One of two places of N.C. 12 at the north end of the island that’s under repair. Photo taken soon after Hurricane Dorian hit Ocracoke. Photo by Bob Jenkins, NCDOT

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From Hyde County, Nov.11, 2019:

The Ocracoke Control Group today (Nov. 1) recommended to the Hyde County Board of Commissioners to lift the evacuation order on Nov. 22, or immediately following the reopening of N.C. 12, which is currently on schedule to reopen that day.

The Hyde County Board of Commissioners recognizes the Ocracoke Control Group’s request and will release access restrictions and reopen Ocracoke Island to visitors on Nov. 22, or immediately upon the reopening of NC 12.

A mandatory evacuation order has been in place since Sept. 4, ahead of Hurricane Dorian’s arrival on Sept 6.

When discussing possible dates for reentry to begin, the control group identified two benchmarks that needed to be completed. First, the initial pass of debris removal. This was completed on Nov. 1. A second pass for debris removal is scheduled to begin Nov. 16.

The final benchmark is the reopening of NC 12 for all vehicles. NCDOT has targeted Nov. 22 as the date NC 12 will reopen after repairing two areas at the north end of Ocracoke where the ocean crashed through the dunes in two places and broke up the road.

After the evacuation order is lifted, visitors will be immediately allowed to access Ocracoke. Ferry operations will return to the paid reservation system normally in place. Reconstruction and debris removal will continue to take place for the foreseeable future. Please be aware of any obstacles while on the island. In addition, visitors should be advised there are limited lodging accommodations, food service, gas availability and other services normally available to the visiting public. Please plan your visits accordingly.

The Joint Recovery Center ended operations in Ocracoke on Nov. 7. The Ocracoke Interfaith Relief & Recovery Team operations opened today at the Life Saving Church, Lighthouse Road. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Teresa Adams, the Ocracoke liaison to Hyde County, has relocated to the Life Saving Church during those hours. She can assist with Individual Assistance, if people have been denied Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, both paper applications and online; food stamp information; housing applications to elevate homes; Legal Aid info; Back At Home Trillium information; re-entry permits and permits for people who want their families to help; contractor lists; and various other online information.

The Hyde County Board of Commissioners will still hold the Monday, Nov. 18, meeting at 6 p.m. in the government center in Swan Quarter and the Community Center in Ocracoke for the purpose of taking public comment and discuss individual items related to reentry and recovery. A full agenda will be forthcoming.

One of two spots on N.C. 12 at the north end of Ocracoke getting repaved from the Hurricane Dorian breach. Photo: C. Leinbach
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2 COMMENTS

  1. What are the names and positions/titles of the members of this ‘Ocracoke Advisory Control Group’ please. Thank you in advance.

    • We don’t have all of those because the press isn’t allowed in those meetings. This is a story we want to do sometime, but basically it includes a lot of government officials (EMS, sheriff, Hyde County officials, Ferry Division, National Park Service) and some key business people (representatives from lodging, utilities, the grocery store, etc.).

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