Ocracoke recovery coming slowly after Dorian

N.C. Highway 12, the main street on the island, remained lined with debris, but demolition and cleanup businesses from across the country have fanned out across Ocracoke to scoop up and haul away mounds of flood-damaged furnishings and business goods.

Volunteer organizations have also assisted with the cleanup effort.

"By seeing the crews come in here and remove [the debris], it's almost like a breath of fresh air," said Jill Gunter, who owns the Sand Dollar Motel on Ocracoke with her husband. "People are helping neighbors. People are helping each other. That's the community we have here."

Dorian's winds pushed about 3 feet of water into the Sand Dollar, which the Gunters bought four years ago after moving to the coast from Siler City, and most homes on the island. So, all of the motel rooms had to be gutted.

Jill Gunter said it's unclear when the motel will reopen.

Ocracoke School plans to hold classes for its 175 students in temporary space next Monday, Hyde County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight said.

"We had lot of people reach out to us, to offer supplies, anything we needed," Basnight said.

'This has never happened before': Ocracoke residents cope after historic Dorian damage

Janille Turner, who owns the Ocracoke Oyster House, said she may be serving her half shells again come November. Right now, she said, she's trying to get her parents' house repaired.

"We've got to get the house dried out," Turner said. "We've never had water up this high here. This house has never been flooded."

Ocracoke is home to a few hundred residents and a treasured getaway for untold thousands.

"This is our busiest time of the year. That's when all these businesses make the most money," Turner said.

Local officials have no timetable for when visitors can access Ocracoke again.

"We would want to have an effort where we have this back open as soon as possible," said Gov. Roy Cooper, who made his second visit to the island since the hurricane on Monday.

Cooper visited Ocracoke the day after Dorian departed the North Carolina coast. Since then, state agencies and nonprofits have provided food and water, fuel, medical care and portable toilets and showers.

The governor spent a couple of hours on Ocracoke on Monday, touring a temporary medical facility and the historic district. He has twice requested federal disaster relief assistance to help rebuild homes and businesses and help residents find temporary shelter, but the state hasn't received a response.