Press Release #13: Hurricane Florence Ocracoke Island Reentry Status

The Hyde County Board of Commissioners met at 5:00 pm, Monday, September 17, 2018. At this meeting, the decision was made to lift the restriction on non-resident property owners starting Tuesday, September 18, 2018. Visitors will be allowed back on the island starting Friday, September 21, 2018. The Swan Quarter Ferry Terminal is still the only access point onto the island. There is still no time table on when the Hatteras and Cedar Island Terminals will be operational.

The following reentry passes and vendors will be allowed to board the ferry in the following priority and will be strictly enforced:

1. Red Passes– Emergency Personnel
2. Yellow Passes – Essential Island Personnel
3. Vendors – See below for vendor priority listings 4. Green Passes – Permanent Residents
5. White Passes – Non-Resident Property Owners

Vendor Priority List:

1 - Emergency Personnel and Equipment
2 - NCDOT Highway and Power Company Personnel and Equipment 3 - Sanitation Personnel and Equipment
4 - Mail and Parcel Delivery
5 - Commodities and Fuel Vendors

If you are not one of the above pass holders or a vendor, do not attempt to gain entry to the island. Entry is first come first served. However, you will be bumped in line by anyone with a priority pass higher than yours.

Ferry reservations will resume on Friday, September 21, 2018.

The ferry schedule for the Swan Quarter – Ocracoke route for Tuesday, September 18, 2018 will be as follows:

Swan Quarter Departures – 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 3:30 pm, and 4:30 pm

Ocracoke Departures – 7:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6:30 pm

Route schedules for after Tuesday have not been determined yet. As soon as we receive that information we will release it. If you are returning from out of town, check http://www.drivenc.gov for road conditions between you and your destination. You can also call 511 for road conditions.

If you have any questions or need assistance, call the Hyde County Emergency Operations Center at 252-926-3715.