South Bethany News

Coastal Delaware began its recovery from Hurricane Irene on Sunday, dealing with localized flooding and power outages, as well as downed trees and broken limbs. Gov. Jack Markell lifted a travel ban and evacuation orders for at-risk areas as of 11 a.m. on Aug. 28, advising caution for those who did choose to travel.

From Ocean View Police Chief Ken McLaughlin (7 a.m. Sunday):

At this time, no damage to property has been reported in Ocean View.  Power outage remains east of West Avenue in Ocean View and throughout Bethany Beach.

From Ocean View Police Department (11:45 p.m.):

Over the past hour, winds and rain subsided.  Police patrols were initiated and all roadways in town are reported to be open.  Power is still out on the east side of West Avenue and in Bethany Beach.  Many trees have fallen, however, at this time there has been no report of damage.

UPDATED (8:45 p.m.) Conditions in Ocean View remain the same.  Reports have been received that a tornado touched down in the Lewes area and 15 homes were damaged/destroyed.

The National Guard has assigned a unit to the OV EOC.  National Guard troops will be paired with OVPD officers during morning patrols.

Level 2 driving restrictions will be in place in Sussex County starting at 6 p.m.; then in Kent County starting from 8 p.m.; and in New Castle County starting from 10 p.m. This means that non-emergency travel will be prohibited.   Those who are evacuating from flooding or flood-prone areas, including to shelters, are exempt.
 

Indian River Inlet Bridge closing, conditions deteriorating as Irene approaches

As conditions across Delmarva have started to deteriorate with the approach of Hurricane Irene, the Delaware Department of Transportation has announced that the Indian River Inlet Bridge could be closed as early as 3 p.m. on Saturday but would definitely be closed by 4 p.m.

Hurricane Irene begins making its way into Sussex County
Those evacuating at-risk areas should be out; conditions will worsen quickly as day progresses

The National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Warning and Flood Watch for the area, as Hurricane Irene comes ashore and heads toward Delmarva. The storm has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm, but it remains near Category 2 strength, with winds near 100 mph.

The evacuation of Sussex County’s most vulnerable areas continued Friday evening as Hurricane Irene, now slightly weaker but still a very dangerous storm, remained on a collision course with the eastern United States, including Sussex County and the rest of Delaware.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell has declared a mandatory evacuation for much of the Coastal Point readership area. Everyone in towns including Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, North Bethany, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Long Neck, Oak Orchard, and Broadkill, Primehook and Slaughter beaches is being required to evacuate prior to 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27.

As of a final update from state emergency officials for Thursday night, the projected path of Hurricane Irene continued to place the powerful storm slightly to the east of Delaware’s Atlantic Coast, however, emergency management officials and their partners were advising the public to take precautions and to be prepared to enact their household and business emergency plans as it moves closer.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell issued an evacuation order for visitors in Sussex County on Thursday evening as the most significant tropical threat to the region in years continued its march toward the East Coast, expected to bring with it hurricane-force winds, catastrophic tidal flooding and torrential rains throughout much of the weekend.

Due to the impending and potentially very dangerous Hurricane Irene, all those who planned to visit Delaware the weekend of Aug. 26-28 are being urged to postpone plans immediately. Gov. Jack Markell and emergency management officials stated mid-day Thursday that weather conditions will not allow safe travel and lodging in the beach areas and possibly throughout other areas of the state.

Don’t know what to do with that ugly old bridesmaid dress? How about that old VCR? Here’s a thought — throw it in the ocean!

On March 22, the Town of South Bethany sent out 1,317 surveys to property owners, with a return due date of May 2, 2011.

For the past six years, the Mogan family has been vacationing in South Bethany.

Although the rain was not coming down quite as hard as it had on July 4, according to Bob Powell of the Millville Volunteer Fire Company, it was still “raining cats and dogs” on Tuesday afternoon, and the thunder and lightning of the sudden storm caused the fire company to shut their engine bays for a time to keep everyone safe.

Emergency officials were preparing mid-week for an anticipated spike in the heat wave that hit the area early this week, with temperatures expected to be at or above 100 degrees Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 21-23. They were urging residents and visitors alike to monitor the weather and take precautions for their health and safety.

For 20 years, the South Bethany Seafood Market has been outfitting dinner tables throughout the community with some of the freshest seafood available, and, somehow, people are still just finding out about them. Since acquiring the carry-out hotspot in the South Bethany Seaside Village Shopping Center six years ago, owners Andrew and Zea Keiper have been turning customers onto one of the area’s best-kept secrets.

Following just one day of trial, on June 7, former Lewes pediatrician Earl Bradley on Wednesday awaited the ruling of Delaware Superior Judge William Carpenter Jr. on charges of rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation of former patients.

Summer officially begins in two weeks, but already Sussex County is weathering its second blast of extreme heat this year, as daytime temperatures in the upper 90s – and heat indexes above 100 degrees – are expected to send residents and visitors in search of relief.

The new Indian River Inlet Bridge is on track to open to traffic in December, transportation officials reported this week, with the two sides of the bridge expected to meet sometime in October.

“Lifetimes have passed” and “not in my lifetime” have been familiar thoughts for many in the area when it comes to the dredging of one local waterway, but for a local business owner, the timing is just right.

The South Bethany Historical Society is seeking volunteers to help in its efforts to preserve and promote the history of South Bethany.

Members of the South Bethany Property Owner’s Association (SBPOA) this week agreed that, effectively immediately, the group’s newsletter will only be mailed once per year, with its membership drive. It will be distributed by email three additional times each year.