Hatteras Island

At Nags Head on North Carolina's Hatteras Island, only a few people remained to take photos of angry waves topped with white froth.

Officials in North Carolina have issued mandatory evacuation orders for Dare County and Hatteras Island. (end) ak.mb

Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson warned that travel would remain hazardous for the foreseeable future, particularly on Hatteras Island.

And on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks, a small tornado spawned by Hermine knocked over two trailers and injured four people, authorities said.

An important lifeline for the State's economy, the Dare County bridge originally opened in 1963 and provides the only highway connection between the Outer Banks' Hatteras Island and the mainland.

Wolf and Fannon, a project manager, are dispatched to Hatteras Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks.

A highway connecting Hatteras Island to the mainland, which had been blocked, was back in use and Hatteras and Ocracoke islands were re-opened to the public.

McCrory's office said Highway 12, the 50-mile (80-km) road connecting Hatteras Island to the mainland, had been blocked by flooding, downed power poles and sand.

North Carolina officials warned of life-threatening rip currents and a storm surge of up to 1.5 meters that could render the narrow 80 km Highway 12 connecting Hatteras Island to the mainland impassable.

Authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation for visitors to the Outer Banks' Hatteras Island, while residents were advised to leave.

Officials ordered a mandatory evacuation of Hatteras Island starting at 5 a.m.