hinder cleanup efforts. The tourists were evacuated in school buses to Hatteras Island, where they could rent a car if needed. Tourists were also evacuated by ferry to Swan Quarter, in Hyde County, where they boarded school buses and were taken to nearby Washington NC to rent available cars or find accommodations. The island was re-opened to visitors on August 6, three days after the storm passed through. Evacuation was ordered again on Friday of the following week when another storm threatened to hit the Outer Banks, but did not do so. Dare County officials requested aid from the National Guard for the cleanup process. The North Carolina Department of Transportation was ready to clear the roads once the storm exited the area. Alex marked the fifth-latest start to a hurricane season since 1954. The latest start to a hurricane season since 1954 was Hurricane Anita of the 1977 season, forming on August 29. Alex is only the second hurricane on record to have reached Category 3 strength north of 38°N latitude. The other storm was Hurricane Ellen in the 1973 Atlantic hurricane season; Alex was the stronger of the two. It is also one of only five hurricanes to be at major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) status within Canadian waters since 1950. See also Other storms of the same name Timeline of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season List of North Carolina hurricanes (2000–present) Hurricane Gert (2017) – Strong Category 2 hurricane that caused large swells along the East Coast of the United States and took a similar path. Hurricane Chris (2018) – Took a similar path along the Gulf Stream. References External links NHC advisory archive on Hurricane Alex Alex Alex (2004) Alex (2004) 2004 natural disasters in the United States Alex