Coastal Storm Bulletin #5
Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 7 p.m.
Effective today, Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 7 p.m., Hatteras Island is under a State of Emergency due the loss of N.C. Highway 12 roadway access and the need to manage the movement of people, emergency personnel and essential supplies to and from the island.
The declaration allows Dare County to implement access and entry restrictions and to take other measures necessary to protect public health and safety while N.C. Highway 12 remains closed on Hatteras Island between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe.
Under the State of Emergency, entry to Hatteras Island is restricted to Priority One and Priority Two individuals. Visitors and non-resident property owners are not permitted to enter Hatteras Island at this time. The declaration also authorizes residents of Ocracoke Island in Hyde County to travel through Hatteras Island to return to Ocracoke when ferry service resumes.
To enter Hatteras Island during the State of Emergency, travelers must have proper credentials. To apply for a 2026 entry permit or learn more about Dare County’s staged entry process, visit DareNC.gov/Reentry.
Emergency Ferry Service:
Dare County officials met with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and other partners this afternoon, Saturday, September 26, 2026, to discuss the significant damage to N.C. Highway 12 at Pea Island and the loss of road access to and from Hatteras Island.
NCDOT has announced that emergency ferry service between Stumpy Point on the Dare County mainland and Rodanthe on Hatteras Island will soon be established. NCDOT is currently making the necessary preparations and plans to provide the start time and departure schedule on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Travelers should not go to the Stumpy Point or Rodanthe emergency ferry terminals until NCDOT announces when service will begin.
N.C. Highway 12 Repairs:
NCDOT continues to assess the damage to N.C. Highway 12 at Pea Island and, if conditions allow, plans to begin work tomorrow (Sunday, September 27, 2026), to construct a temporary roadway.
There is currently no timeline for when road access will be restored. Until then, there remains no road access to or from Hatteras Island.
Information Line:
A Dare County information line will open at 12 p.m. tomorrow, (Sunday, September 27, 2026), at 252-475-5655 to assist callers with questions related to the current situation on Hatteras Island. Spanish translators are available.
Travel Information and Updates:
Visitors with upcoming reservations on Hatteras Island should not travel toward the island at this time. There is currently no timeline for when visitor access to Hatteras Island will resume. Those with upcoming reservations on Hatteras Island should contact their accommodations provider directly for information regarding their reservation. Dare County is unable to make changes to lodging reservations or provide information about individual accommodations.
The next bulletin will be issued no later than 12 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday, September 27, 2026).
National Park Service - Cape Hatteras National Seashore:
At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, all off-road vehicle (ORV) ramps are temporarily closed, and both Cape Point and Frisco campgrounds are closed until further notice. Additionally, swimming in the ocean is not recommended, and the beach from the northern boundary of Rodanthe to the Rodanthe Pier is closed to all public access due to multiple threatened oceanfront structures that pose safety risks. Updates on ORV access, campground operations and beach conditions will be posted at www.nps.gov/caha.
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