NC 12 begins phases of reopening Saturday after Hurricane Erin strikes the Outer Banks, officials say

DARE COUNTY, N.C. (WNCN) — Two days after Hurricane Erin arrived on the NC coast in the Atlantic, state officials are beginning to reopen roads closed from the storm’s flooding.

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, county officials along N.C. Highway 12 announced a re-entry guideline for Hatteras Island that began Saturday at noon to allow traffic on the beach’s road.

Damages from Hurricane Erin caused NC 12 to close at the Basnight Bridge. Dare County officials said there was major ocean overwash, prompting the road closure.

“This staged reentry process enables those who live on Hatteras Island to return to their residences—and for those who own property on Hatteras Island to check their homes before visitors are permitted to return,” officials with Dare County Emergency Management said. “In addition, it enables employees to return to assist businesses and property managers with preparing for the return of visitors.”

The reopening process is structured by four priorities. The first one was for essential personnel only, including NCDOT, medical and local fire and rescue vehicles. The next two are now allowed re-entry.

Priority 2 is for permanent residents and essential personnel for critical businesses. Officials said there must be proof of residency in the area to pass. This includes “a valid Priority 2 Reentry Permit, a valid North Carolina Driver License/Identification Card issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles or a Voter Registration Card issued by the North Carolina State Board of Elections along with a government issued photo identification that matches the name on the Voter Registration Card.”

“To expedite movement through traffic control points, have your reentry documents in full view and ready for inspection as you approach,” officials said. “Non-resident essential personnel for critical businesses—such as grocery stores, food distributors, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, property management, building supply stores and hotels—will be permitted reentry with a reentry permit and matching current government-issued ID.”

Priority 3 is for non-residential property owners and non-resident employees of non-critical businesses. A re-entry permit or a current real property tax bill, or property record with matching current government-issued ID is required for non-residential property owners. Non-resident employees of non-critical businesses will be allowed entry with a re-entry permit and matching current government-issued ID.

Re-entry for the Priority 4 process begins Sunday at 5 a.m. and is for the general public and visitors of Dare County. Officials said Hatteras Island will be fully accessible to the public at that time.

More information on the re-entry process for NC 12 at Hatteras Island can be found here.

In other parts of NC 12 on the Outer Banks, NCDOT officials said Ocracoke had moderate overwash from Friday night’s high tide and overwash early Saturday morning. “Most all of the progress made clearing last evening was washed out. NC 12 has approximately 2 to 6 feet of sand deposited along a 1.6-mile section with no dune. Crews are continuing to work throughout the weekend to clear the roadway.”

A picture shared by NCDOT showed 8 to 10 inches of standing water on the roadway in Hatteras. “Crews are working to widen and clear width of travel lanes to edge of pavement [Saturday] morning.”

In Rodanthe, officials said Friday night’s high tide brought some overwash on secondary roads.

Officials said there was minor overwash in Buxton’s North End, leaving a thin skim of sand.

There is also a thin skim of sand on Pea Island