Governor Josh Stein visited Dare County to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Erin. During his visit, he met with small business owners in Frisco and thanked emergency responders for their efforts to keep residents and visitors safe. Governor Stein was accompanied by NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins, NC DPS Secretary Eddie Buffaloe, NC Emergency Management Director Will Ray, Major General Todd Hunt of the North Carolina National Guard, and local officials from Dare County.
“While Hurricane Erin remained offshore, flooding and high winds impacted roadways along the Outer Banks, and the closure of NC 12 means that small businesses have had their livelihoods cut off during peak season,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am thankful to the emergency officials and first responders for their tireless work to prepare for and respond to this storm, and I am confident they will work quickly to ensure folks’ safe return.”
The State Emergency Response Team is still activated but will move to Enhanced Watch monitoring status tomorrow. Teams from Swift Water Rescue, the North Carolina National Guard, and the U.S. Army Reserve who were deployed for Hurricane Erin are set to demobilize. Travel disruptions are expected to continue on the Outer Banks due to damaged dune structures and ongoing large swells at high tide. Minor coastal flooding could still occur in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. Officials will carry out further assessments over the coming days to determine the full extent of damage.
NC 12 remains closed in two sections: from the Northern Ferry Terminal to the National Park Service Pony Pens on Ocracoke Island, and from Marc Basnight Bridge to Hatteras Village on Hatteras Island because of overwash and breaches in dunes. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is working on reopening NC 12 by pumping out floodwater, clearing sand and debris, as well as reconstructing and reinforcing dunes.
Ferry service has resumed today between Ocracoke and both Swan Quarter and Cedar Island after Hyde County lifted its evacuation order for residents, property owners, and essential personnel. The NCDOT Ferry Division will follow Hyde County’s reentry guidelines until all restrictions are removed; both routes will return to regular summer schedules tomorrow. However, ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke remains suspended since NC 12 is still closed between those points.
Travelers can find up-to-date information at DriveNC.gov or by following NCDOT on social media platforms (https://drivenc.gov/). Updates from the State Emergency Response Team can be found at ReadyNC.Gov/Erin (https://readync.gov/erin).
