 Photo credit: NCDOT. NCDOT crews will continue to assess the damage as conditions allow in order to determine what repairs will be necessary.
Access to Hatteras Island:
There is currently no road access to or from Hatteras Island due to pavement damage along N.C. Highway 12 near the Pea Island Visitor Center.
Travel between the villages on Hatteras Island remains open, and essential services—including power, water and communications—remain operational.
Those with upcoming reservations on Hatteras Island are encouraged to contact their accommodations provider before traveling to the area and should not travel toward Hatteras Island without first confirming that access has been restored. Visitors who are currently on Hatteras Island and need to extend their stay due to the road closure should contact their accommodations provider as soon as possible to discuss available options.
Highway Repairs:
According to NCDOT, crews will continue to assess the damage as conditions allow in order to determine what repairs will be necessary. NCDOT has advised Dare County that crews are prepared to begin road repairs once the full extent of the damage is known and conditions allow work to proceed. At this time, it is too early to determine the scope of the repairs or when N.C. Highway 12 may reopen.
Motorists should not attempt to travel through closed or damaged portions of N.C. Highway 12 and should obey all barricades and traffic-control measures.
Ferry Service:
NCDOT has advised it is consulting with partners and stakeholders to determine whether emergency ferry service will be activated, and the agency is completing the tasks now to efficiently establish service when that decision is made. If activated, it will likely take several days to mobilize and begin operations. Ferry operations are also dependent on weather and sea conditions being safe for vessels to operate.
As NCDOT restores regular ferry service between Ocracoke Island and Cedar Island and Swan Quarter, these routes may provide an option for those traveling to or from Hatteras Island once Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry service resumes and N.C. Highway 12 reopens on Ocracoke Island. Travelers should check with the N.C. Ferry Division for the latest information regarding ferry schedules and availability.
Coastal and Ocean Conditions:
While conditions will be improving, additional beach erosion and ocean overwash should be expected, particularly during upcoming high tide cycles. Hazardous ocean conditions will persist, keeping ocean swimming life-threatening.
Beachgoers should stay out of the ocean until conditions improve. For beach conditions, visit LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com or text “OBXBeachConditions” to 77295 to sign up for text alerts from Outer Banks ocean rescue agencies.
Where to Find Updates:
Dare County will continue to coordinate with NCDOT and share confirmed information as it becomes available regarding N.C. Highway 12 access and/or ferry operations.
Dare County Departmental Cancellations:
Dare County Public Works:
Dare County Public Works has announced that residential and commercial trash collection on Hatteras Island will remain suspended until road conditions on N.C. Highway 12 improve. This suspension includes trash collection in the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village.
Trash collection on Hatteras Island will resume once conditions on N.C. Highway 12 improve and it is safe for collection operations to proceed. Additional information regarding the resumption of service will be announced as it becomes available.
For additional information, contact Dare County Public Works at 252-475-5844 or visit DareNC.gov/PublicWorks.
Dare County Transportation:
Dare County Transportation has announced that due to anticipated storm impacts, transportation services will not operate south of the Marc Basnight Bridge until road conditions improve. For additional information, please contact the Dare County Transportation office at 252-475-5640.
Additional information regarding any departmental closures and cancellations of county programs and services will be posted at DareNC.gov/Storm as it becomes available.
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