UPDATE: Cape Point and Shelly Island Reopen After Military Device is Removed
The unidentified military device that caused Shelly Island and the Point to be closed off for a portion of the day has been removed, according to Drew Pearson, Director of Dare County Emergency Management.
“The device is in the hands of the Navy, and they are headed back to Virginia with it,” he said.
Though the exact identity or age of the device has not been confirmed, the object appeared to be training piece of ordnance, likely from the World War II era.
The object was removed from the “Shelly Island” sandbar by the Navy EOD Unit with assistance from the Hatteras Island Rescue Squad.
“The Hatteras Island Rescue Squad assisted the Navy with getting out to the sandbar, and they also helped to transfer [the object] back,” said Pearson, noting that the Rescue Squad used a jet ski to help navigate across the water that separates Cape Point from Shelly Island. “Hats off to all of the great volunteers of the Hatteras Island Rescue Squad.”
Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) has reopened off-road vehicle (ORV) and pedestrian access to the Cape Point area after receiving an all clear from the U.S. Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit team leader from Little Creek, Virginia.
