Two severe cuts in N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island inflicted by Hurricane Irene were the most recent illustrations of the road’s vulnerability to erosion and storm damage, renewing questions about the futility of fixing such a vulnerable highway, especially in an era of a rapidly rising sea.
State Grapples With Unknowns of Groin Permits
The N.C. Division of Coastal Management is grappling with many unknowns as it works with applicants to implement a new state law that allows as many as four small jetties, called terminal groins, to be built at inlets along the beach.