This has been canceled due to ferry access from Swan Quarter. It will be rescheduled soon.
It’s not too early to be thinking about voting.
First class 1964 postage stamp
Hyde County Elections Office Director Viola Williams will be at the Community Center from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday to register new voters and update voter registration information.
She will also provide information on North Carolina voter ID requirements.
Beginning in 2020, voters will be required to provide photo identification before they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions.
Voter Information for Hyde County can be obtained by visiting the Hyde County websiteor calling the office: 252-926-5280.
A calm Hatteras Inlet Monday evening will turn blustery as a cold front moves into the Outer Banks Tuesday afternoon. Photo: C. Leinbach
The Outer Banks should brace for a change in weather as the strong cold front that is moving across the country will move into eastern North Carolina Tuesday evening into Wednesday.
It will produce a variety of impacts, including gusty winds, elevated water levels and cold temperatures behind the front.
The National Weather Service calls for rain to begin by midday Tuesday and last into the night producing up to a half inch.
Winds will pick up mid-afternoon with a west wind of 13 to 18 mph, changing to north of 24 to 29 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph.
Temperatures will begin to fall into the night with lows early Wednesday morning in the mid 30s range.
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
To catch up on Ocracoke news and much more, click here
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
Ocracoke School PTA President Laura McClain, right, gets a group photo with Ocracoke School students and Susan Peoples and Onie Mae, who donated $6,000 to the PTA. Photo: C. Leinbach
By Connie Leinbach
Susan Peoples was so charmed by Ocracoke when she volunteered to help with Hurricane Dorian relief that she wanted her home community to help the island further, and the church came through with an unexpected sum.
Peoples, who lives in Louisburg, Franklin County, told her church congregation at the Louisburg Baptist Church about the flooding devastation she witnessed as part of her three weeks with Baptists on Mission.
Though she has been helping with disaster relief for the last 14 years after having first helped with Hurricane Katrina, this was her first time visiting Ocracoke.
“I just asked them to help with a donation,” she said about her church. “I thought we’d get a couple of hundred dollars, but we have a very generous congregation.”
When the donations were tallied, the total was about $6,000.
Peoples had gotten to know PTA President Laura McClain and decided the sum should go to the Ocracoke School PTA.
PTA Vice president Allison O’Neal, right, gives gifts to Susan Peoples, left, and Onie Mae. Photo: C. Leinbach
Last Wednesday, Peoples, who was accompanied by her friend Onie Mae of Youngsville, presented the money to McClain and Ocracoke second- third- and fourth graders on the school playground.
“I told them the school won my heart and we need to help them,” Peoples said about the plea to her fellow church-goers. “We usually have different organizations that we help but after they saw how I came back and was so humbled and fallen in love with these kids….This is just a unique life.”
The unexpected gift has helped keep the PTA on track with its fundraising, McClain said.
The annual Halloween carnival is the PTA’s big fundraiser for the year but this year’s version on Oct. 30 was much abbreviated and was basically just a party for the kids.
“We usually make $8,000 to $10,000 from the carnival,” McClain said. “So, this donation will really help.”
McClain said the two brought other donations to other people they met when they were here.
McClain asked the gathered students what they thought the PTA does. After a few wrong answers, McClain said the PTA gives money to all the teachers for things they need for their classrooms.
“And then we also give a scholarship to a high school graduate,” she said.
Money also goes to pay for the Christmas program, which will be combined with the community program on Dec. 14 in the Berkley Barn.
“We always have goodies at Christmas,” she continued. “And we also help out celebrate our Teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.”
The congregation went a step further, Peoples said, and hand made cards.
“We have cards for every class in pre-K through 12, even the staff and even the PTA,” she said.
The children cheered the two women.
“This is only the beginning,” Peoples told the group. “We will be back. We’re working on Christmas.”
Susan Peoples greets fourth-grader Stephanie Flores at Ocracoke School. Photo: C. Leinbach
Hyde County sheriff deputies Rob King and Jason Daniels, the Ocracoke captain, monitor the Back Road pick-up and drop-off spot at Ocracoke School while the front entrance of the school is being repaired from Hurricane Dorian damage. Photo: C. Leinbach
Ocracoke Island is still under mandatory evacuation from Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 6, but a few things are going on.
Tuesday, Nov. 12 Grief support group; 9:30 a.m. The Castle; front entrance
Wednesday, Nov. 13 Hyde County Board of Elections will be available to answer questions, help voters that need an ID to vote and register new voters and/or update voter registration information, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Community Center
OCBA Civic Affairs Committee; 6 p.m. Ocracoke Community Center Agenda: NC Ferry Division update Mosquito Control Board update Hyde County update NPS Update
Friday, Nov. 15 Ocra-Glow party by Emerald Owl Productions of Emerald Isle. Free. Family-friendly. 7:30 p.m. Berkeley Barn.
Saturday, Nov. 16 Festival Latino de Ocracoke at the Berkley Barn. Food, music and more all day.
The Ocracoke Life Saving Church on Lighthouse Road will be the new local intake center for Hurricane Dorian relief starting Monday, Nov. 11, at 9 a.m. Photo: C. Leinbach
Since the Joint Recovery Center ceased operations on the island on Nov. 7, the Ocracoke Interfaith Relief & Recovery Team (OIRRT) operations will open at the Life Saving Church, Lighthouse Road, on Monday, Nov. 11.
Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Teresa Adams, the Ocracoke liaison to Hyde County, has relocated to the Life Saving Church during the same hours.
She is assisting islanders with the following:
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 online information.
Her phone number is 252-921-0053.
You can call Legal Aid for guidance on SBA and IA process at 866-219-5262 or get information online: legalaidnc.org/disasters
The hours of operation for the free food/supply pantry in the OVFD building also will change starting Monday, Nov. 11, to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
To donate to Ocracoke’s relief effort, please send your check directly to either of the following with “Hurricane Dorian Relief” in the memo line:
Ocracoke Life Saving Church P.O. Box 68 Ocracoke, NC 27960
Ocracoke United Methodist Church P.O. Box 278 Ocracoke, NC 27960
Or visit the Outer Banks Community Foundation and designate your donation for Ocracoke: obcf.org/donate-now/disaster-relief-fund-donate.
Residents may apply for state Individual Assistance via the Individual Assistance help line at 919-825-2378 and can submit documentation via email at iarecovery@ncdps.gov. Residents may contact the Ocracoke Interfaith Relief and Recovery Team (OIRRT) directly via e-mail at unmet@oirrt.org or 833-543-3248.
The Ocracoke Interfaith Relief & Recovery Team OIRRT is a cooperative body that is made up of representatives from faith-based, non-profit, government, business and other organizations working within the community to assist individuals and families as they recover from a disaster.
Hours for the free food pantry in the OVFD will change on Monday. Photo: C. Leinbach
The gas tanks at Jerniman’s are empty and are expected to be refilled Saturday when a tanker truck will arrive. Photo: C. Leinbach
To catch up on Ocracoke news and much more, click here
By Connie Leinbach
Apparently, the gas tanks at Jerniman’s are simply empty, but a tanker truck is scheduled to be on the noon ferry from Swan Quarter on Saturday.
It was known on Monday that the tanks were empty, said Justin Gibbs, Hyde County Emergency Services Director, said, but the messages didn’t get through to Cary Oil, who provides the gas.
Gibbs, who validates nonresident ferry reservations while the island is still under mandatory evacuation from Hurricane Dorian, said the tanker truck was supposed to be on the ferry Friday, but high winds suspended service on the long routes.
Gibbs said the tanker truck will be on the Saturday ferry.
Tom Pahl, Ocracoke’s County commissioner, when contacted Thursday afternoon said that previously it was thought the lack of pump action was electrical, as had been the case in the days immediately after the hurricane.
“But we contacted the owners of the pumps and they looked at their numbers, did the math and realized the tanks are empty,” he said.
The Observer called Clayton Jernigan, one of the new owners of Jerniman’s Campground, who said that even though he and his business partner Drew Batts own the campground and building, they do not own the gas pumps.
“We don’t have anything to do with the fuel,” he said. “We don’t have the power to do anything.”
Batts, in a Facebook post on today, noted the following:
“We send the reports weekly to the owner of the gas and it’s his decision to bring more gas based on that information.
“With all that said, we know it is frustrating for everyone and we know the pumps don’t read cards properly. Once we officially open in February, we hope the owner of the pumps will install new pumps, that the card readers will work better, and we will be able to print receipts at the pumps.”
Woody Beasley, owner of Beasley Enterprises in Ahoskie, who owns the pumps, when contacted said he will get a tanker truck to the island.
“I’m sorry it ran out on y’all,” he said.
Beasley will continue to own the pumps two years from when Jerniman’s opens in February. After that, Jerniman’s will take ownership of the pumps.
Donations Ocracoke via the Outer Banks Community Foundation are helping the island rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. Photo: C. Leinbach
From the Outer Banks Community Foundation
Southern Shores–More than 65 households on Ocracoke have been awarded assistance for Hurricane Dorian recovery from money raised by the Outer Banks Community Foundation.
As relief efforts continue on the island, much more financial assistance will come, according to Community Foundation representatives.
The Ocracoke Firehouse Committee, which is the group of volunteers disbursing the Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund, reviewed dozens of applications over the weekend, and awarded monies to over 65 families. Funds have been awarded for roof repairs, appliances, furniture, car down payments, utilities, rental assistance, wheelchair ramps, medications and medical equipment, insulation, pilings, electrical repairs and much more.
“We are so excited to get these disaster relief dollars to Ocracokers to make life easier for our neighbors,” said Lorelei Costa, Community Foundation executive director. “Islanders still grapple daily with significant challenges, and this is just the beginning of many grants to come over the next many months. It’s our highest priority to assist local households with financial need as expeditiously and as prudently as possible.”
The Firehouse Committee has also approved funding to assist with temporary shelter for displaced residents. In partnership with Hyde County, which expects to purchase 35 temporary trailers for local families while their homes are rebuilt or repaired, the Firehouse Committee has committed funding to connect these trailers with power, water, septic and gas.
“We are incredibly grateful to our partners with the Ocracoke Fire Department, and the volunteer case managers with the Ocracoke Interfaith Relief and Recovery Team,” Costa said. “These dedicated folks are working tirelessly to assist disaster victims, ascertain their needs, and diligently steward our donated dollars to help as many people as possible.”
In Dare County, including on Hatteras Island, the Disaster Relief Fund has also helped many families with home repairs, roof replacements, temporary shelter and more.
To request assistance from the Firehouse Committee and the Outer Banks Community Foundation, full-time residents may contact the Firehouse Committee by emailing ocracokerecoveryfund@gmail.com.
Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday signed a bill into law to forgive missed school days due to Hurricane Dorian and to provide compensation for school employees on Ocracoke.
Senate Bill 312, Relief to Ocracoke School/ Hurricane Dorian, allows for calendar flexibility for any instructional time missed due to Hurricane Dorian at the school during the months of September 2019 and October 2019 in any of the following ways:
Make up any number of the instructional days or equivalent hours missed.
Deem as completed any number of the instructional days or equivalent hours missed, up to a total of 20 days.
Implement any combination of both of the above.
In addition, Section 1.B of the bill addresses employee compensation at the Ocracoke School, and says, “Employees shall be compensated in the same manner as they would have been had they worked on the scheduled instructional days missed.”
Ocracoke School closed after Dorian on Sept. 6 brought roughly seven feet of storm surge to the island, which resulted in three feet of water in the main school building.
The school reopened a month later at three separate sites to allow for repairs at the school to continue.
“The people of Ocracoke are working hard to recover, and we’re committed to getting them and other storm survivors the help they need,” Cooper said in a press release. “As we work to provide WiFi and other resources to Ocracoke School, SB 312 is an important step to get the school back on track.”
The last two county commissioners meetings have been well-attended. Photo: C. Leinbach
By Peter Vankevich
Despite urging from some Ocracoke islanders, the Hyde County commissioners delayed action Monday night to reopen Ocracoke and will take up the question again on Nov. 18. Ocracoke was shut down on Sept. 4 when the commissioners declared a mandatory evacuation ahead of Hurricane Dorian, which struck the island Sept. 6 causing massive flooding that has damaged or destroyed a majority of homes and businesses. Ocracoke’s Commissioner Tom Pahl explained at the meeting that in order to open the island to visitors two benchmarks were established and approved by the county commissioners and the Ocracoke Control Group: debris removal and opening NC 12 for all vehicles. Pahl said the first phase for debris removal was completed Nov. 1, the second phase will resume around Nov. 16 after the debris-removal phase on the mainland. But N.C. 12 at the north end of Ocracoke is still under repair and NCDOT personnel recently expressed optimism that the road would be opened on the target date of Nov. 22. When to open the island to visitors has been a divisive issue within the community. At the beginning of the meeting, Pahl requested that the October minutes reflect that two petitions he mentioned then were circulating. The one for immediate opening had 28 to 30 signatures and the one opposing immediate opening had 168, and he wanted them in the record. “The recovery is going well, but we have a long way to go,” he said “I’m just coming to grips with the length of time this whole process is going to take. And we still have a lot of medium-term housing issues to work out.” During the public comment period, islanders Marissa Gross, owner of Down Creek Gallery, and Steve Wilson, owner of Dream Girl Fishing Charters, urged the commissioners to open the island. At the second comment period, Leslie Lanier, owner of Books to Be Red, also urged the commissioners to reopen the island. “It takes time to get ready to open,” she said. “I don’t care what people say on Facebook. If I have to sell books from a table in my yard, it’s time to make a decision.” Commissioner Shannon Swindell said he had received a lot of calls and emails from Ocracoke from small business owners. “They feel like they’ve had a stranglehold put on and I can certainly empathize with them,” he said. “The calls have been 100% to let’s get the island open as soon as we can. These are business owners that are ready to do business in one form or another, whether it’s a table in the yard, whether it’s someone else’s shop or cooking in someone else’s restaurant. They’re ready and willing to serve. And so, I’m just bringing their voice to this table tonight so that they can open as soon as we can.” “I’m very well aware of the pressure to open and that there are a good number of people who feel we should open today,” Pahl said in response. “There are also a good number of people, and I’ve heard from them as well, who feel very strongly that even opening in two weeks or three weeks is too early. So, we’re hearing from people on both sides of this issue.” He then recommended the special Nov. 18 meeting. “At that time, I think it’s going to be much clearer as to whether or not Highway 12 will in fact be repaired and able to be opened on the Nov. 22, which is the date that the Department of Transportation is using,” he said. Pahl expressed concern that when the island opens to visitors, there will be a displacement of people who are currently living in rental homes that are potentially or in fact may be under contract. And those people will have to be moved out so the contracts can be honored. “I’d like to have a little bit more information on that,” he said, noting that he hopes the rental companies are working on that issue. “I don’t want to be in a position of saying that we won’t open up to visitors, because it’s going to displace people who are in those homes. That’s not fair to the homeowners who need that income. They need to pay their mortgages. “We need the people on the island in order to generate revenue to our businesses so that we can have employment. And we need to get back to a private sector economy. And I understand that completely. The question isn’t ‘if’ but ‘when.'” County manager Kris Noble in her manager’s report supported Pahl’s views but suggested a Dec. 1 opening. Since Dorian struck, Ocracoke has been open only to residents, non-resident property owners and personnel approved by Hyde County emergency management.
