Hatteras Island ferries full despite lingering problems (unemployment, gated)

[SunnyKayak]

Dare County officials reopened Hatteras Island earlier this month because residents needed to get back to work in the tourism industry. But despite full ferries to the island, some groups, including the Outer Banks visitors bureau and chamber of commerce, say the move was too hasty and ultimately could be bad for business.

read more Hatteras Island ferries full despite lingering problems

[box_of_zip_disks]

There's been a bit of a brouhaha locally over county commissioners overstepping the county's emergency management control group's authority to let non-resident owners and tourists back in to Hatteras. Worth noting is one of the commissioners quoted in that article, Allen Burrus, who owns a grocery store in the southern part of Hatteras that was relatively untouched by Irene, was one of the three commissioners behind the decision to reopen despite having no delegated authority to do so. The rationale for sidestepping the county agency which normally decides on re-entry was that the people employed in the affected area normally go on unemployment around early-mid October and by going on unemployment now their benefits will run out in February, before the tourist season begins.

[Since72]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Dare County officials reopened Hatteras Island earlier this month because residents needed to get back to work in the tourism industry. But despite full ferries to the island, some groups, including the Outer Banks visitors bureau and chamber of commerce, say the move was too hasty and ultimately could be bad for business.

read more Hatteras Island ferries full despite lingering problems

That would have been a good point to make. As much as the masses were crying we are cut off. Our lives mean nothing. The state and the federal government should have ensured that all was ready for people to return. Government Hind sight is 20/20, unless you have your head up your "HIND".