The Ocracoke Observer will provide updates on Hurricane Dorian. To follow this news, check out the home page.
By Connie Leinbach
Following Hyde County Commissioners mandatory evacuation order for Ocracoke yesterday, Gov. Roy Cooper today issued a mandatory state evacuation order for vulnerable coastal areas. The evacuation order, effective at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, applies to barrier islands along the entire coast, from the Virginia line to the South Carolina line.
“Please listen to and follow all evacuation orders,” Cooper said. “We have seen the life and death effects of this storm in the Bahamas, and we urge everyone on the islands at the coast to leave.”
As Ocracoke Island goes into hurricane preparedness mode with the visitor evacuation today and residents Wednesday, other services will be curtailed as Hurricane Dorian moves northward.
Weather reports say the island will begin to feel the storm’s lashing starting Wednesday, and the peak will occur Thursday night into Friday with 85 mph winds, said Tommy Hutcherson, Variety Store proprietor, who is on the Deputy Control Group.
This group is composed of island officials and meets frequently to assess pending storms and contingencies and to advise the Hyde County Commissioners about official actions, such as evacuations.
Hutcherson said the group learned that as of their meeting Tuesday afternoon, 676 people were evacuated.
The following closures/restrictions will go into effect today and Wednesday until the storm passes:
U.S. Postal services will end today at 5 p.m.; UPS deliveries end Tuesday, too.
The Ocracoke Convenience Site will close at noon Wednesday.
The Variety Store will be open regular hours—until 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, although it may close earlier, Hutcherson said. Hours tomorrow and the days following will vary.
Ocracoke School will close at the end of Tuesday for the rest of the week.
All National Park Service activities are suspended. Off-road vehicle ramps and routes are now closed to off-road vehicle access.
Alcohol sales will cease starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
A curfew will be in force from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Wednesday night.
Peter Vankevich contributed to this story.
Shirley S.
Wishing you all safe passage thru this latest storm.
Praying for my favorite place on earth to visit and all the wonderful people who call Ocracoke their home.
Columbus, OH sends our prayers!
Dear Ocracoke, you’re in our thoughts & prayers. You’ve survived many hurricanes over the decades, so here’s hoping this one is not super-destructive!
Hang in there folks.
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