NC 12 reopens along Ocracoke Island in Outer Banks

North Carolina Highway 12 in Ocracoke Island reopened Friday after it was closed almost a week due to ocean overwash.

The state Department of Transportation said N.C. 12 has reopened in Ocracoke Island between the National Park Service pony pens and the South Dock ferry terminal. The highway had been closed to drivers since March 23 after weekend rain and storms.

Drivers will still need to use caution and travel at a slower pace, as some standing water and sand remains on the roadway.

Workers will be replacing lost or damaged sandbags, so lane closures may be possible, according to the NCDOT.

WRAL's Ken Smith on Thursday spoke with long-time Outer Banks resident and author Jan Dawson, who owned a hotel on Hatteras Island. She described the rough conditions and what's like being stuck at home.

"It's very frustrating, especially if you're in a situation where you might require medicine or you might have appointments ... it is something that everyone learns to live with, but that doesn't always make it easy ... and sometimes it can cause real concern," Dawson said.

In Rodanthe this week, at least five homes were impacted by high surf, and a stretch of beach in Cape Hatteras remains closed due to petroleum contamination after the recent storm exposed debris from a once-secret military site on Buxton Beach.