From our news services–updated 5:35 p.m.
The Hyde County Board of Commissioners have lifted the evacuation order for Ocracoke Island visitors and they will be allowed back on the island starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.
The Ferry Division will run its full summer schedules beginning Aug. 23 as follows:
Swan Quarter – Ocracoke: 7 a.m.*, 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Ocracoke – Swan Quarter: 7 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Cedar Island – Ocracoke: 7:30 a.m.*, 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Ocracoke – Cedar Island: 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
(*Note: The Saturday, Aug. 23, 7 a.m. departure from Swan Quarter and the Saturday 7:30 a.m. departure from Cedar Island will be restricted to residents, property owners and essential personnel per Hyde County’s reentry procedures).
The evacuation order for essential personnel, residents, and property owners was lifted at noon today.
Highway 12 from Oregon Inlet to the Hatteras Ferry and Highway 12 on the north end of Ocracoke Island is still closed from the pony pens northward.
While NCDOT is working to clear that section of highway and resume access to South Dock for ferry service to Hatteras, there is no current access, and travelers should have confirmed lodging accommodations on Ocracoke Island, as they will not be able to travel north for those purposes.
Also, while access to the north is still unavailable, access for emergency medical services to transport patients off the island will also be impeded.
This route remains the most timely access for emergency medical services to transport patients off the island, other than medevac, and it is not available at this time.
The NCDOT Ferry Division will resume its normal summer schedule on the sound class routes on Saturday, August 23.
However, the first ferry run on Saturday will still be restricted for visitors and will be based on the following priority: essential personnel, residents, and property owners.
Starting at 8 a.m., the NCDOT Ferry Reservation System will be back online and available for bookings.
Robin Snyder, deputy superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, reported that the Park Service staff is assessing the beach as to when to reopen it to drivers.
NCDOT reported at 5 p.m. via Facebook that the north of the Pony Pens is covered in sand. “It is going to take a lot of work to get this road ready for traffic again,” the post says. “We will continue working to reopen NC12 on the north end of the island as quickly as possible.”
For real-time travel information, please check NCDOT’s DriveNC.gov and the NCDOT Ferry Division social media accounts. People can also receive text or email notifications on ferry schedules and changes through the Ferry Information Notification System, or FINS.
