OCRACOKE ISLAND, N.C. — Hyde County officials say Ocracoke Island will be reopened to visitors Saturday morning. A state of emergency will be lifted at 6 a.m.

Authorities asked the estimated 3,500 vacationers there to leave Thursday so that the cleanup after Hurricane Alex could speed up.

Ocracoke, which only accessible by

ferry

and by plane, received the worst damage from the storm, with hundreds of cars damaged by flood waters. Power was also knocked out, although it was back online late Wednesday.

Visitors and permanent residents said they are unhappy with the evacuation. They say it's ruined vacations, while businesses are losing money.

Business owners complained about the evacuation in a meeting with state emergency officials.

Authorities say some flooded cars had caught fire on the island, illustrating the need to clear visitors.