The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) launched emergency ferry routes beginning Sunday morning between Rodanthe and Stumpy Point in Dare County, with an increased number of routes run starting Monday, as roadway access to the island remains unavailable following a strong multiday nor’easter.

Sections of Hatteras Island began experiencing overwash from still-distant Hurricane Erin on Tuesday, and all of the Outer Banks is under a tropical storm warning and a storm surge warning.

Dare and Hyde counties each issued a state of emergency declaration Sunday evening and mandatory evacuation orders for Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island as potentially dangerous conditions from Hurricane Erin are expected to begin Tuesday.