News Summary
Hatteras Island faced severe disruptions on Monday after a fiber optic cable was cut near the Pea Island Visitor Center. The incident, which occurred around 1:10 p.m., resulted in widespread phone, landline, and internet outages, affecting emergency 911 services. Local authorities urged residents to seek help at nearby fire departments, while the telecommunications company Brightspeed worked swiftly to restore services. Communication systems were deployed to aid residents, and service was fully restored by the evening. This incident highlights the vulnerabilities of communication infrastructures in remote areas.
Hatteras Island experienced significant disruptions on Monday due to a cut fiber optic cable near the Pea Island Visitor Center. The cut occurred around 1:10 p.m. and caused widespread issues with phone, landline, and internet services for residents in the area, including the nearby Ocracoke Island. By 2:30 p.m., the Dare County Sheriff’s Office reported problems with accessing 911 services, prompting measures to aid those in need of emergency assistance.
In response to the disrupted 911 services, local authorities advised residents to seek help at their nearest volunteer fire department, which are located in Hatteras, Frisco, Buxton, Avon, and Rodanthe. This provision ensured that individuals requiring urgent care could still receive assistance, despite the technical issues with emergency calling services.
Brightspeed, the telecommunications company responsible for maintaining the fiber optic line, confirmed that work crews were dispatched promptly to repair the damage. The outage impacted both cell phone and internet services but did not affect the electrical grid in the region. Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative noted that while customers could not access their homes through security systems due to internet and cellular failures, their electrical service remained unaffected.
To enhance communication during the outage, Dare County Emergency Management had established emergency response systems, including the deployment of “Compact Rapid Deployables” (CRDs) stationed at local fire stations. These systems provided residents access to 911 services during a critical time.
Ocracoke Island employed the Tekniam system as a backup communication method. Developed by County Commissioner Randal Mathews following previous outages, the Tekniam system proved essential for maintaining connectivity; multiple locations on Ocracoke, including the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office and Community Center, featured Tekniam modules to facilitate access to internet services.
During the outage, residents and visitors took advantage of the Tekniam system and alternative locations equipped with Starlink satellite internet to regain connectivity. These efforts helped individuals navigate the challenges posed by the service disruption.
The repair work on the fiber optic cable was completed, and all services were fully restored to customers around 7:30 p.m. that same day. Throughout the incident, authorities communicated updates and alerts to residents, utilizing NOAA Weather Radio stations in the area to ensure that everyone was informed about the ongoing situation and recovery efforts.
This incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities in communication infrastructures, particularly in remote areas like Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, where reliance on technology for emergency services is critical. The swift response from local authorities and service providers allowed for a rapid resolution to the disruption, restoring essential services to affected residents and visitors.
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Additional Resources
- WTKR: Issues Calling 911 on Hatteras Island
- Wikipedia: Emergency Telephone Number
- WTKR: Cell Phone and Internet Outage on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands
- Google Search: Telecommunication Outages
- Ocracoke Observer: Communications Outage on Hatteras and Ocracoke
- Google Scholar: Communication Infrastructure Failures
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Telecommunications
- Google News: Hatteras Island Outage
Author: STAFF HERE OUTER BANKS WRITER
The OBX STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOBX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in the Outer Banks, Dare County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Outer Banks Seafood Festival, NC VIP Fishing Tournament, and NCBBA Red Drum Tournament. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and Outer Banks Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in tourism, retail, and hospitality that power the local economy such as Kitty Hawk Kites, Outer Banks Mall, and Avon Fishing Pier. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAsheville.com, HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, and HERERaleigh.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
