Officials reopening Outer Banks as Maria races out to sea
WAVES, N.C. — Maria raced away from the U.S. East Coast on Thursday, giving the nation its first rest from the constant threat of tropical weather for more than a month.
No injuries have been reported on the U.S. mainland from Maria, which lashed North Carolina’s fragile Outer Banks with high water and waves, washing over the only highway connecting Hatteras Island to the mainland.
Maria moved slowly Monday and Tuesday before accelerating out to sea late Wednesday and weakening to a tropical storm early Thursday. Its tropical storm-force winds extended for as much as 240 miles (390 kilometres) from the centre, churning up the surf on both sides of the fragile islands.
On Thursday as Maria moved further offshore, Officials began reopening the islands of Hatteras and Ocracoke to visitors after more than 10,000 tourists were evacuated Monday. Full ferry service to Ocracoke, reachable only by boat or airplane, was resuming as Hatteras Island also planned to reopen the main road link to the mainland.