Drenched Outer Banks deal with flood's fallout

RODANTHE, N.C. — Gov. Bev Perdue declared a state of emergency Monday for Dare County to help residents there get financial help to clean up after recent flooding.

The county was the hardest hit when the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida drenched the coast last week. While much of North Carolina received between 2 and 5 inches of rain, most of the northeastern portion of the state and the Outer Banks received 6 to 10 inches of rain during the three-day period.

The state also activated an emergency ferry route Monday between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe and canceled some ferry runs between Ocracoke-Cedar Island.

The emergency route – from the Stumpy Point dock off U.S. Highway 264 West to the Rodanthe dock on Myrna Peters Road – will run six times daily with a capacity of 40 vehicles and 300 passengers.

Departures are scheduled from Stumpy Point at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m; ferries leave Rodanthe at 6:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Ferries departing Ocracoke at 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and those departing Cedar Island at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. are suspended. Check the ferry division Web site for schedule updates.

The state Department  of Transportation closed a portion of N.C. Highway 12 Friday after waves overwashed the road and rough surf tore up about a quarter mile of asphalt there, DOT engineer Jerry Jennings said.

On Sunday, crews opened a one-lane route to four-wheel drive vehicles. The detour  skirts the damaged road just north of the village of Rodanthe.

Flood warnings remained in effect along the coast Monday.

Officials said the following beach access ramps are open for ORV use:

Bodie Island District:

• Ramp 2, 4, and 23 are all open and passable with some debris.

Hatteras Island District:

• Ramp 27, 30, 34, 38, 43, 49, 55 are all open and passable with some debris.
• Ramp 43 has standing water but is accessible. Cape Point is accessible via Ramp 43.
• Ramp 44 and 45 are closed. Salt Pond Road is flooded and remains closed.
• The Interdunal Road between Ramp 44 and 45 is flooded and closed. The Salt Pond outflow, approximately 300 yards west of Cape Point, is draining water from the area and travel through the outflow is not recommended.
• South of Ramp 55, the Pole Road is closed due to flooded conditions. Cable Crossing access is closed. Access to Hatteras Inlet and the Spur Road are accessible by traveling south from Ramp 55 on the ocean beach.

Ocracoke Island District:

• Ramp 59, 67, 68 and 70 are all open and passable with some debris.
• Ramp 72 is closed due to flooded conditions. The last remaining turtle nest on the Ocracoke Island is located just south of Ramp 70 and blocks through access to Ramp 72. The nest is expected to hatch this week.