how do you solve a problem like Maria?

The National Hurricane Center 5:00 p.m. track for Hurricane Maria. A slow slog up the coast followed by rapid exit.
The National Hurricane Center 5:00 p.m. track for Hurricane Maria. A slow slog up the coast followed by rapid exit.

You evacuate Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, for starters. Moving slowly parallel to the coast, Hurricane Maria will impact the Outer Banks with high surf and ocean over wash. Concerned about visitor safety, Dare and Hyde Counties ordered visitor evacuations for Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands. The evacuations do not apply to the northern Outer Banks. Rob Morris, writing for the Outer Banks Voice, reports.

A dedicated bulldozer pushes sand in Kitty Hawk ahead of the oncoming storm, as part of ongoing beach nourishment efforts. Photo by Kip Tabb

“High wind for up to three days threatens to leave N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island impassable and shut down ferry service to Ocracoke Island as Hurricane Maria approaches the North Carolina coast.

Ocracoke is already under a mandatory evacuation order and Dare County has told visitors to leave Hatteras Island right away.”

 

[box type=”bio”] As Hurricane Maria slogs her way up the coast, the visitor evacuations have been ordered for Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands, as the Outer Banks Voice reports.[/box]