Residents of Hatteras Island will be allowed to return home today.
It's been more than a week since Hurricane Irene made landfall on the Outer Banks. But state officials say they've made enough progress with restoring services and infrastructure to let residents back on the island, starting at noon today. People who want to return need to show a driver's license with a local address before boarding an alternate ferry route from Stumpy Point. The storm punched four wide holes in the only highway that connects the island to the mainland. Local emergency management officials say visitors won't be allowed back on the island for at least another two weeks.