Hurricane Maria Advisory #3

Date: September 27, 2017
Contact: B.G. Horvat, 252-728-2250, ext. 3014

HARKERS ISLAND, NC – Cape Lookout National Seashore will reopen on North Core, South Core, and Shackleford Banks on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 8:00 A.M. This includes the Long Point and Great Island Cabin camps. Also, vehicle and passenger ferry services will resume offering passage to their respective areas across the Southern Outer Banks.

Based on current weather models, Hurricane Maria is down to 75 mph and her forecast track is to begin to move northeast of the park out into the Atlantic Ocean. The park remains under a storm surge warning, with an estimated two to four foot surge continuing to pound Southern Outer Banks beaches.

Park staff continues to conduct safety, facility, and resource assessments. To this point, although the park suffered beach erosion due to extreme high surf and tides, overall the park has fared well.

Harkers Island & Beaufort

• The Harkers Island Visitor Center and park headquarters are open on a normal schedule.
• The Beaufort Visitor Information Center is operating on a normal schedule.
• Island Express Ferry Service will resume service on Friday, September 29. Visitors should contact the ferry service directly for reservations at 252-728-7433.

Shackleford Banks

• Reopens on Friday, September 29, 2017

South Core Banks

• The Light Station Visitor Center will reopen Friday, September 29, on a normal schedule.
• Vehicle ferries from Davis serving Great Island will reopen Friday, September 29. Visitors should contact the ferries directly for reservations:
  • Cape Lookout Cabins and Camps - at 252-729-9751
  • Davis Shore Ferry Service - at 252-729-3474
• Great Island Cabins will open Friday, September 29, 2017. Reservations can be obtained through Recreation.gov

North Core Banks

• The ferry service at Morris Marina in Atlantic serving Long Point will reopen Friday, September 29. Visitors should contact the ferry service directly for reservations at 252-225-4261.
• Long Point Cabins will open Friday, September 29, 2017. Reservations can be obtained through Recreation.gov.
• Portsmouth Village remains closed until further notice.

Visitors should be aware the park is experiencing high surf and high tides and people traveling the beach must proceed with caution. Also, visitors coming to the park should be sure to check the status of roads, since many areas inland from the park are experiencing record high flooding.

The National Park Service will post updates as needed on the park website at www.nps.gov/calo and via Facebook at www.facebook.com/CapeLookoutNPS and Twitter at www.twitter.com/CapeLookoutNPS.