Hatteras Strom damage

[vikingsail]

The Island Free Press in Hatteras has posted several slide shows showing the damage from Ida. Amazingly the first house in Mirlo Beach is still standing while the road is destroyed. Think good thoughts for the residents and vacationers who are enduring this.
http://www.islandfreepress.org/2009Archives/11.11.2009-WickedCoastalStormForecastToBringCoastalFloodingAndHeavyRain.html

[btbill]

Amazing shot of the storm surge at Cottage Ave off of Old Lighthouse Rd in Buxton. That is/was a new Hummer that is no more...



For more including more images, links to other reports, and commentary from Nags Head to Hatteras, see:
http://obxbeachlife.blogspot.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/obxbeachlife

There was windsurfing and surf action down there too!
http://lostinhatteras.blogspot.com/

[Wind-NC.com]

Hey Rubberneckers-

Ida was nothing out of the ordinary for this island. Overwash like this happens a few times a year. Well, maybe the damage is a little more extensive than usual, but 98% of the island was basically unaffected, the power's on, the shelves are stocked at the grocery stores, and travel is slowly getting back to normal. OK, maybe it's a little less convenient than usual, but I'm sure they'll have the road back to normal before long. In the meantime, the scenic route (via the southern ferries) is open, and the winds are looking good, so come on down and get your final windsurfing fix before winter settles in!

[vikingsail]

Agreed it was a normal NE heavy storm event for Hatteras. It certainly will not be the last. But for some of us mountain dwellers it still puts us in awe of the powerful forces of the Atlantic Ocean. And having been down there several years ago when both exits were cut off, it did not feel that casual (ok after thanksgiving dinner we stopped worrying). Also you have to agree that if this happened in New York they would be running the ferry until the middle of next winter then they'd only have a dirt road in place till spring. (If the Crown Point Bridge closing is any indication.) As usual NCDOT does not screw around.

[outcast]

All the pics from the freepress etc reflect the ability of the islanders to make the best of a mucky situation .

Funny sailing in the road.

I'm impressed by those two surfers ability to get out, and shacked.
Nice ride after a hesitant takeoff too.....it was too hunky junky to surf here till today....Rhode island was working yesterday

[Wind-NC.com]

I'm happy to report that RT 12 has been reopened to all traffic! Anything from 2wd sedans all the way up to 18 wheelers now have easy access to Hatteras Island again. NC DOT does not mess around, especially when they get the go ahead from Gov. Perdue to "do whatever it takes."

On top of that, it's been firing! Here's Keith, lining up on a meaty one at the Lighthouse yesterday (see the rest of the sequence here):

[Wind-NC.com]

[Wind-NC.com]