Ocracoke Island was issued a mandatory evacuation order for island visitors Thursday afternoon.
Only residents, homeowners or vendors with an Ocracoke re-entry sticker on their vehicles will be allowed on ferries inbound to Ocracoke.
Priority boarding has been suspended for all vessels leaving the island and tolls have been waived for ferries heading from Ocracoke to Cedar Island or Swan Quarter.
A State of Emergency was also issued for 33 eastern counties in North Carolina by Gov. Pat McCrory.
This is in preparation for Hurricane Hermine that will make landfall over Florida and work its way up the Eastern Shore.
He also issued an executive order that waives certain truck restrictions on weight and hours of service in order to facilitate quicker storm response.
The Governor was at the Emergency Operations Center today for a briefing with the Public Safety Secretary and with the state Emergency Management Director.
Gov. McCrory said the goal is to be “be over prepared and underwhelmed.”
Pictures: Hermine in Florida
