The mandatory evacuation is now fully lifted for Hatteras Island, but travelers trying to reach Ocracoke will have to either use the ferries from Swan Quarter and Cedar Island until N.C. 12 is cleared of sand on the north end.
Vacationers planning to arrive on Sunday are advised to check with their accommodations provider to make sure a property they are renting has not been directly impacted by the storm.
Heavy rain is also expected on Sunday, and some areas of Hatteras Island may be more susceptible to flooding from heavy rain due to potential drainage challenges as a result of Hurricane Erin.
A Flood Watch is in effect through 5 p.m. for all of Dare, Hyde and Tyrrell counties, with the highest likelihood of flooding expected right along the coast.
An evacuation order for visitors to Hatteras and Ocracoke began Monday and residents on Tuesday, ahead of the arrival of powerful waves from Hurricane Erin as it passed just offshore.
N.C. 12 was closed on Wednesday evening after severe overwash from Hurricane Erin inundated several sections. Since then, NCDOT crews have been working to clear N.C. 12 between high tide cycles to make the road safe for travel.
After crews were able to clear sand and ocean water from the Canal Zone, Pea Island, Buxton and northern Hatteras village, a phase reentry began on Saturday as residents, property owners and workers were allowed back in at noon.
Visitor access to Hatteras Island resumed on Sunday at 5 a.m.
The highway remains closed at the north end of Ocracoke Island between the South Dock Ferry Terminal and the National Park Service Pony pens.
Crews continued working on Saturday to clear deep sand and water off that section of highway, and will reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so. While the road is closed the Hatteras Inlet ferry route remains suspended.
In the meantime, access to Ocracoke Island using the Pamlico Sound routes has resumed.
And the Ferry Division plans to restart the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry service between Hatteras village and Silver Lake Harbor on Monday.
Assessment teams reported 75 residential and six commercial structures damaged in Rodanthe and Buxton, mostly involving driveways, septic systems and debris.
The Dare County Water Department attempted to restore water service to the area located south of N.C. Highway 12 and along Old Lighthouse Road in Buxton on Saturday. The repairs led to the discovery of a water main break in the shoreline.
The entire area highlighted in the image below is currently under a system pressure advisory and will be under a 24-hour boil water advisory. For details regarding this advisory, please click here.
For any customers experiencing water loss, bottled water will be available for pickup at the Cape Hatteras Water Plant. Please stop by and ring the front door bell for pickup. The Cape Hatteras Water Plant is located at 50225 Water Association Road, Frisco, NC 27936.
Dare County Water Department personnel are actively compiling a list of water leaks and exposed lines in need of repair. Please call 252-475-5990 with any information regarding water leaks or exposed water lines. If you need assistance after normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday), please call the Dare County Water Department’s after-hours phone line: 252-475-5812.
Dare County Public Works has announced that it will resume its regularly scheduled residential and commercial trash collection for Hatteras Island on Monday, August 25, 2025. To view Dare County Public Works’ trash collection schedule, visit DareNC.gov/Trash.
The National Park Service plans to reopen all Cape Hatteras National Seashore facilities, including campgrounds and most lifeguard stands on Sunday. However, the beach in Buxton remains closed north of Ramp 43 due to debris, and damage to homes and septic tanks.
All ORV ramps will be open, except for Pole Road on Hatteras Island and Ramp 72 on Ocracoke Island that require additional maintenance to provide for safe access. Cape Point will also be fully accessible to the public.
Residents and visitors are urged to follow the precautionary water quality swimming advisory issued by state officials, warning the public against swimming in ocean waters in and between the villages of Rodanthe, Buxton and Hatteras along Highway 12.
The advisory is due to public health risks resulting from exposed septic drain fields and pumping of ocean over wash to the ocean surf.
The lifeguard area at Old Lighthouse Beach is closed due to the advisory, and a portion of the parking lot at Frisco Beach Access is closed, where crews will be removing sand.
A high risk of rip currents is forecast for all of the Outer Banks on Sunday, and ocean swimming is not advised due to continued dangerous surf conditions.
Northern Buxton on Saturday. Photos by Don Bowers.
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