Tourists are heading back to two North Carolina islands that were struck by a massive power outage at the height of vacation season.
Many who were scheduled to arrive this weekend were watching closely to find out if power would be restored in time to salvage their vacations. They finally got their answer when state officials said both islands would reopen to tourists at noon Friday.
One of them is Maryland resident Colleen Sax, who's heading down to Avon on Hatteras Island with her husband and two adult daughters.
She says she was watching closely for updates from the power company and felt a sense of relief when it was announced on Thursday that electricity was restored.
Power was cut to both islands a week ago during a construction accident. Workers building a new bridge drove a steel casing into underground transmission lines.
An estimated 50,000 tourists were ordered to leave the islands. Power was restored Thursday.
The summer is a make-or-break season for local businesses and many close during the cold-weather months.
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Robin Jennette is a manager at Conner's Supermarket in Buxton on Hatteras Island. She says the grocery store is stocked and ready for tourists to return.
