The Washington State Department of Transportation began limiting traffic Monday across the terminal's transfer span—the movable bridge that connects the dock to ferries—after engineers discovered cracks in two steel beams beneath the structure. Vehicles longer than 22 feet are now barred from loading and unloading at the Orcas dock while crews make emergency repairs, a process WSDOT said Tuesday could take up to two weeks.

The restriction is especially acute for Orcas Island, which has no bridge or road connection to the mainland. Nearly everything that arrives by vehicle comes by water, and the ferry has few alternatives for the oversized trucks that typically deliver groceries, fuel, medical supplies and haul away trash. About 6,000 people live on the island, according to census data.

In its emergency declaration, the County Council asked Gov. Bob Ferguson to consider financial support for local businesses hurt by the disruption.

Orcas Island Market, the island's largest grocery store, has already arranged a barge to bring in groceries and produce. In a Facebook post Tuesday, co-owner brothers Jacob and Jason Linnes told customers the store has a plan to keep shelves stocked and urged residents to shop normally.

Jacob Linnes said the store is paying an extra $2,000 per barge delivery, up to seven times a week during the repair period, and is absorbing the cost rather than passing it to customers.

"Nobody has the extra money to go spend thousands and thousands of dollars on barges, but it's essential," Linnes said. "Hopefully, the governor's office will recognize that and step up and be able to support us."

It is not the first time the family-owned store, which Linnes said has operated for 130 years, has had to find alternative routes. He recalled his father arranging barge deliveries when the ferry terminal shut down for about five weeks in 1999 for repairs.

"We chose to live here, and so we have to bear the cost as local business," he said. "My family has been running the grocery store for 130 years, so there's always weird things that happen."

Linnes added that suppliers in Seattle have been flexible, agreeing to combine deliveries with other companies to reduce costs.

At Orcas Village Store, a smaller waterfront grocer near the transfer span, manager Melinda Skogseth said deliveries from Charlie's Produce in Seattle are arriving in smaller vans instead of semi-trucks, at no extra charge.

"We're not in panic mode yet, so nobody needs to buy a whole bunch of groceries," Skogseth said.

Waste removal remains a challenge. All trash must be shipped off the island, and Orcas Recycling Services has asked residents to hold onto their garbage at home for as long as possible.

"We're still open and accepting trash, but if you can wait a few days—or even a week—it would really help us out," the organization posted on Facebook. "It really does take an island!"

WSDOT said it is exploring ways to shorten the repair timeline and allow larger vehicles to cross before final repairs are complete.