UPDATED: Hyde County officials say that Ocracoke has been overwhelmed with donations of food and supplies for residents, and they are asking that those who want to help make donations through the Outer Banks Community Foundation.
Statement from Hyde County Emergency Management, Sunday 2 p.m.:
We would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming response to the recovery efforts on Ocracoke. At this time, we have all the food and supply donations we can handle.
Please do not send anything to the island without coordinating with our staff. You can call 833-543-3248 to let us know what you have and evaluate our current needs. Please be patient while we work to organize everything.
If you would still like to donate to the relief effort, we would recommend a cash donation to the Outer Banks Community Foundation. You can donate specifically to Ocracoke at the following website: https://www.obcf.org/donate-now/disaster-relief-fund-donate/
We are still restricting access to Ocracoke. Any private boats attempting to access the island will be turned away.
The Ocracoke Airport is only for authorized government use. Please do not attempt to come unless you have prior authorization from the Hyde County EOC.
While we certainly appreciate people trying to help, showing up without coordination actually interferes with the relief efforts.
EARLIER: The mandatory evacuation order for the mainland portions of Hyde County was terminated at noon today. The restrictions on the sale of alcohol will also be lifted for mainland Hyde County only.
Ocracoke Island is still under a mandatory evacuation order. Reentry is restricted to emergency personnel and other preauthorized deliveries. A ban on alcohol sales remains in effect, as well as the nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Hot meals are being served throughout the county today. In Ocracoke, the Salvation Army will dinner at 5:00 pm in the Community Center. On the mainland, the Red Cross will serve lunch starting at 1:30 pm at the Scranton Post Office Parking Lot, 500 Old US Highway 264 and the Engelhard Fire Department, 34545 US-264. The Church of Christ Disaster Assistance will serve lunch and dinner from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Swan Quarter Masonic Lodge, 80 2nd St.
If you have any unmet needs or concerns, please contact the EOC at 252-926-3715. If you have an emergency call 911. Continue monitoring our social media outlets and website www.hydecountync.gov for updates.