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Flooding Cuts Off Access To Ocracoke

The Ocracoke Lighthouse in Hyde County was built almost 200 years ago. It's a popular destination for visitors of the island and remains one of the oldest operating lighthouses in the United States.
Jeff Tiberii

Along the North Carolina coast, Hyde County remained under a state of emergency Monday evening with rain expected to continue through the night.

About 1,900 people were evacuated fromOcracoke Island, one of the most remote areas of the state, last Thursday and Friday.  Ferry service to the Island remains shut down following washouts on highway 12 and high tides in the Pamlico Sound. The National Guard was called in over the weekend and was thrust into action almost immediately.

"On their way in [Sunday] night the water team saw a car go into the canal on highway 264 and dove in, the two swimmers and actually saved a man and a woman before the car went all the way under. So it was sort of a real blessed occurrence," said Hyde County Manager Bill Rich.

He says parts of the Ocracoke village, on the south end of the island, are still flood with water knee-deep in some places. Rich says along with assistant from the National Guard, the Postal Service is getting some support too.

"The coast guard is wonderful as well. They've been delivering our mail. They've been bringing in the mail from Hatteras," Rich explained, with a slight chuckle.

He says the Coast Guard is prepared to help in medical emergencies. As of Monday night, the island had power and winds had remained relatively calm.

Jeff Tiberii is the co-host of WUNC's "Due South." Jeff joined WUNC in 2011. During his 20 years in public radio, he was Morning Edition Host at WFDD and WUNC’s Greensboro Bureau Chief and later, the Capitol Bureau Chief. Jeff has covered state and federal politics, produced the radio documentary “Right Turn,” launched a podcast, and was named North Carolina Radio Reporter of the Year four times.
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