“It’s going to be a problem”: Hatteras Island evacuations continue as Hurricane Erin approaches

HATTERAS ISLAND, N.C. (WITN) - Mandatory evacuations are underway on Hatteras Island as Hurricane Erin approaches, threatening the area with dangerous conditions.

End-of-summer beach trips to Hatteras Island for visitors like Maryland resident Michael Bishop have ended abruptly after Dare County issued mandatory evacuation orders for all visitors and residents in advance of the storm.


“My brother has been coming down here for 15 years, so he’s been asking me to come down, and this year I put in for vacation to come down with him to experience the first time in Outer Banks,” Bishop said. ”Of course, we get here Saturday, and Sunday we get the emergency evacuation.”

The county is in a state of emergency as Erin is projected to bring life-threatening impacts to the coastline. County Manager Bobby Outten says coastal flooding and ocean overwash are expected to begin soon, making portions of Highway 12 on Hatteras Island impassable for several days.

“They hear evacuation, they think the storms are gonna hit them directly, and they’re thinking since this once is not gonna hit us directly, it’s not gonna be a problem,” Dare County Manager Bobby Outten said.“Well, it’s gonna be a problem.”

Other concerns are rising for the only way to get onto the island, as the waves set to hit the area could take some of the highway into the ocean.

“So if you take out pavement, breach the road anywhere along Highway 12, anything to the south of that breach you can’t access,” Outten said.

Visitors on Hatteras Island were told to evacuate beginning at 10:00 a.m. Monday. Residents must evacuate starting at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday. County officials say those who are evacuating to areas north of Dare County are encouraged to travel westbound on Highway 64 to Interstate 95.

Bishop is one of many visitors not giving up on their summer vacation by finding a loophole to stay practically 30 minutes away from the evacuated area.

“From Nags Head up, there was no evacuation, so of course, quick thinking, I went on Google and rented another house out,” Bishop told WITN.

While Outten says he understands packing up and leaving is unfortunate, it’s necessary to keep everyone safe, as Erin is set to pose a major threat to some homes and roads on the island.

Officials say they’ll keep monitoring Highway 12 so visitors and homeowners can return to the island once it’s safe.