Hyde County lifts re-entry restrictions; permanent residents now allowed back on Ocracoke

(Editor's Note: This is an update of a previous version of this news release that came out at 5:45 p.m. Hyde County has now lifted resident re-entry restrictions.)

In order to speed the delivery of hurricane relief supplies and personnel to Ocracoke Island, the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division will begin emergency ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke’s Silver Lake Harbor on Monday, Sept. 9.

The route bypasses the closed section of N.C. Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island and takes two hours and 30 minutes for a one-way trip.

Hyde County has now lifted re-entry restrictions for permanent Ocracoke residents as of Sept. 9. Re-entry restrictions for visitors remain in effect.

The schedule for Monday, Sept. 9 will be as follows:

• Hatteras to Ocracoke-Silver Lake: 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
• Ocracoke-Silver Lake to Hatteras: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.

Only high-clearance vehicles will be allowed on the Hatteras-Silver Lake route.

In addition, the Ferry Division’s Pamlico Sound routes will be on the following schedule:

• Swan Quarter to Ocracoke: 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. 
• Ocracoke to Swan Quarter: 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m.
• Cedar Island to Ocracoke: 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Ocracoke to Cedar Island:  11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

All fuel deliveries to Ocracoke should use the 9 a.m. Swan Quarter to Ocracoke departure.