 In North Carolina , hundreds of residents were stranded in Hatteras following the formation of Isabel Inlet . People who were not residents were not allowed to be on the Outer Banks for two weeks after the hurricane due to damaged road conditions . When visitors were allowed to return , many ventured to see the new inlet , despite a 1 @-@ mile ( 1 @.@ 6 @-@ km ) walk from the nearest road . Initially , long term solutions to the Isabel Inlet such as building a bridge or a ferry system were considered , though they were ultimately canceled in favor of pumping sand and filling the inlet . Coastal geologists were opposed to the solution , stating the evolution of the Outer Banks is dependent on inlets from hurricanes . Dredging operations began on October 17 , about a month after the hurricane struck . The United States Geological Survey used sand from the ferry channel to the southwest of Hatteras Island , a choice made to minimize the impact to submerged aquatic vegetation and due to the channel being filled somewhat during the hurricane . On November 22 , about two months after the hurricane struck , North Carolina Highway 12 and Hatteras Island were reopened to public access . On the same day , the ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke was reopened . 
