The Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry may reopen by Friday, transportation officials say. 

The ferries are ready, but NC 12 “must be passable,” said Tim Hass, spokesman for the state’s ferry division. 

The contractor’s emergency contract called for the road to be fixed by Friday and all work completed by Nov. 30. 

Ocean overwash from Hurricane Florence damaged a mile or more of NC 12 from the Ocracoke ferry dock to the Pony Pens. Oceanfront dune was destroyed. 

Visitors can access Ocracoke Island via ferries running from Swan Quarter and Cedar Island. A tram service is also running in Ocracoke for walk-on ferry passengers. The trams are free. 

If the ferries start running Friday between Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, visitors can take a trip to Ocracoke for the island’s first island-wide yard sale, slated for Saturday, Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Hyde County, which Ocracoke is part of, has been approved for major federal disaster assistance to help individuals and communities recover from Hurricane Florence. 

Hyde is one of nine counties in NC to gain the declaration this week. The others are Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Pitt, Richmond, Scotland and Wilson counties. 

Individuals in those counties are now able to apply for disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses resulting from Hurricane Florence. 

With the addition of these nine counties, 27 counties have now been approved for federal assistance. As of Wednesday, approximately 80,000 people have registered for disaster assistance and more than $26 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved for individuals and families. 

Anyone with a home damaged by Florence in any county is encouraged to begin the FEMA registration process by calling 1-800-621-FEMA to register via telephone or by visiting disasterassistance.gov to register online. 

If you have a homeowner’s or flood insurance policy, file your insurance claim immediately before applying for disaster assistance. 

Do not wait to begin your cleanup and repairs. Take photos of all damage and save all receipts. 

FEMA’s disaster assistance programs are designed to help with grants for basic repairs to make survivors’ homes safe, sanitary and secure and to provide a temporary place to live while survivors develop their recovery plans. 

The statewide NC 211 information line can provide callers with housing, recovery and other storm-related details. Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162, or text FLORENCE to 898211. The information line is staffed around the clock to connect North Carolinians to storm resources. Other resources can be obtained by visiting ncdps.gov/Florence or following NC Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter.