Some Hatteras Island residents will be allowed to return starting Sunday, more than a week after Hurricane Irene severed N.C. 12 in several places, cutting off access to the island.

Residents will be allowed to return by ferry from Stumpy Point in a staged operation that will begin with the three communities where it is safest to return: Buxton, Hatteras and Frisco. County officials say as conditions improve and utility services are restored in the island's remaining villages, residents will be allowed to return.

Buxton residents will be allowed to return Sunday, followed by Hatteras residents on Monday and Frisco residents on Tuesday. Until Sunday, the ferries will transport only critical personnel, essential commodities, and people with identified special medical needs.

There will be six ferries a day starting Sunday, and residents will be sorted by their last names to avoid crowding. For example, only Buxton residents whose last names begin with A, B, C or D will be allowed on the first ferry leaving Stumpy Point at 6 a.m.

Non residents will not be permitted on the ferries. Prior to entering the ferry, a vehicle driver must present a driver’s license showing a local address for the village designated for re-entry with a last name matching the alphabetically indexed boarding times. Here is the staged re-entry schedule:

Sunday, Sept 4 – Buxton residents

· Residents with last names, A through D – boarding at 6 a.m.

· Residents with last names, E through H – boarding at 10 a.m.

· Residents with last names, I through L – boarding at 12:30 p.m.

· Residents with last names, M through P – boarding at 4 p.m.

· Residents with last names, Q through T – boarding at 6:30 p.m.

· Residents U through Z, & any other Buxton residents – boarding at 10 p.m.

Monday, Sept 5 – Hatteras residents

· Residents with last names A through D – boarding at 6 a.m.

· Residents with last names E through H – boarding at 10 a.m.

· Residents with last names, I through L – boarding at 12:30 p.m.

· Residents with last names, M through P – boarding at 4 p.m.

· Residents with last names, Q through T – boarding at 6:30 p.m.

· Residents U through Z & any other Hatteras residents – boarding at 10 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept 6 – Frisco residents

· Residents with last names A through D – boarding at 6 a.m.

· Residents with last names E through H – boarding at 10 a.m.

· Residents with last names, I through L – boarding at 12:30 p.m.

· Residents with last names, M through P – boarding at 4 p.m.

· Residents with last names, Q through T – boarding at 6:30 p.m.

· Residents U through Z & any other Frisco residents – boarding at 10 p.m.