By Chad T. Wilson Law Firm Staff, based on reporting by NCDOT, September 26, 2026. Read the original reporting here.
If you own property or run a business on Hatteras Island, a Hatteras Island property claim right now may involve more than the wind and water. On September 26, NCDOT confirmed that N.C. 12 is closed between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe after this week’s nor’easter damaged the road. The department is starting emergency ferry service between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe to keep residents moving while crews plan a temporary road. We know a closed road on top of storm damage is a hard place to be. Here is what it can mean for your claim, and why the records you keep over the next few weeks matter.
NCDOT announced the plan at 8 p.m. on September 26. N.C. 12 stays closed between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe while crews assess the road and prepare to build a temporary route as soon as conditions allow. In the meantime, an emergency ferry will run between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe. Only residents covered by Dare County’s reentry declaration can board ferries headed to Rodanthe, and visitors are not permitted on those runs for now. A one way trip takes about two hours. This is the first time the route has been activated since December 2013. NCDOT said it would post departure times on Sunday, so wait for the official schedule before heading to a terminal.
A closed road does not damage your roof, but it can change the timeline of your Hatteras Island property claim. When adjusters, contractors, and material deliveries cannot reach the island on a normal schedule, inspections slip, drying and mitigation start late, and temporary repairs take longer. That gap can let existing damage get worse, and it can stretch the time you are out of your home or business.
When you file, it helps to separate two things: the direct physical damage to your property, and the losses or costs that came from restricted access, a civil authority order, or utility problems. They are treated differently under most policies. Coverage for access related losses is not automatic. It depends on your policy language, any waiting period, geographic limits, and whether your policy requires covered physical damage before those benefits apply.
If you cannot stay in your home because of covered damage, many homeowners policies include additional living expenses, which can help with costs like temporary lodging, meals above your normal spending, and added travel. The details vary, so read your policy or ask before you assume a cost is covered.
For businesses that depend on N.C. 12, a road closure can cut off customers, deliveries, and staff. Business interruption coverage and civil authority coverage may apply, but they usually come with conditions. Many policies tie business interruption to covered physical damage at the property, and civil authority coverage often requires a government order that limits access, within set time and distance limits. Whether any of this applies to you comes down to your specific policy and the facts of your loss.
Documentation carries the day here. A few practical steps while the event is fresh:
If your carrier denies, delays, or shortchanges what your policy owes, you do not have to accept that answer as final. You can ask for the specific policy language behind a decision and request a written explanation.
Insurance companies have an army of lawyers, adjusters, and agents. Policyholders deserve someone in their corner who reads the same policy just as closely. Our team has resolved more than 6,000 claims for property owners, and we represent policyholders nationwide from our headquarters in Webster, Texas. We can review your policy, help you document access delays and physical damage the right way, and press for what you are actually owed. We can’t stop a storm or reopen a road, but we can keep your insurance company from unfairly denying or underpaying your claim. If you have questions about a storm damage claims issue or need a property damage lawyer, we work on contingency, which means no recovery, no fee. Denied, delayed, or underpaid? Call (833) 942-0678 for a free consultation.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Coverage depends on your specific policy and facts, and no outcome is guaranteed.
Sources: NCDOT press release, Sept. 26, 2026; Dare County emergency bulletin; WAVY.com
