Last Block Island Ferry departs

BLOCK ISLAND, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Island estimated about 5,000 people plan to ride out Hurricane Earl on Block Island this weekend.

On Friday morning, one final ferry departed from Block Island, sending those who wanted to get off scrambling to make it.

• In-Depth: Hurricane Earl Coverage

"I just didn't want to get stuck here," Jennifer Bergman said. "If there are no boats running today, then there will be none running tomorrow, and then we would be stuck here until Sunday."

"I don't think I want to stay here in the rain," Marilyn Sacco said. "We were here last year in the last scare and we scooted out of here."

Much of Block Island is ready for whatever rain, wind and surf Hurricane Earl may bring.

• Make yourself Storm Ready

"You've got to prepare for the worst case scenario," Steven Filippi, who owns the popular Ballards Inn, said on Friday. "We've closed up the outside patios and we had to put everything in the building. Because of that, we had to close today."

While many awoke to a soft pink sunrise Friday morning, reality quickly set in.

Hurricane Earl is scheduled to arrive around the same time as high tide, which is expected to bring unusually large surf.