Ocracoke and Hatteras Issue Evacuations For Visitors
Ocracoke and Hatteras issue evacuations for visitors on both islands. This is due to the approaching Hurricane Maria. Both Hyde County and Dare County officials have issued a mandatory evacuation for visitors for Ocracoke and Hatteras Island. Hurricane Maria is a Category 1 now and is forecast to brush the Outer Banks. Even without a direct impact high surf, high winds and beach erosion are expected. This is the second hurricane within a week that has brought rough conditions to the area. No evacuations were ordered for Hurricane Jose, but the area did suffer from high surf , flooding conditions and ocean overwash.
The next several days Hurricane Maria will be just off the coast of North Carolina and the Outer Banks. Dare county emergency officials warn that roads will most likely “become impassable for extended periods and emergency response may be limited at the height of the storm”. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect along with a Storm Surge Watch for the Outer Banks.
The National Park Service has issued closures for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore due to the Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Watch now in effect at the coast. Visitor services will be suspended and visitor facilities will be temporarily closed at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Here is a list of the closures posted by the park service.
On 9/25/2017-12:00 pm – Oregon Inlet, Cape Point, and Frisco Campgrounds will close until further notice. Ocracoke Campground closed at 12:00 pm yesterday.
On 9/25/17-3:00 pm – Staff will begin to cable and close off-road vehicle Seashore beach access ramps. All ramps will be closed by 5:00 pm. Access to beaches along the Seashore will be limited to pedestrian use until further notice. Daily beach access ramp status updates are available on the CHNS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/capehatterasns.
On 9/25/17-5:00 pm – All Seashore visitor centers and facilities will close until further notice. All affected visitor services and facilities will reopen after the storm has passed and after assessments of the park are completed and deemed safe for the public to return.
As with any hurricane or tropical storm rip currents, large swells, and windy conditions can result in life-threatening surf conditions along the coast. These current conditions are expected to continue until the end of the week. By the end of the week Hurricane Maria should have passed by the coast and the conditions will improve. Cape Hatteras National “Seashore Superintendent David Hallac strongly urges all beachgoers to stay away from the surf and out of the water until dangerous conditions subside”.
9/24/2017 Track of Hurricane Maria To Affect North Carolina Coast
