Wednesday Updates: Free Market opens in Frisco, Avon and North Buxton open to visitors
The Really, Really Free Market opened at the Frisco Volunteer Fire Station, while the Ocracoke Observer reported that mail has returned to the island after a six-day interruption in service. Avon and northern Buxton opened up to visitors as of noon on Wednesday, but there is not yet a timeframe on when visitors can return to south Buxton, Frisco or Hatteras village.
In addition, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore announced that a number of access sites north of the Cape Hatteras Secondary School in Buxton are open as of noon as well, however this does not include the soundside Salvo Day Use area, the Haulover Day Use area (Canadian Hole), or the Avon Pier.
Additional updates as of 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday are as follows:
Hatteras Island Updates
Unrestricted access to the village of Avon and northern areas of Buxton began at noon on Wednesday, September 11, and travelers should expect potential southbound delays.
Priority Three will remain in place for areas south of Buxton Back Road and N.C. 12 (NC SR 1232 at Cape Hatteras Secondary School), including the villages of Frisco and Hatteras. Visitors will not be allowed past the checkpoint at Cape Hatteras Secondary School.
The Dare County Control Group met Tuesday afternoon to consider reentry guidelines for Frisco and Hatteras Village and have determined these areas are not ready to receive visitors. The Control Group will meet again on Wednesday afternoon to assess conditions. The next update will be provided on Wednesday by 6 p.m.
For more information, please visit www.darenc.com/hurricanedorian.
A number of Cape Hatteras National Seashore access points opened for visitors at noon on Wednesday, which includes off-road vehicle permit offices at the Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras lighthouses, and ORV routes from Ramp 2 to Ramp 44 on Cape Point. Click here for a full list of current access on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Per a message from the Dare County Schools Superintendent, Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS) suffered damage to roughly a third of the structure, and all efforts are being made to repair the school and get it back up and running as soon as possible. It is hoped that the CHSS can reopen within a week, but this timeline can change. The elementary school is in excellent condition and will reopen when power is restored in all communities.
The Hatteras Library is open regular hours after Hurricane Dorian, but is experiencing issues with their phone line. Customers needing telephone assistance should call the Manteo Library at 252-473-2372.
Dare County trash collection resumed its regular schedule on Monday, September 9. Not all areas are accessible for trash trucks, but every effort will be made to pick up trash.
Details have not been finalized for debris pickup, but as the recovery process begins, please begin piling storm related debris into FOUR SEPARATE PILES onto the right-of-way at least 30 feet from fire hydrants. Visit http://www.darenc.com/hurricanedorian/ for information on how to separate debris and to receive updates as details are finalized.
Updates on where to obtain resources as needed are as follows:
Tetanus shots will be available at Avon Fire Dept. on Thursday Sept. 12 from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.
The Free Market is up and running at the Frisco Fire Department, with estimated daily hours of Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Please come by if you need supplies, or need to sign up for help at your home. Residents are welcome to fill a tote and take items that they need. Two totes per family, one box fan per family, and there are limits on other items (see signage at the station).
Volunteers are also needed to staff the market. Time slots are in two-hour increments, with two volunteers for each time slot. Please sign up for any time slots that fit your schedule. For more information on signing up as a volunteer, see: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040c45abad2ba31-hatteras2
At this time, the Frisco VFD location is only accepting items on the requested items list. No clothing, furniture, “yard sale” type items, etc.
North Carolina Baptists on Mission are feeding people in need at a mobile kitchen unit that is set up on the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry parking lot. Hot meals are prepared at the kitchen and distributed on Hatteras Island, and meals are also available at a serving line on the parking lot.
The Frisco Fire Station reported that volunteers will continue to be at the station in the coming days to hand out cleaning supplies, trash bags, and to get names and information from people who have damages. They are also getting a list of volunteers together.
The Avon Volunteer Fire Department has clean-up kits and drinking water available to those who had water in their homes due to Hurricane Dorian. Please stop by the department to pick up supplies and for information on what help is available. A representative of the United Methodist Men will be at the station to take down the names of those who need help with cleaning their homes, and work crews are available as of Tuesday.
Food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other essentials are also located at St. John United Methodist Church in Avon. Residents can stop by to get what they need.
The Salvation Army will continue to provide three meals a day on Hatteras Island on at two locations: the Old PNC Bank in Buxton and the Frisco Fire Department. Mealtimes at both locations are 8 a.m. for breakfast, 12 p.m. for lunch, and 6 p.m. for dinner.
A number of stores and businesses are currently open, which includes grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations. Individual business hours may be altered due to continuing recovery effort.
Dare County is available to help Hatteras Island residents in need. Please contact the Department of Health and Human Services at 252.475.4196 if you or someone you know needs assistance. In areas of the county most impacted by the storm, relief workers will be in the field knocking on doors, but please reach out and let county officials know if you need assistance.
Folks who want to donate funds towards recovery efforts can contact the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF) at www.obcf.org/disaster or the Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men, which is a local organization that has been assisting Hatteras Island for 40 years.
Checks can be mailed to:
Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men
PO Box 1591, Buxton, N.C. 27920
Checks should be marked “Hurricane Dorian Relief” and receipts will be sent. 100% of donations are used to address the needs of islanders.
Dare County has received notice of the availability of FEMA granting funds (Flood Mitigation Assistance Program or FMA) for the elevation of homes in unincorporated Dare County. The FMA program provides funding to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program. The FMA funding is a 75% federal and 25% property owner match.
If you are a year-round resident of unincorporated Dare County and your property has experienced repetitive flooding, federal funding may be available to elevate your home to mitigate flood losses. Manufactured homes, structures elevated on a piling foundation, or structures used for commercial or rental purposes are not eligible for funding consideration. The structure must have flood insurance coverage in place at the time of application.
A community meeting on the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program will be held on Tuesday, September 17 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Room 238 of the Dare County Administration Building in Manteo, NC. Applications will be accepted at this meeting or can be secured by contacting Brent Johnson at 252.475.5628 or brent.johnson@darenc.com. All applications must be received by the Dare County Planning Department’s Manteo location by the close of business on September 27, 2019. Dare County will submit applications to the State of North Carolina and FEMA for review and evaluation. Submission of an application is not a guarantee of funding.
Ocracoke Island Updates:
Per the Ocracoke Observer, the Ocracoke Island postmaster acquired a van on Tuesday from which she will be doing mail call from the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. Brooks said her hours will begin at 8 a.m.
Per a Tuesday afternoon press release, non-resident property owners are now allowed back to Ocracoke in addition to permanent residents.
Property owners must either have an Ocracoke re-entry pass (Red, Yellow, Green or White), Hatteras priority boarding pass sticker, or proof of residency when boarding the ferry to board the ferry. For more information, click here.
Volunteer teams who want to help with Ocracoke Island recovery efforts and are able to be part of a group of four or more can email ocracokedisasterrelief@gmail.com to book passage and receive authorization to enter the island. 24 to 36 hours of advanced notice is required.
“We have had to create this restriction because we do not have the resources to have a large amount of people on the island at this time, AND we will need help further down the road,” said the emergency commodities manager in an online statement, according to the Ocracoke Observer. “Recovery coordination is massive at this time. Thanks for your willingness to help and your patience.”
“Additionally, we cannot provide overnight accommodations on the island due to the extensive damage to structures. Many of our community members remain homeless due to the flooding.
“If you are able to work around those restrictions, please let us know. Ocracoke has always been in a unique situation in terms of access, and this storm that has devastated our community has, in turn, created an incredibly unique and difficult relief effort.
“Please do not misinterpret these restrictions for a lack of gratitude. Ocracoke appreciates every person who contacts us more than you can know, and we would love to have your passionate help if the requirements can be met.”
Wayland J. Sermons, Jr., senior resident Superior Court Judge, and Regina R. Parker, Chief District Court Judge for the Second Judicial District, have issued an administrative order delaying any required court appearances for residents of Ocracoke Island within the district, per the Ocracoke Observer. The order also defers Ocracoke residents summoned to the Sept. 16 jury session in Hyde County to a later date.
The Ocracoke Health Center is closed, and medical assistance is available at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, which is the command center for all activities. The Ocracoke post office also is closed indefinitely, said Celeste Brooks, postmaster. However, UPS arrived Monday morning and FedEx will arrive Tuesday.
Those interested in donating goods and services are asked to email mailto:ocracokedisasterrelief@gmail.com about helping, but not to purchase items before emailing.
Cash donations can be sent to either of the churches on Ocracoke by writing a check and sending it to the following places:
Ocracoke United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 278
Ocracoke, NC 27960
Ocracoke Lifesaving Church
P.O. Box 68
Ocracoke, NC 27960
The Ocracoke Observer also published an up-to-date and in-depth story on how to help residents of Ocracoke Island on Monday. Information on how to donate can be found here: https://ocracokeobserver.com/2019/09/09/how-you-can-help-ocracoke-post-dorian/
