NCDOT Ferry Division working to get evacuees off Ocracoke Island

Published 8:07 pm Friday, July 31, 2020

: Vehicles line up to board ferries departing Ocracoke Island on July 31. Courtesy NC Ferry System

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

As Hurricane Isaias approaches the North Carolina coast, the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division is assisting with the evacuation of all visitors and residents from Ocracoke Island.

Hyde County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for island visitors, which began at noon Friday, July 31, and for residents, which begins Saturday, August 1 at 6 a.m.

The Ferry Service reported Friday evening on their Facebook page that they’ll “be running ferries through the evening hours if need be to get our residents and visitors to safety.”

Get the latest headlines sent to you

Only residents, homeowners or vendors with an Ocracoke re-entry sticker on their vehicles will be allowed on ferries inbound to Ocracoke. Priority boarding will be suspended for all vessels leaving Ocracoke and tolls have been waived for ferries heading from Ocracoke to Cedar Island or Swan Quarter.

The Ocracoke-Hatteras route will run its published schedule, with an additional ferry making unscheduled runs as necessary. The final departure to Hatteras will be Sunday afternoon or evening, depending on conditions.

The schedule for the Pamlico Sound ferry routes will be as follows:

Friday, July 31:

Cedar Island to Ocracoke 4:30 p.m.
Ocracoke to Swan Quarter 8:00 p.m.
Swan Quarter to Ocracoke 4:30 p.m., 11:00 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 1:

Ocracoke to Cedar Island 7:30 a.m.
Cedar Island to Ocracoke 10:30 a.m.
Ocracoke to Swan Quarter 1:30 p.m.
Swan Quarter to Ocracoke 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 2:

Ocracoke to Cedar Island 7:30 a.m.
Cedar Island to Ocracoke 10:30 a.m.
Ocracoke to Swan Quarter 1:30 p.m.

The Ocracoke Express passenger ferry has suspended service until further notice.

“Hurricane Isaias is approaching quickly, and has the potential to create serious flooding and storm surge on Ocracoke Island,” said Ferry Division Director Harold Thomas. “We hope everyone will heed the evacuation orders for their own safety.”

Evacuation procedures will remain in effect for all Ocracoke-bound ferries until Hyde County emergency officials lift the evacuation orders.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.