N.C. 12 on Ocracoke takes Hurricane Erin’s biggest hit, village spared

By Connie Leinbach

Hurricane Erin is on its way away from North Carolina, but it has left a damaged N.C. 12 in its wake.

The National Weather Service reports that significant inundation and overwash are ongoing on the Outer Banks from Hurricane Erin, and these will peak with both this morning’s and this evening’s high tide cycles. 

High tide Thursday morning was at 6:30 and this evening’s high tide will be at 7 p.m.

Some flooding in Ocracoke Village is occurring on the roads that have drains, which are overflowing due to the high water, and near the mosquito control canals and marsh areas.

Water is especially high at Ocracoke Seafood Company, along Back Road and Sunset Drive at Trent.

The highest water levels are expected to occur with this evening’s high tide, around 7:15 p.m. on Ocracoke, so remain vigilant until the storm moves further offshore.

Amazingly, there was just a bit of rain as Hurricane Erin passed by.

Ocracoke’s county commissioner Randal Mathews this morning noted that while Ocracoke Village was largely spared, N.C. Highway 12 north of the pony pens was not.

In fact. N.C. 12 remains closed at the Marc Basnight Bridge this morning as Hurricane Erin continues to make a mess of things on NC12, according to a post on NCDOT’s Facebook page. Photos on that page show flattened dune areas but do not identify where the shots were taken.

Secretary of Transportation Joey Hopkins said on State Affairs Pro that the 148-mile N.C. 12 is the “interstate” of the Outer Banks and Gov. Josh Stein said “people love our Outer Banks. It’s a national treasure and we need to be able to get to them.”

NCDOT said on Facebook that it does not know when the road will reopen but reported the following road conditions:
Kitty Hawk – No issues, minor blown sand, roadway is passable.
Pea Island – Some overnight overwash and deep blown sand on roadway. Section closed.
Buxton North End – Overwash occurred most of last night and during this morning’s tide. Sand and standing water on roadway. Section closed.
Hatteras – Major overwash with dune breaches at yesterday high tide. Deep sand, water, and debris covering the roadway. Section closed.
Ocracoke – Major overwash. Large sections of the protective dune are flat. Section is closed.
Rodanthe – Significant overwash on several secondary sections.

Mathews said he is in touch with the NCDOT’s maintenance supervisor as to how progress is going on the road but had no specifics to report.

“N.C. 12 will be a challenge,” he said, adding that he and Hyde County Manager Kris Noble have talked with numerous state officials this morning. “EMS can’t go north and that’s going to be a major consideration as to when visitors can get back.”

As for when the ferries will run, that is up to the N.C. Ferry Division, who first have to make test runs to assess the channels in the Hatteras Inlet and the Pamlico Sound.

“Today is a wash,” Mathews said. “There’s no point in anyone thinking any decisions can be made until we coordinate with the Ferry Division and NCDOT.”