UPDATED: Florence cuts off Hatteras Island’s only exit

Published 4:00 pm Thursday, September 13, 2018

Ocean over-wash has closed NC 12 in both directions from the Bonner Bridge to Hatteras Village.

The NC Department of Transportation said water and sand covers the road near Rodanthe and in Avon, Buxton and just north of Hatteras Village.

The highway will likely remain closed through the duration of Hurricane Florence’s approach.

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Both “the road and its bridges must be cleared of debris, inspected for structural damage and repaired as necessary before they can be reopened,” NCDOT said.

Inspects will begin as soon as conditions allow.

Video and photos from Hatteras and Ocracoke on Thursday showed quickly deteriorating conditions as high tide combined with hurricane surf on the fragile barrier islands.

Further north, at the Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills line, over-wash had NC 12 with minor flooding late Thursday morning.

Dare and Hyde counties remain under hurricane and storm surge warnings, as well as a tornado watch, as Hurricane Florence approaches the coast.

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