OCRACOKE, N.C. — Starting Thursday morning, no visitors will be allowed on Ocracoke-bound ferries. 

Hyde County declared a state of emergency Wednesday. Beginning at 5 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, only residents, property owners, workers, vendors, and service providers will be allowed to board the Ocracoke ferries.

Visitors with reservations for the Swan Quarter-Ocracoke and Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry route can call 1-800-BY-FERRY to secure refunds for their canceled reservations.