3:15 P.M. UPDATE: Cell phone service and internet service have been restored on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands as of Tuesday afternoon.
A widespread communications outage was reported on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands on Tuesday morning, July 22, affecting both cell phone service and internet access.
911 service on the islands may be impacted due to the outage. Residents and visitors who need emergency services or communications are advised to try texting to 911, or go to their nearest fire department, EMS station, or the Hatteras Island Rescue Squad station in Buxton.
Public Starlink internet is available at the Frisco Volunteer Fire Department at 52470 N.C. Highway 12 in Frisco.
On Ocracoke Island, Tekniam modules are located at the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocracoke Community Center, the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, and the Harborside Motel.
Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative stated in a Tuesday morning update that the outage is not affecting the power grid, and there are currently no power outages on the island.
The outage is due to a cut fiber optic cable near Danube Street in Nags Head, according to a source from SamWalkerOBXNews.com, and the northern Outer Banks and mainland Dare County may also be affected.
The initial estimated time of restoration for cell and internet service is 2:30 p.m., per a Tuesday morning update from Spectrum, but an extended outage past this timeframe is possible.