OCRACOKE, N.C. — A secluded tourist destination on North Carolina’s Outer Banks is having an extremely tough year.
Ocracoke Island is recovering from the most damaging hurricane in its recorded history and the near-economic paralysis wrought by one of the world’s worst pandemics.
A little more than half of the island’s businesses have reopened since the hurricane struck and pandemic-related restrictions were lifted.
Their owners are hoping to recoup some of their losses as tourists return, albeit in smaller than usual numbers.
They don’t have much time: The hurricane season is expected to heat up againhere in August.
