page
This guide was last researched and updated in May 2026. Shelter lists, county emergency-management contacts, retailer locations, and state-regulated directories change. Always verify the current information at the linked official sources before relying on any specific phone number or address in an actual emergency.
Pro GC & Restoration is a licensed Florida general contractor (CGC1521647). For NC, SC, and GA work, Pro GC operates under filed direct-licensure pursuit plus locally-licensed permit-of-record partnership.
This guide is informational only. It is not insurance advice, legal advice, or a substitute for verifying current information with the New Hanover County Emergency Management or the NC Emergency Management. In an active emergency, follow the instructions of local emergency management and law enforcement - not a webpage.