The construction company drove a steel casing into an underground transmission line, causing blackouts on Ocracoke and Hatteras islands. A second order for visitors to Hatteras Island, south of Oregon Inlet, meant up to 60,000 additional people had to evacuate starting Saturday, primarily north over the inlet bridge. Excavation at the site revealed Saturday that one of three underground transmission cables that supply the islands' power is missing a 2-foot section. Dare County spokeswoman Dorothy Hester had no estimate for how many people still needed to leave Hatteras Island. The order barring inbound tourists did not apply to Hatteras Island's roughly 6,000 year-round residents or to other property owners.

Source: Fox News July 29, 2017 22:41 UTC