By the time you read this we will know the complete outcome of the aftermath of the cold event of late January/early February. Let’s take a look at why this occurred in the first place, the immediate effect, and what some old-timers think about possible consequences.

In the southern portion of the East Coast we have numerous species of gamefish that will use shallow creeks in winter. North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries biologist Chris Batsavage says many of these species will be found in shallow creeks during winter.

“The mud bottom found in many shallow creeks, along with their shelter from the wind, can provide warmer water and forage during the winter,” Batsavage told Coastal Review.

Usually this provides a nice arrangement, and the fish are happy in sunny, hidey holes. However, through the years there have been situations where their natural tendency is detrimental to their survival. When there is an extreme cold snap that leads to creeks icing over for extended periods of time, fish using these waters may experience cold stun, or even be killed. The longer freezing conditions occur, the more severe the effect can be.

It would seem that the cold of those couple of weeks in January and February did the job. I talked to fishy friends all along the coast and their words were not encouraging.

“It seems there’s already been four major kills reported. I think it will be very significant,” reported Capt. Harry Meraklis of Kitty Hawk.

Capt. Dave Rohde of Kitty Hawk told me, “The sound was frozen solid yesterday. They are floating everywhere.”

Batsavage said quite a few reports were coming in from the public and division staff.

As is policy in these cases, the Division of Marine Fisheries shut down the speckled trout fishery for all users on Friday, Feb. 6. At this point the closure extends to June 30. However, an official opening date had not been announced at the time of this publication.

The reason is twofold: We have had significant cold events in consecutive years (first time in my memory although I am sure others go further back than me), and this 2026 cold kill was unprecedented in both breadth and length, in recent memory. The record amounts of snow and the length of time that temperatures were well below 32 degrees left creeks frozen for longer than I recall in my 30 years in the state. People were ice skating down the middle of Emerald Drive in Emerald Isle.

Fish kills have been reported as far south as Florida. I remember being down there in spring after a big cold spell killed lots of snook years ago. It was grim.

Experience tells us that this should work itself out. The fish themselves have evolved over millennia and will sort it for themselves. Capt. Seth Vernon of Wilmington holds this view.

“Nature seeks homeostasis,” Vernon said. “I would hope we keep the pressure off of them until after they have spawned, and they will make up for the deficit in the numbers of eggs produced and fertilized.”

Capt. Rick Patterson of Cape Carteret said that, in the cold kills that he had seen over the years, “there will still be trout this summer and fall. The numbers of big fish may be down, however.”

The hope is that recent conservation efforts will pay off in quickly rebuilding speckled trout populations.

“It seems like the stock rebounded quicker from the cold-kill events over the last 10 years or so, compared to those from further back in time,” said Batsavage.

Noted Carolina Sportsman columnist Capt. Jerry Dilsaver of Oak Island adds that, “I think it’s safe to believe the closures help the trout numbers rebound quicker.”

Dilsaver is quick to point out that the statewide closure is wise.

“For what it’s worth, I have heard some fishermen (at Ocean Isle Beach) saying, “Why did they close the season here? We didn’t have any significant kills.’”

Any different won’t work, he says.

“If an area is left open, it will be inundated with fishermen from other areas, and they will most likely harm the fish worse than the freeze,” said Dilsaver.

These are wise words from a wise man. Pay attention. There’ve been and will continue to be plenty of complaints about this in the months to come.

Batsavage agrees.

“It’s hard to measure the impact of closing the fishery after a cold-kill event, but reducing fishing mortality likely benefits the recovery,” he said.

In my personal experience (if that’s even worth considering), the closure helps the fish recover. I have caught 25-inch-long trout on topwater plugs in May while casting for redfish, and I personally have seen fish populations rebound after having been given a few months to recover from cold kills. It would be pretty obvious next fall when everybody had good action.

The only problem this time is the unprecedented nature of this year’s weather. Anyone who says they know precisely what is going to happen, well … no, they don’t.

Be patient. Give the system a chance to recover. The experts who I know know, regardless of what Uncle Ernie on the Internet says.

This report first appeared Feb. 3 in NC Newsline.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey says even as snow from last weekend’s storm begins to melt, his office has received a flurry of calls from business owners and lifetime Outer Banks residents upset to see more homes falling into the Atlantic Ocean.

The powerful storm, packing winds of 60 mph, brought down four more unoccupied structures in Buxton.

“There’s some angry people out there,” Causey told members of the Council of State on Tuesday. “That makes a total of 31 homes that have collapsed since 2020.”

Related: Winter storm takes 4 Buxton houses, leaves inches of snow

Causey said while his office doesn’t have a solution to deal with the continually eroding shoreline, the state should listen to the locals.

“The complaint that I hear is there’s been too much finger-pointing with the multiple agencies involved, the federal government, the parks system, environmental groups, on down the list,” said Causey. “But what they’re telling me is that we need emergency help to stop the bleeding, because we can’t let these houses keep collapsing.”

Buxton typically loses six feet to eight feet of shoreline each year, but rising sea levels and an active storm season can accelerate that erosion. And a collapsed home can leave a debris field that stretches for miles.

“It is an economic nightmare and it’s an environmental nightmare when that happens,” said Causey.

Property owners are responsible for removing debris when a home collapses, but currents can spread the wreckage far down the coast, so responsibility has increasingly fallen on park officials to protect the shoreline.

Last year the Cape Hatteras National Seashore hauled out over 400 truckloads of debris from fallen houses.

Causey said the residents he’s spoken to this week want to see manmade reefs or hardened structures, which are currently banned, reconsidered. Beach renourishment, which has been used in other coastal communities, is an expensive and temporary solution.

This is not the first time Causey has pressed for help for Outer Banks homeowners.

Last November, Causey and Gov. Josh Stein urged Congress to pass the Preventing Environmental Hazards Act of 2025. The bipartisan bill would allow National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) payments to be made before an imminent collapse caused by erosion.

Standard homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover shoreline erosion damage, so property owners can’t collect on it, even if the property is condemned, until the house collapses. The proposed legislation would give homeowners financial help to demolish or relocate a condemned structure before it falls into the surf.

“Federal NFIP pre-collapse authority would reduce hazards, protect visitors and wildlife, and save taxpayer dollars on emergency response and cleanup,” Causey and Stein wrote in their Nov. 2025 letter.

But the bill, co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC3), has not moved since last May, when it was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

“I think those people deserve to be heard,” said Causey.

While Causey was focused on the coast at Tuesday’s Council of State, Stein turned his attention to disaster recovery out west.

The governor’s office continues to push for Congress to authorize $13.5 billion requested for Hurricane Helene relief, Stein told the council. While North Carolina’s congressional delegation is supportive, the wheels of the federal government move very slowly, tied up in red tape due to new FEMA review requirements.

North Carolina has only received about 12% of the federal aid it has requested for Helene recovery, Stein said.

“I’m so glad I’m not in Congress because I can only imagine trying to get anything constructive done in that body,” said Stein. “But we need their help, Western North Carolina needs their help, and we’re going to keep asking for their help.”

For now, Stein said he’s incredibly grateful for the state employees who helped North Carolinians weather back-to-back winter storms in January.

Transportation crews pre-treated state roads with over 10 million gallons of brine, Stein said. Over 100,000 tons of salt was spread across North Carolina’s 100 counties, with another 20,000 tons expected to be needed in the next day or two with more wintry weather in the forecast.

“They’re just working nonstop to try to minimize the impact on our lives,” said Stein.

NC Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. NC Newsline maintains editorial independence.

While North Carolina residents are dealing with the inches of snowfall in the aftermath of this weekend’s winter storm, National Park Service officials on the Outer Banks are also dealing with the debris left behind by four more houses collapsing on Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s beaches.

National Park Service Public Affairs Specialist Mike Barber told Coastal Review Monday that Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials were notified that a house in Buxton collapsed earlier in the day, around 9 a.m. It was the fourth unoccupied house to collapse since Sunday morning.

The first house at 46201 Tower Circle Road collapsed early Sunday morning. Overnight, two more unoccupied houses at 46215 and 46219 Tower Circle Road fell, then the fourth house, which was at 46285 Old Lighthouse Road, Buxton. These four bring to 31 the total number of houses to collapse on the seashore’s beaches since 2020.

“Cape Hatteras National Seashore advises everyone to stay away from the collapse sites and the surrounding beach area, due to potentially hazardous debris. The beach is closed in front of the entire village of Buxton,” Barber said.

The Outer Banks, like much of the coast, continued to experience compromised roadways Monday and people were advised to stay off the roads unless necessary.

State transportation officials closed N.C. Highway 12 Saturday evening between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe, as well as on the north end of Ocracoke. They said Monday that the road would remain closed, “as we continue to see ocean overwash from this weekend’s nor’easter. Overwash also occurring at Buxton corner and on Rodanthe secondaries. Crews will be out working to clear today.”

N.C. 12 experienced ocean overwash and dune breaches on Pea Island Sunday morning, as well in Buxton and in Hatteras.

Additionally, all ferry routes were suspended Friday and remain suspended until conditions are deemed safe for operation, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

NCDOT crews said they were making progress Monday clearing interstates and highways, but dangerous icy spots may remain because temperatures remained low. Gov. Josh Stein’s office and transportation officials urged people to stay off snow- and ice-covered roads and warned people to beware of black ice, which forms when ice and snow melt and then refreeze overnight into hard-to-see slippery patches.

As of late Monday, there were 2,500 NCDOT employees and contractors working to plow snow and spread salt on the highways and secondary routes. Since the storm began affecting the coast Saturday, crews have spread more than 23,000 tons of salt and plowed thousands of miles of roads.

Stein said that the state was “working around the clock to clear roads and get people back to their daily lives as quickly and safely as possible, but because temperatures will remain low overnight, this process takes time. We ask for your patience, and if you need to be on the roads this week, I urge you to slow down, give extra distance, and use caution while traveling.”

His office reported that the sunshine Monday, with temperatures reaching the upper 30s to lower 40s, allowed for snow that fell over the weekend to melt. However, that water will likely refreeze after sunset Monday evening because temperatures are forecast to fall into the teens and 20s.

Temperatures will warm into the low to mid 40s Tuesday before a cold front approaches the region.

The National Weather Service said Monday that for parts of eastern North Carolina, a light wintry mix of snow and freezing rain was possible Wednesday night.

“Please continue to remain vigilant as we are still experiencing extremely cold temperatures across the state,” NC Emergency Management Director Will Ray said in a statement. “As a reminder, several hazards remain, such as the risk of freezing pipes in homes. There are many people in our communities that are especially vulnerable to prolonged cold temperatures, so please check on your friends, family, and neighbors.”

Currituck County Emergency Management, in a social media post around lunchtime Monday, said that NCDOT crews were actively out working on the primary roadways throughout the county.

“While some roads are improving, many side roads remain covered with snow and ice, and freezing temperatures are keeping conditions slick. As temperatures drop and the sun goes down tonight, please be alert for black ice: a thin, nearly invisible layer of ice that forms when moisture refreezes on road surfaces. Black ice is especially common on bridges, shaded areas, overpasses, and low-lying roads, and can cause vehicles to lose traction with little warning,” they warned. “If you must travel, slow down, increase your following distance, and use extra caution. If you can stay home, that remains the safest option.”

Carteret County sent out a similar message Monday.

“Some roadways still have several inches of snow coverage, and partially melted snow and ice are expected to refreeze overnight, creating dangerous travel conditions. Residents are urged to stay off the roads if possible. If travel is necessary, exercise extreme caution, as icy conditions may make driving at posted speeds extremely dangerous and cause vehicles to lose traction with little warning,” according to Carteret County government officials. “Secondary and less-traveled roads are more likely to remain untreated and pose additional risks. Remaining off the roads also allows first responders and emergency management staff to continue their work safely.

Largely because of travel concerns, most county government offices were closed Monday because of the weather, and several had announced plans to close Tuesday as well, including Beaufort, Carteret, Gates, Pamlico, Dare and Hyde counties.

Record snowfall in coastal counties

Assistant State Climatologist Corey Davis, in a blog on this weekend’s snow storm, called the accumulated snow that fell all across North Carolina, “our most widespread wintry event in more than a dozen years, and the biggest snow for some areas in several decades.”

For parts of eastern North Carolina, this was the snowstorm of a lifetime, he continued.

“More than a foot fell over the central Coastal Plain, surpassing every other wintry event so far this century. The 12.5 inches in New Bern and 15 inches in Newport made this the first foot of snow for both areas since December 1989. The highest totals in the state came along the Crystal Coast, including 19.5 inches in Peletier and 17 inches in Swansboro,” he wrote.

In Cape Carteret, near whiteout conditions were observed on Saturday, Davis continues, bordering on blizzard criteria. Beaufort reported three consecutive hours with visibility of a quarter-mile or less, wind gusts of 35 mph or greater, and heavy snow falling or blowing.

Northeast North Carolina from Friday to Sunday experienced between 6 and 10.5 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service Wakefield, Virginia, office, which provides the forecast for the region that includes Ahoskie, Elizabeth City and Currituck County.

Mainland Hyde County experienced a widespread swath of 8 to 12 inches, with localized snowfall totals in some townships exceeding 12 to 16 inches. For Ocracoke Island, “reliable totals” range from 4 to 6 inches, and that accumulation was coupled with “significant coastal flooding and inundation,” county officials announced Monday.

Heading south, centrally located counties including Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Pamlico, Onslow and Tyrrell saw between 2 and 19 inches. Dare experienced the least amount with 2 to 11 inches and Carteret, Craven and Pamlico had areas getting hit with more than 18 inches, according to the Weather Service office in Newport.

“Most remarkably, along the Pamlico River in Beaufort County, this was the first foot of snow in more than 67 years, since December 1958. In that region, reported totals included 17 inches in Bath, 15 inches in Bayview, and 13 inches in Belhaven,” Davis explains in the blog.

“Along with having a strong, moisture-laden low pressure system just offshore, a key factor in ramping up the snowfall amounts was the cold air that created unusually high snow-to-liquid ratios for this part of the country. While Wilmington only measured 0.32 inches of liquid precipitation, that yielded 5.8 inches of fluffy snow – the heaviest snow there since 1989 – at an impressive 18-to-1 ratio,” Davis wrote.

In a Monday morning announcement, Holden Beach officials in Brunswick County warned residents that, although the bridge to the island had reopened, roads on the island were “treacherous.”

Holden Beach’s neighboring island to the west, Ocean Isle Beach, was covered in a whopping 15 inches of snow, according to estimated totals based on National Weather Service reports and local observations.

Farther north in Brunswick County, Leland, Bolivia and Southport all received a reported 9 inches of snow.

Brunswick County announced its offices and facilities will reopen at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The Brunswick County Commissioners meeting postponed Monday had not been rescheduled as of this report.

In New Hanover County, a reported 9 inches of snow accumulated in Carolina Beach. Wilmington saw less with a little under 6 inches of snow.

And, in Pender County, Hampstead received 10 inches of snow, while farther north, areas of Onslow County got upwards from 13 inches accumulation.

From a science perspective

Davis explained to Coastal Review that the coast was hit so hard because, “to put it simply, this was a strong nor’easter setup that happened to be cold enough for snow.”

He said that anytime the state gets these low-pressure systems right off the coast, whether they’re tropical storms or winter storms, “we know they’re capable of some major impacts. And we saw a lot of those typical impacts in this event, including the gusty winds and high surf that has already claimed a couple more houses along the Outer Banks.”

Davis compared this system and the nor’easter that moved up the coast October 2025.

The main low-pressure center started to deepen at pretty much the same location just south of Cape Fear, and the minimum pressure observed at Hatteras was nearly identical: 998.8 millibars in October, and 998.4 millibars during this storm. A millibar is a metric measurement of atmospheric pressure.

“If this had happened at any other time of year, we would have been talking about similar impacts, but with rain instead of snow. Having such cold temperatures in place so far south meant that it fell as all snow, and the snow-to-liquid ratios were off the charts compared to what we’re accustomed to. That let a lot of snow add up very quickly, and with the wind added in, that snow covered everything, and deep,” Davis continued.

When it comes to climate change and storms like these, Davis noted that a “common, or at least vocal, misconception about climate change is that it can and will make cold and snow impossible.”

He explained that while warming temperatures do make some wintry events — like the one from this previous weekend — more marginal for anything frozen, cold and snow are still a part of the winter climate, and big events like this can and do still occur.

“Of course, we’ve also seen the flip side of that, with a nearly three-year stretch with no measurable snowfall across much of the state, the average annual snowfall nearly cut in half in places like Charlotte and Raleigh, and steady warming in our wintertime low temperatures at the rate of about a degree per decade. All of those things — warming with snow events becoming rarer, along with seeing an occasional big snowfall — can still be true,” Davis explained.

“As a scientist, I think it’s important to acknowledge our certainty about climate changes and future projections. We’re very confident that the overall warming trend, especially in our nighttime low temperatures, will continue into the future, and that will continue to reduce our overall snow totals and snow event frequency. We’re less certain about how coastal winter storms like this one may change in the future,” he continued. “We often think about these climate trends as clearly pointing in one direction, but that’s really not true for projections of coastal storms like this, and there are competing forces that may affect how they evolve.”

He said that on one hand, these systems originate in tropical areas and strengthen over the warm ocean, which we know is warming at an even faster rate than the atmosphere, letting these coastal lows strengthen faster and pull in more moisture. But, on the other hand, it’s getting tougher to get temperatures cold enough over land to see all-snow events. These lows tend to bring in warm air in the mid-levels that causes precipitation to transition from snow to sleet, freezing rain, or regular rain, like we saw a couple of weekends ago.

“You might say that this storm offered up the best — or worst, depending on your perspective — of our past and future climates. We had that deep layer of cold air like we saw during our big storms back in the 1970s and 80s, but also a rapidly intensifying coastal low in a very warm and moist ocean environment that was able to drop extreme snowfall amounts,” he said. “That doesn’t mean this sort of event will get any more common in the future. It is now, and always will be, a rare collision of circumstances to bring such a major winter storm over such a large part of the state.”

Though there’s piles of snow out there, Davis said to keep in mind that, in terms of the liquid precipitation totals, most areas saw less than an inch of total liquid during this event, which he said is “a surprisingly low amount, given how much snow we received.”

That matters because it may mean the state sees less drought recovery than expected.

“Most of eastern North Carolina is still in moderate to severe drought, and even after the storm, places like Wilmington, Greenville, and Fayetteville are more than 10 inches below their normal precipitation over the past six months,” Davis said. “We may see some small improvements this week based on that precipitation, and the gradual snow melt may bring a slow recharge in streamflow and soil moisture levels over the next few weeks. But this winter is still tracking as a dry one overall, and we could use some more precipitation in any form before the end of the season to keep from entering the spring and the growing season with a bad drought still going on.”

Part of a series about the effects federal budget and staff cuts and the cancellations of programs and services are having in coastal North Carolina.

The call from the North Carolina Attorney General’s office late last year relayed news of a victory.

A federal judge in Boston on Dec. 11, 2025, sided with Jeff Jackson and 19 other state attorneys general in their case against the Federal Emergency Management Agency, informed the caller.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled that FEMA unlawfully terminated a federal grant program under which roughly $200 million had been awarded to North Carolina communities, including Pollocksville, to tailor projects to reduce and prevent storm damage.

Stearns issued an immediate, permanent injunction restoring the Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities, or BRIC, program.

“And, that’s all we’ve heard,” Pollocksville Mayor Jay Bender said. “We’ve never heard anything official from FEMA saying yay or nay. We have not heard anything from North Carolina Emergency Management saying yay or nay.”

FEMA funnels BRIC grants to state emergency management offices, which are responsible for managing and passing funds on to grant recipients.

N.C. Division of Emergency Management’s Justin Graney, chief of external affairs and communications, said in an email that the agency had not been notified by FEMA as to when funding would be released.

“NCEM continues to work closely with FEMA to determine the next steps and looks forward to a resolution,” Graney said.

But any such resolution could be, at a minimum, months away.

The federal government still has time to appeal Stearns’ decision. The 60-day window to challenge his ruling closes before the middle of next month.

The N.C. Department of Justice’s communications office confirmed in an Jan. 26 email that FEMA had, at that time, not filed an appeal in the case.

“We are closely monitoring FEMA’s compliance with the court order,” the email states.

FEMA’s news desk at its regional office in Atlanta did not respond to requests for comment. 

The agency announced without any forewarning last April it was canceling the BRIC program, one created under President Donald Trump’s first term in office.

But just three months or so into Trump’s second term, an unnamed FEMA spokesperson stated in the announcement that the agency considered BRIC to be “wasteful” and “political.”

FEMA later clarified only projects that had been completed would be fully funded, erasing congressionally appropriated funding for more than 60 infrastructure projects in North Carolina.

Jackson joined a lawsuit filed last July by a coalition of state attorneys general who argued FEMA’s termination of the program was unlawful.

The court agreed, concluding that FEMA did not have the authority to end BRIC because Congress, not the federal agency, appropriated funds for that program.

“The BRIC program is designed to protect against natural disasters and save lives,” Stearns wrote.

“Our towns spent years doing everything FEMA asked them to do to qualify for this funding, and they were in the middle of building real protections against storms when FEMA suddenly broke its word,” Jackson said in a release following the court ruling. “Keeping water systems working and keeping homes out of floodwater isn’t politics – it’s basic safety.”

Pollocksville and Leland were selected to each receive about $1.1 million through the BRIC program.

Leland plans to relocate the town’s sewer system away from Sturgeon Creek from which floodwaters rise often after storms and natural disasters.

Jessica Jewell, Leland’s communications manager, said in an email that the town is exploring other grant opportunities to help fund their project.

At the time of FEMA’s announcement last April, Pollocksville had already paid out about $18,000 in legal, advertising and procurement fees ahead of the project the Jones County town had secured to raise six commercial buildings in its downtown next to the Trent River.

“I mean, this is a project that we thought was done,” Bender said. “We had a contractor. That was probably one of the most frustrating things. We were already under contract.”

Before the state attorneys general filed their lawsuit, town officials were contacted by the state and encouraged to submit their project proposal through the Hazard Mitigation Grant program. The HMGP is federally funded, but managed by the state Division of Emergency Management.

“Having to file all the same paperwork over – I don’t know that I can convey to you the complexity of the paperwork,” Bender said. “The positive thing about this, going through HMGP as opposed to going through FEMA, is that HMGP will be at no cost to the town. There’s no match and so that will obviously make it a more financially attractive proposal than FEMA.”

He went on to say that the town will take “the best deal that comes the quickest.”

“I will feel much more confident when there is an actual piece of paper to sign and when I see people on the street preparing elevate a building,” he said.

“We have had nine 100-year storms in the last 20 years,” said Dr. Reide Corbett during a conference in Wilmington back in November. “Somebody said that math doesn’t math.”

Corbett is dean of the East Carolina University Coastal Studies Institute Campus in Wanchese and he was addressing the fourth annual Water Adaptations to Ensure Regional Success, or WATERS, Summit held Nov. 13. He said the statistical model used to predict precipitation frequency is no longer reliable.

The model, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlas 14 data server,  is widely used in infrastructure planning and flood risk assessments. Atlas 14 provides statistical modeling that is based on rainfall amounts and storm intensity for the 30 years leading up to the 21st century.

The server “contains precipitation frequency estimates for the United States and U.S. affiliated territories,” according to NOAA.

Corbett told those attending the summit that Atlas 14 “doesn’t hold any longer.”

In a follow-up interview with Coastal Review, Corbett said the problem with Atlas 14 is that it does not factor in how the climate has changed during this century.

“It does not take into account changes in the moisture that the atmosphere has, and it certainly doesn’t project forward,” Corbett said.

That’s why NOAA is developing an Atlas 15 model, which is to be rolled out in stages this year and 2027. When completed, “Atlas 15 will supersede NOAA Atlas 14 as the national standard and will become the authoritative source for precipitation frequency information across the United States.,” according to the NOAA website.

Dr. Jared Bowden, interim director of the North Carolina State Climate Office, agreed that, as a predictive model, Atlas 14 is flawed.

“It doesn’t use the most recent observations. (Atlas 14) hasn’t used any of the data in the past 20 or 25, years, really,” Bowden said.

Atlas 15 is expected to correct that shortcoming nationally, but in the meantime, the State Climate Office has developed a dataset that illustrates how precipitation patterns represented in Atlas 14 may evolve over time. 

RaInDROP, an acronym for the statistical information for the state model, Rainfall, Intensity, Duration and Return for Observations and Projections, is “a product that is tailored to North Carolina,” Bowden said. “Some things in the methodology that we do behind RaInDROP are very North Carolina specific.”

The datasets the State Climate Office developed use the Atlas 14 model as a baseline, but also predict what the future climate will look like. The modeling also takes into account North Carolina’s geography, Bowden said.

“There’s eight climate divisions across our state, and we use these climate divisions to help think about how we scale Atlas 14 values,” Bowden said. “We took climate change projections and tried to figure out how you would scale up based on the different climate divisions.”

The online RaInDROP tool maps show marked variations from Atlas 14 data. For instance, the southeast corner of the state, New Bern, Jacksonville and Wilmington, in particular, will experience significantly more rainfall and more intense events than previously modeled. Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, that output is consistent with climate change data that shows a warming atmosphere.

Climate change is not a linear increase with temperature and moisture, Bowden explained. Rather it’s an exponential increase and an exponential increase in moisture capacity.

“If you’re able to saturate the atmosphere and have a forcing mechanism to wring it out of the atmosphere, such as a hurricane, then you get these really big downpours. You get these really big flooding scenarios that will create just larger and larger problems for our infrastructure.”

The climate office tool is designed to have practical applications in designing infrastructure.

“If you’re looking out at midcentury, let’s say 2050- or 2060-time frame, and you were to design a culvert that’s supposed to last that period of time, how would your design criteria change based on using plausible future scenarios?” Bowden continued.

Public and private infrastructure rely upon reasonably accurate climate models to determine design criteria. Retention ponds, as an example, typically use a 4% annual chance of a 25-year storm as design criteria. Based on that assumption, a retention pond should perform as expected provided the storm events occur as predicted by Atlas 14.

However, climate events predicted by RaInDROP suggest that what is now thought of as a 25-year storm will be more frequent and more intense, and if that happens “it’s not going to perform as you expect, and it’s going to be overwhelmed more frequently, and it’s going to be become a problem,” Bowden said.

Environmental engineer George Wood, owner of Environmental Professionals of Kill Devil Hills for nearly 40 years, told Coastal Review that private infrastructure systems in particular would be overwhelmed by more frequent and increased storm intensity and rainfall. And, compounding the problem is less recovery time for the system between storms.

Wood was particularly critical of how private stormwater systems are maintained – or not — noting that private retention ponds are often overgrown with subaquatic vegetation and culverts are often clogged and incapable of even handling the rainfall amounts for which they were designed.

To get a sense of just how severe Battery Island’s shoreline is changing, look no farther than its trees.

As waves lick away at the fringes of this little island in the middle of the Cape Fear River near Southport, trees rising off its shores are toppling.

“The mature trees that the birds nest in are being lost along the shore,” said Lindsay Addison, coastal biologist with Audubon North Carolina.

Each tree that plops into the river is one fewer on an island that is globally significant for nesting white ibis and home to one of the largest wading bird colonies in North Carolina.

To Battery Island’s east rests Shellbed Island, a large marsh system edged by elevated banks of old oyster shells called shell rakes.

In good condition, these rakes do not flood at high tide or during storms, making them a crucial and rather niche nesting habitat for American oystercatchers.

“The Cape Fear River supports almost 30% of the state’s nesting American oystercatchers. And about half of the American oystercatchers that nest on the Cape Fear River nest in these types of habitats. So, it’s a very important habitat type for American oystercatchers and they are a state listed species,” Addison said.

Like Battery Island, waves have altered Shellbed Island’s edges, where the elevated shell rakes have been flattened out and pushed back into the marsh by coastal storms.

In an effort to protect the threatened bird habitat on these islands, Audubon and its partners, Sandbar Oyster Co. and the North Carolina Coastal Federation, have teamed up to design and install two pilot living shoreline projects and test their effectiveness at protecting the low-lying islands on the river.

The Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review, is contributing $13,800 in cost share for the $51,500 projects. Of the Coastal Federation’s contribution, $5,250 has been set aside for Battery Island and $8,550 for the project at Shellbed Island.

Georgia Busch, a coastal specialist in the Coastal Federation’s Wrightsville Beach office, said these projects, “align with our mission for preservation of critical habitats in our coastal and estuary systems.”

“But, particularly in the lower Cape Fear River, there’s a need for some extra reinforcement of those habitats there. Historically, the birds have used this area for a long, long time and we just want to make sure that stays intact. These sites were chosen for both their exposure and their critical points in the river,” she said.

Battery Island’s shores have for years been battered by waves from large vessels that navigate the river to and from the Port of Wilmington, recreational boats that skim the waters around Southport, and the Bald Head Island ferry.

“What makes Battery Island special for the nesting birds is it’s relatively small, it’s far enough away from the mainland that it doesn’t have any mammalian predators on it, and so that allows this colony to have a lot of success,” Addison said.

There’s also little human disturbance on the island. The island, which is managed by Audubon, is closed to people March 1 to Sept. 15 each year.

A test section of about 70 linear feet of living shoreline will be installed along the roughly 100-acre island’s southwest corner, which has experienced some of the most severe erosion.

A reef constructed of Sandbar Oyster Co.’s Oyster Catcher reef building substrates, which are made with plant-fiber cloth, infused with different cement mixtures, and molded into different shapes to promote sediment accumulation and marsh growth.

The test project at Shellbed Island has been designed to prevent shell rakes from washing away.

Power hurricanes, including Florence in 2018 and Dorian in 2019, pushed the shell rakes back into the marsh and flattened them out. And the oyster reefs that at one time provided an abundance of oyster shell in the river are not as plentiful because of overfishing, pollution and habitat degradation.

“There’s still plenty of spat, larval oysters, in the water, but there isn’t a lot of substrate for them to settle on because oysters typically grow on other oysters,” Addison explained. “When you put in a living shoreline-type of material, or almost any hard substrate, you’ll get oysters recruiting onto it. What we would like to do is to help jumpstart some oyster populations in areas of these shell rakes.”

The project at Shellbed Island includes installing roughly 67 feet of living shoreline in front of the shell rakes and material behind the shell rakes, “so that when nature moves those loose shells around, it can build back up into a more sustainable nesting habitat where the oystercatchers are not losing so many of their nests to overwash,” Addison said.

Audubon has a received a grant for a separate project to place loose oyster shell directly on the existing rakes.

Busch explained the test projects are a first-of-their kind because they will be at isolated islands “where we’re really only looking at habitat and this will be really helpful for testing out the strength and feasibility of the Sandbar Oyster Company’s products and of living shorelines.”

“These sites were chosen for both their exposure and their critical points in the river,” she said. “We want to see how this product will work somewhere where we get a lot of wave energy. We’re going to find out.”

Addison said she has “high hopes” for the living shorelines in curbing erosion at the islands.

“If it turns out to look like it’s working well then we could seek larger pots of money and expand our permit to be able to do this at a larger scale,” she said.

Audubon is continuing to fundraise for the projects. Donations may be made by contacting Addison by email at lindsay.addison@audubon.org.

Post has been updated.

The nor’easter that swept up the East Coast this past weekend stripped ocean beaches of sand, inundated areas with floodwaters and pushed seawater over dunes and roads along North Carolina’s coast.

The Outer Banks suffered much of the brunt of the powerful system that brought wind, rain and coastal flooding.

On Saturday the North Carolina Department of Transportation closed sections of N.C. 12 on Ocracoke. Overwash forced officials to close portions of the road Sunday on Hatteras Island, where crews spent the weekend pushing sand and water from the road and rebuilding the dune line that divides the beach from the road.

As of late afternoon Tuesday, N.C. 12 on Ocracoke was the only road closed and the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry service remained suspended, NCDOT’s Assistant Director of Communications Jamie Kritzer said in an interview.

N.C. 12 is closed on the north end of Ocracoke Island between the ferry terminal and the National Park Service Pony Pens.

“This afternoon, we’ve been forced to close N.C. 12 again on Pea Island from Marc Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe, due to ocean overwash,” Kritzer said. “The stretch on Pea Island was reopened at 5 p.m. (Monday) but the wind increased this afternoon and we saw overwash around high tide.”

Kritzer said that NCDOT crews were continuing to push sand and water from N.C. 12 and restore the protective dunes on both islands.

“Our ability to reopen N.C. 12 will depend on whether the dune holds through the next high tide cycle,” he said.

In addition to NCDOT’s highway crews, the state’s Ferry Division played a critical role during the response to this weekend’s nor’easter, Kritzer said.

“At one point, all seven ferry routes were suspended this weekend. However, when the winds subsided, the ferries were able to make a special run to take Ocracoke visitors back to Swan Quarter,” he said. “The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry have helped transport highway crews and equipment between Hatteras and Ocracoke, so the crews could work on clearing N.C. 12.”

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Dave Hallac told Coastal Review early Tuesday afternoon that there has been a lot of coastal erosion in certain areas of the national seashore.

At the time of the interview, the National Weather Service forecast much of the Outer Banks to experience flooding through Wednesday. Hallac said that he expects oceanfront flooding as a result, which could make driving on the highway through the seashore hazardous.

“The beaches continue to remain hazardous, especially the beachfront in the Buxton area and the beachfront in the Rodanthe area due to the waves and high-water levels battering many threatened oceanfront structures,” he said.

Between Sept. 30 and Oct. 2, eight unoccupied beachfront houses fell in Buxton, five of which collapsed within 45 minutes of each other. Another unoccupied house gave way on Oct. 3 in Buxton, bringing the total number of houses that have succumbed to encroaching ocean waters to 21 within the past five years.

As of Oct. 3, nine homes on Hatteras Island have toppled into the sea, “but there are a number of significantly threatened oceanfront structures, and you know, collapse is definitely possible,” Hallac said. “Even if collapse doesn’t occur, pieces and parts of those homes have broken off over the last couple of days, including large structures like decks. So that’s the reason that the entire beach front in the village of Buxton remains closed.”

He recommended travelers avoid taking N.C. 12 during the high-tide window, adding that there’s a likelihood of some minor soundside flooding as the winds are switching more to the north and northwest.

“That could also make some of our access points on the sound side flooded, and also make highway driving hazardous,” he said.

Conditions were less dire further south along the state’s coast.

Carteret County’s Public Information Officer Nick Wilson said that the county didn’t see any significant damage from last weekend’s coastal low.

“Most of the impacts were primarily in the Down East,” he said, where some roads in Cedar Island and a few other areas experienced overwash.

“A couple of our convenience sites were closed on Sunday for safety but were back to normal on Monday,” he continued. “There haven’t been any reports of building damage or injuries. The high tides over the weekend, combined with king tide conditions, did cause some flooding in low-lying spots, but it quickly receded once the low passed.”

Carteret County Shore Protection Manager Ryan Davenport said Wednesday morning that Most of Bogue Banks fared well during the recent storm.

“We did see moderate erosion and some dune escarpments in western Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, and Salter Path, but the impacts were no worse than what we typically expect from a winter storm. We remain on track for the island-wide nourishment project scheduled to begin in fall 2026,” he said.

Town officials from North Topsail Beach in Onslow County to Holden Beach in Brunswick County reported experiencing some erosion and escarpment.

North Topsail Beach officials assessed the town’s little more than 11-mile stretch of ocean shoreline throughout Monday and found most erosion to have occurred along the northern end of town toward New River Inlet.

“We noticed our typical hotspots had erosion,” North Topsail’s Town Manager Alice Derian said Tuesday. “There’s some escarpment there. There was some scarping south, but the dunes are still intact.”

All of the town’s public accesses remain open.

Topsail Beach’s ocean shoreline “held up well except at the very south end,” Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission Chair William Snyder said.

He said that there is some escarpment to the natural dunes that front a portion of the undeveloped southern tip of the island.

New Hanover County Coastal Protection Coordinator Bryan Hall said in an email Tuesday afternoon that Wrightsville, Carolina and Kure beaches all experienced some erosion over the weekend. Wrightsville Beach’s ocean shoreline also suffered some escarpments.

“As far as I’m aware, there was no significant public or private infrastructure damage or significant established dune damage, which is a testament to the well-established dunes and the County’s Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) projects,” Hall said.

Officials in Brunswick County beach towns that responded to Coastal Review’s requests for comments also reported minor erosion, including Bald Head Island and Oak Island.

“Honestly, I think we fared pretty well,” Ocean Isle Beach Town Manager Justin Whiteside said Tuesday afternoon.

One end of a privately maintained road that runs through a gated neighborhood at the eastern tip of the island has been partially eaten away.

Whiteside said roughly half of the cul-de-sac within The Pointe, a relatively new development of luxury homes, is gone.

“They’re sandbagging around the perimeter of where the cul-de-sac was,” he said.

“There have not been any reports to us of damage besides some flooding caused by tides and winds,” Holden Beach Town Manager Bryan Chadwick said in an email Tuesday afternoon. “We do feel fortunate because it could have been a lot worse.”

Storm recap

Warning Coordination Meteorologist Erik Heden with the National Weather Service office in the Newport/Morehead City office said that with this last storm, “we wanted to make sure people knew that despite it not having a name,” nor’easters can produce the same winds, flooding and rain as hurricanes.

There have been multiple offshore storms that have beaten and battered areas of the state’s coastline, particularly the Outer Banks, where N.C. 12 on Ocracoke and Hatteras islands has been closed for most of the last few days and Down East Carteret County has experienced high-water levels.

There was also a king tide, which means at certain times of the year the tides come in higher and go out lower than normal, that began early last week, leading to some flooding, which was not storm related, in Beaufort, Buxton and other spots on the Outer Banks, Heden said.

The combination of higher water levels with a king tide, a storm with gale-force winds, large waves and swells, and 3 to 4 inches of rain made everything worse, especially in low lying areas, he said.

Flooding occurred up the Neuse and the Pamlico rivers, pushing water levels in New Bern to their highest since Hurricane Ophelia in 2023.

Down East Carteret County had a “tremendous amount of water on the roads,” but nothing they haven’t experienced before, Heden said. The Outer Banks experienced significant ocean overwash, especially at the March Basnight Bridge southward to the Pea Island Visitor Center, where the man-made dunes are built.

Heden said that while the coast will experience slow improvements and fall temperatures the remainder of this week, some areas will continue to experience issues with water, especially at high tide.

“Today’s Tuesday, and we’ve got this advisory through Thursday, so it’s not going to be worse than it was this weekend. We don’t have the wind, we don’t have the swell, but it takes a while for that water to calm down,” he said.

Update: A ninth oceanfront Hatteras Island house fell late Friday; an unoccupied structure at 23047 G.A. Kohler Court, Rodanthe, collapsed shortly before 6 p.m.

Original report follows below:

BUXTON — It started two weeks ago, when one small, unoccupied house here fell into the ocean, long before two powerful tropical storms were approaching Hatteras Island.

But by mid-afternoon Tuesday, shortly before high tide, both hurricanes Humberto and Imelda, while well offshore, had supercharged the ocean off Cape Hatteras, where the Outer Banks bend out farthest into the Atlantic. In a highly unusual spate of structural surrender, five houses along the beach in Buxton — all unoccupied and all off Tower Circle Road or Cottage Avenue — collapsed, apparently one after another and all within 45 minutes after 2 p.m.

Before midnight, another nearby house gave way to the pounding surf.

Then, at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, the eighth house fell onto the same stretch of beach, adding to a staggering amount of debris scattered along the oceanfront and buffeted by swirling surf.  

“We’ve got at least one or two more tides to go before this thing calms down,” John Robert Hooper, the owner of Lighthouse View Oceanfront Lodging in Buxton, told Coastal Review Thursday. “It’s a messy situation right now.”

Debris is spreading south through much of the village oceanfront, which is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. But unlike in Rodanthe, Hatteras Island’s northernmost village that experienced 12 house collapses from 2020 to 2024, the debris has not spread as far or as wide along the beach. Instead, much of it has been trapped under houses and driven by wind and surf into neighborhoods.

“We are working very closely with Dare County to coordinate cleanup activities,” said Dave Hallac, superintendent of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Hallac told Coastal Review Thursday that the National Park Service had been in contact with the property owners before the homes collapsed and is working to again communicate with them.

“We are implementing emergency cleanup activities to protect these federal lands and waterways and to prevent continued impact from the spread of debris,” he said. “We’re planning on starting tomorrow (Friday) morning.”

From what he had seen, Hallac said that it appears many of the houses still had contents inside when they fell. He said the park service had also observed “pieces and parts of septic drainfield lines and other wastewater system components.”

About two dozen park service personnel were planning Thursday to start collecting debris Friday between the southern end of Buxton and Cape Point.

The entire stretch of beach from the north end of the village to the Off-Road Vehicle Ramp 43 will remain closed until further notice.

Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard said Thursday that county and park officials expected to meet with the county’s contractor in Buxton Friday morning to assess the site and coordinate the cleanup response.

“We’re trying to get the homeowners to get contractors to move that debris to the road, so that our guys can come in with bucket trucks and pick it all up and haul it all away,” Woodard told Coastal Review.

Woodard said he believed that most, if not all, of the fallen houses were owned by out-of-town people. But there are an additional dozen or more homes along the same area of beach that are still vulnerable to collapse, he added. 

“We thought there would be a lot more going down yesterday, with that high tide at three o’clock,” Woodard said, referring to Wednesday’s rough conditions.

Considering the extensive impact of the offshore storms, the chairman couldn’t help lamenting the bad luck in the storm’s timing, saying it wouldn’t have happened if a beach nourishment project now planned for 2026 had been in place. 

“We were all praying once we’ve moved the nourishment from ’27 to ’26, just hoping and praying that we wouldn’t have any damages until then,” he said. “But unfortunately, with Mother Nature in 2025, we’ve had three weather systems that kicked us in the butt down there.”

Hooper, who was born in Buxton in 1954, said that these multiple collapses over such a short period of time is dramatically worse than he can recall happening before. 

“Oh, yes, it is,” he told Coastal Review. “There is something else going on here, rather than this normal erosion. You know, clearly the ocean’s higher, but … where is the equilibrium?”

A beach nourishment project in Buxton a few years ago seemed to have mostly ended up at Cape Point a couple of miles south, he said. Yet, Hooper, who had served as a Dare County commissioner from 2000 to 2004, said he has seen ebb and flow of the shoreline over the years, a slow rebalancing.

“And we may be there today, and this may be the end of it, I don’t know,” he said. “But clearly, as quick as all this stuff happened, this is a new element.”

Hooper has had sandbags – technically, a temporary measure only — in front of his oceanfront motel and cottages in Buxton since about 1992, he said, and he repaired and expanded them in 2013.

“Until now, we’ve been able to manage,” he said. The cottages, located south of the motel, have been most affected by the swell.

“I’ve been here fighting this thing for 50 years now, off and on, and probably this morning it’s my first house (that’s) unsafe because of the sewage,” he said. “It’s been tough, but it’s been really tough this fall with some of the PR, and certainly storms like this don’t help”

Since about Aug. 20, he said, visitation in Buxton had been hurting. Since mid-August, he said, he figures that businesses are off 60-70%.

Still, Hooper said that even though it hurts in the short term, losing the houses that were so close to the surf was a looming threat that seemed inevitable. 

“But at least in my viewpoint, you know, we got that over with,” he said. “Because nothing is worse than a house sitting out in the ocean.”

Update 11 a.m. Thursday: The seventh oceanfront house in Buxton to collapse in less than 48 hours fell around 8 p.m. Wednesday at 46207 Tower Circle Road, Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials reported on its website. This remains a developing story.

Update 10 a.m. Wednesday: An unoccupied house collapsed overnight at 46203 Tower Circle Road, bringing the total to six since 2 p.m. Tuesday, per an update from the National Park Service on its threatened oceanfront structures webpage.

Original report of 5 p.m. Tuesday follows below:

Five unoccupied houses in Buxton collapsed into the Atlantic within 45 minutes of each other Tuesday afternoon, and officials warned that there could be more because of conditions associated with two hurricanes offshore.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials said that, as of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, they were unaware of any bodily injuries associated with the collapse of the structures on Cottage Avenue and the two on Tower Circle Road.

Including the five that fell between 2 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, 17 privately owned houses have collapsed since 2020.

The entire beachfront from northern Buxton to the northern section of off-road vehicle, or ORV, ramp 43, is closed for public safety. ORV drivers using ramp 38 should avoid traveling to the south and anyone using ramp 43 should avoid traveling north.

The street numbers for the structures on Cottage Avenue are 46001, 46002 and 46007, and 46209 and 46211 for those on Tower Circle Road.

The National Park Service urges visitors to avoid the closed areas where the structures collapsed and to use caution along the beach south of the sites because of potentially hazardous debris.

“This is an ongoing incident; further collapses are possible due to the ocean conditions,” national seashore officials said.

The National Weather Service office in Newport, in a 3:45 p.m. Tuesday briefing, forecast a long duration and impactful swell event for coastal North Carolina associated with Hurricane Humberto, with added impacts from a strengthening Hurricane Imelda.

“Coastal flooding impacts have already begun and are expected to continue. We still expect the peak impacts to be focused through Thursday, with the greatest impacts occurring around high tide Wednesday afternoon,” forecasters said. Dangerous surf conditions are expected through the rest of the week.

The park service said plans are to announce on the national seashore’s threatened oceanfront structures webpage, go.nps.gov/cahatos, any additional collapses during the storm period.

Featured Image

Storm swell associated with Hurricane Imelda and Hurricane Humberto breaks Tuesday along the Bogue Banks shore at Oceanana Fishing Pier in Atlantic Beach. The storm, while moving away from the U.S. Tuesday, still packed a potent punch, forecasters said, and could bring possible minor flooding in areas of onshore winds along the coast in the Southeast. At 11 a.m. Tuesday, the storm was moving to the northeast, toward near Bermuda, but swells and high surf from Imelda and Hurricane Humberto were expected to produce dangerous marine conditions and rip currents along much of the East Coast for several days. Farther north, the N.C. Department of Transportation on Tuesday closed N.C. 12 on the north end of Ocracoke Island between the National Park Service Pony Pens and the ferry terminal due to deteriorating travel conditions and five oceanfront houses collapsed on Hatteras Island. Photo: Dylan Ray

Hatteras Islanders will not soon forget Hurricane Isabel, which formed a new inlet and destroyed the only highway connection when it slammed the island Sept. 18, 2003.

The storm and its aftermath further increased residents’ sense of isolation and their appreciation for the people who make their living on the water and are credited with restarting the local economy.

Nearly a quarter century later, an annual event celebrates the hurricane’s heroes, the commercial fishing and commercial charter operators, and the islanders’ perseverance amid the devastation. This year’s Day at the Docks is set for Sept. 19-20.

The family-friendly event offers numerous activities along the waterfront and docks in Hatteras Village.

Events include a fishing contest, live music, maritime storytelling and cooking demonstrations. There will be an education tent that features a variety of organizations that support the coast through advocacy, education and habitat restoration and preservation.

The groups include the North Carolina Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review and whose representatives will be on hand to share information about National Estuaries Week, Sept. 20-27, and its work in partnership with the South Atlantic Salt Marsh initiative.

At the Coastal Federation tent, visitors can join interactive activities to learn about nature-based solutions and ongoing projects that strengthen the community’s coastal resilience. Guests will also be invited to share the places that matter most to them, helping guide future efforts to protect and restore the coast.

The organizers’ website has more information and Day at the Docks event schedules.

This report has been updated.

State transportation crews were clearing N.C. Highway 12 and rebuilding dunes in the wake of Hurricane Erin’s pass offshore, as flooding conditions continued and the road remained closed Friday morning.

Friday morning’s high tide breached dunes in two new locations along N.C. 12, including a 200-foot-long breach at the Canal Zone just south of Oregon Inlet and a 30-foot-long breach in a dune at the visitor center for the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.

In addition, ocean overwash was occurring at Buxton, north of Hatteras, and on the north end of Ocracoke Island.

“Our crews are out, and at the very least we still have no indication of pavement damage, but NC12 remains CLOSED at the Marc Basnight Bridge and on the north end of Ocracoke at this time,” according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s N.C. 12 Facebook page.

Later on Friday, crews from Tyrrell, Hyde and Currituck counties arrived to help get the highway ready to reopen, although there remained no time certain for that to happen. Officials said that before the highway can be reopened, ocean overwash had to stop, dune breaches must be repaired and the highway cleared of standing water and sand, an inspection for pavement damage and repairs completed, if needed.

“When we have a timeline on reopening, we will say so here,” officials posted on the page. “We will issue a press release. We’d shout it from the mountaintops if there were any mountains around here to shout it from.”

The highway will remained closed until it is safe to open, officials said.

Featured Image

People on Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head watch as waves generated by Hurricane Erin crash into the concrete structure that’s part of the North Carolina Aquariums system. The storm’s center was about 260 miles east of Cape Hatteras at midday Thursday and moving out to sea, but hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 105 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extended up to 320 miles from the sprawling but weakening storm’s eye. Life-threatening surf and rip current conditions will likely continue as storm surge and flood risks subside. The pier’s website provides information on current conditions and live webcam views. Photo: Kip Tabb

BOILING SPRING LAKES – For the most part, work had wrapped on Pine Lake Dam here back in mid-June.

The light at the end of a tunnel of headaches caused since the closure of one of this city’s main traffic arteries, portions of which run atop Pine Lake and North Lake dams, was shining brighter and brighter.

With the dams complete, reconstruction could begin on sections of East Boiling Spring Road that have since the summer of 2023 been closed while crews rebuild and restore the dam system crippled by rainfall during Hurricane Florence nearly seven years ago.

But a swift burst of rain that drenched this little Brunswick County city on June 14 revealed that something was not right about the nearly finished Pine Lake Dam. It did not seem to be functioning properly.

That was the message one of the city’s commissioners relayed in a phone call to town staff that day. Rainwater, the commissioner reported, wasn’t stacking up behind the dam.

“In other words, there wasn’t a lake there,” City Manager Gordon Hargrove said. “It was a significant rainfall and it should have held some water. It did not hold water. It was running right through the dam.”

An investigation found that Pine Lake Dam, the design for which was vetted in multiple reviews by both federal and state agencies, is at an elevation of about 5 feet too low.

More than a month has passed since the city informed its residents of the revelation, one that has drawn a firestorm of criticism and finger pointing in a matter that might very well end up getting hashed out in court.

No timeline in sight

Today, large bright-white and blaze-orange barricades block off a roughly 750-foot stretch of neatly packed dirt and coarse sand imitating a road over top of Pine Lake Dam.

Pine Lake Dam is part of a system of five earthen dams initially built here in the mid-1960s.

Throughout the years, the dams withstood the brute force from powerful coastal storms that have swept through the region.

But the unprecedented rain Hurricane Florence dumped in September 2018 over the area – up to more than 30 inches in some parts of coastal North Carolina – proved too much.

Rainwater filled the 275-acre Boiling Spring Lake to the brink, overtopping Sanford Dam. The breach, paired with substantial embankment erosion, led to the dam’s catastrophic failure.

The breach caused a domino-like effect of failures at all four of the smaller upstream dams in the city, and then the lakes that made up Boiling Spring Lakes were no more.

During the years since, the city secured about $56 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, through Department of Defense grants, and Brunswick County to repair and restore the dams it owns and operates: North Lake, Pine Lake, Sanford, and Upper Lake dams. A fifth dam, Middle Lake Dam, is privately owned.

That funding has been spent, in part, on hiring firms to undertake the task of designing and building dams that meet today’s safety codes.

Work to restore Sanford Dam was progressing nicely, Hargrove said, when another coastal storm, one often referred to in these parts as the “unnamed storm,” caught Brunswick County and southern portions of New Hanover County by surprise last September.

Potential Tropical Cyclone No. Eight pummeled Boiling Spring Lakes with more than 20 inches of rain within a short period of time. Rain waters swept away Sanford Dam’s bypass channel, destroying the work that had been completed thus far and forcing construction crews to essentially start from scratch.

“Weather forecast was for 3 inches,” Hargrove said. “We got 22. It flooded out the detour route and so people were stranded in particular pockets in that side of town with no way of getting out.”

The city experienced a similar scenario last May with residents becoming trapped in patches of the community as a wildfire spread through the area and jumped N.C. Highway 87.

East Boiling Spring Road is a primary entry and exit point as a hurricane evacuation route through the city.

“So, yes, there’s a lot of angst involved with getting this road open,” Hargrove said. “I mean, we have looked at every possible alternative short of building a bridge, but by the time we finish a bridge, this project will be done.”

When that might happen remains an unanswered question.

“The setback with Pine Lake Dam, I can’t even give you a timeline of how long it’s going to keep that road closed. It took 12 months to get our permits last time” from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Dam Safety Program, Hargrove said.

Days after Hargrove met for an interview with Coastal Review in city hall, he returned to the commissioners’ chamber for the board’s Aug. 5 meeting, where he provided an update on the dams.

Work continues at Sanford Dam. Had it not been for the potential tropical cyclone last September, that dam would be finished, he said. Upper Lake Dam is complete.

The section of East Boiling Spring Road atop the newly reconstructed North Lake Dam will hopefully be finished in the next two to three weeks, Hargrove told commissioners.

There was still no word as to when construction to fix Pine Lake Dam might begin.

Hargrove explained that Sequoia Services, LLC, the Greensboro-based construction company hired by the city to rebuild the dams, agreed to build a temporary road atop the dam.

But the city would be responsible for any damages to the site should any occur if the temporary road, one that would cost an additional $175,000, were to be built. Pine Lake Dam is valued at $3.5 million.

Commissioners voted against the proposal, saying it was a liability too steep.

Who’s responsible?

Hargrove didn’t mince words when he sat down for an interview with Coastal Review on a late July morning.

“There’s going to be some things I’ll talk about and then there’s, for liability reasons and that sort of thing, I’m not going to comment on them because this is obviously an issue that could grow larger over time,” he said.

The defunct Pine Lake Dam is not the construction contractor’s fault, Hargrove said. The contractor built the dam to the design the company was given.

“I’m not willing to say where the problem exists and how that problem came about. It’s the city’s position that this is a third-party responsibility,” Hargrove said.

The city hired consulting firms Ashville-based McGill Associates and Greensboro-based Schnabel Engineering to design the project.

Those designs were vetted through a series of agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA and N.C. Dam Safety.

“As it goes up through the line, they’re really not getting into the hydraulics and analysis,” Hargrove said. “They’re just looking to make sure that the math works. So, the primary responsibility for the design of that dam is McGill and Schnabel.”

During the city commissioners meeting July 8, McGill Vice President Michael Hanson said that, unlike the other dams, there were no sufficient surveys or as-built records for Pine Lake Dam.

“We relied on information that was provided by the city, which was the best available information that was the original design plans,” Hanson said at the meeting, according to a WECT-TV report. “We relied on that information and moved forward. That was reviewed and approved by city staff. That was reviewed and approved by Dam Safety.”

This was Hanson’s first update to commissioners in a public setting since June 27 when the city announced in a social media post that Pine Lake Dam was defective.

The public’s response to that update was biting. There were one-word retorts including “Figures” and “Unbelievable” to accusations of “backdoor deals” and at least one call for city tax refunds to residents.

One commenter correctly pointed out, “THE HOOVER DAM WAS BUILT IN 5 YEARS, Y’ALL! In the 1930’s.”

The engineering marvel that spans the Nevada-Arizona border was, in fact, built from 1931-36, but not without disaster. The official number of people who died at the dam site during that time from causes ranging to drowning, blasting, rock slides, falls from the canyon walls, and heavy equipment and truck accidents, is 96, according to the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation.

City officials understand the mounting anger and frustration from Boiling Spring Lakes residents.

Hargrove wants them to know that commissioners have and continue to be “very proactive” and have tried to make sure the dam reconstruction cost doesn’t fall on the city’s taxpayers.

Earlier this year, commissioners approved an 8-cent tax hike, revenues of which will cover the costs of the city’s new stormwater department.

“This board does focus and look at the future and how we can improve it,” Hargrove said. “It just takes time. We’re catching up to 30 or 40 years of inactivity, but this board, my administration, are working hard to put that into play.”

Southeast coastal counties and municipalities within them are teaming with the N.C. Emergency Management to update the Southeastern N.C. Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The federally required plan helps prepare for future disasters by identifying natural hazard risks, potential impacts of those risks on communities, and mitigation goals and actions. Plans must be updated every five years.

Residents of Brunswick, New Hanover, Onslow and Pender counties are invited to take a short public survey to provide feedback as part of the update to the plan.

A virtual meeting about the updated plan is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 18. Anyone wishing to attend may register online.

Hazard mitigation plans are required under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, which mandates state, tribal, county, and local governments create, approve and adopt mitigation plans in order to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster and nondisaster grant programs.

There are 30 regional multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plans in North Carolina. This is the state’s fifth update of those local mitigation plans. Updates are managed and funded by N.C. Emergency Management through grant funding.

The update process includes a thorough community-level review of natural hazard risks and potential impacts, capabilities, and a review and updating of mitigation goals and actions established in previous plan editions.

A proposal to strengthen and expand building rules in Leland’s flood zone will not be indefinitely sidelined, proponents of the changes say.

“I’m not going to let this die,” said Leland Councilmember Veronica Carter. “I will bring this up at every single meeting until we get some sort of ordinance.”

Carter, who also sits on the board of directors of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review, and fellow Councilmember Bill McHugh in telephone interviews last week expressed disappointment after a majority of the council on July 17 voted to table proposed updates to the town’s flood damage prevention ordinance.

Suggested amendments to the ordinance included extending building regulations to land within the 500-year flood zone, which includes nearly 280 acres, restricting residential construction fill to elevate property out of a flood zone, limiting density in a flood zone to two units per acre, and increasing freeboard, or the height added to base flood elevation, from 2 to 4 feet.

The town’s planning board unanimously supported the amendments, but the proposed changes were met with fierce pushback from pro-development groups, including builders and real estate agents.

The nonprofit Business Alliance for a Sound Economy in a letter reported in Port City Daily last month argued the proposed ordinance amendments would undermine property values, limit homeowners from making improvements to their houses, and impose “major new costs to home ownership in Leland” while doing “virtually nothing to reduce the impact of flooding.”

“Were one of them (houses) to be significantly or completely destroyed for any reason, the homeowner would be personally responsible for the major added expense of elevating the home to the new standard,” the letter states.

But building in a flood zone is in and of itself an inherent risk, one that is being exacerbated by the strings of coastal storms in recent years that have dumped historic levels of rainfall in the area, proponents of the measure say.

Next month will be the one-year anniversary of the unnamed storm that dumped up to 20 inches or so of rainfall in southern portions of New Hanover County down through Brunswick County over a two-day period.

That storm, widely called Potential Tropical Cyclone 8, surprised the area with flash flooding that washed out roads and inundated homes.

The National Weather Service said the storm approached an event expected to occur, on average, once every 1,000 years.

“It was ugly and if we’re seeing that kind of catastrophic event happening outside of a major hurricane, just some random summer day, I think we need to take a serious look at where and how we’re building and developing in this zone because, let’s not kid ourselves, the more impervious (surface) that you’re building, the more you push that water out,” McHugh said. “Not taking any action to mitigate that risk, to me, is just wildly irresponsible. The idea that these events are remote and rare and some sort of lottery occurrence is just disingenuous.”

As a result of the unnamed storm, areas outside of Leland’s flood zones were swamped, including Stoney Creek Plantation.

“We all know that the bottom line is things are flooding that have never flooded before,” Carter said. “Our flood maps from the federal government are woefully inadequate and outdated.”

Amendments proposed for the town’s flood prevention ordinance do not halt building in flood zones, she said.

“We’re just saying if you’re going to do it, you’re going to take into account it’s going to flood,” she said.

The coastal storm has been just one of a seemingly growing number of significant rain events hitting the state in recent years and exposing more and more flood-vulnerable areas.

Brunswick County officials are also taking notice. The county is commissioning a study on whether to create a stormwater utility. More than 28,000 structures are within the county’s flood zones.

Strengthening building rules within flood zones, McHugh said, is a moral issue, one where elected officials must ensure they are not creating a situation that puts everyone from property owners to emergency personnel in danger.

“When things flood, when things get damaged, the cost of everyone’s insurance goes up. So, if we limit development in danger zones we limit the risk in an area from hurricanes,” he said. “I remain hopeful that we’re going to pass some sort of meaningful change to flood zone development and I think that this is a matter of critical importance to public safety, to the safety of our first responders, to the insurability of the region, and to these folks who are making the largest investment of their lives, which are their homes. You should be able to trust that a home you buy in Leland is built somewhere safe.”

Both councilmembers said the town might benefit from hosting a workshop, one where residents and special interest groups may come together and share their suggestions.

The council is expected to discuss next steps on the proposed amendments during its Aug. 18 agenda meeting. The council’s regular meeting is scheduled Aug. 21.

Part of a series about the effects federal budget and staff cuts and the cancellations of programs and services are having in coastal North Carolina.

POLLOCKSVILLE – North Carolina’s attorney general is confident federal funding unceremoniously stripped from local governments earlier this year will be reinstated under a court ruling.

“I think we’re going to win in court,” Jeff Jackson said Tuesday afternoon. “I think our argument is very strong.”

Jackson had just wrapped up a short tour of Pollocksville’s Main Street, where the town’s longtime mayor pointed to building after building tapped to be raised higher off the ground and out of the path of future flooding that might spill over the banks of the Trent River.

“This building’s got great potential,” Mayor Jay Bender said as the two men strolled a sidewalk toward the river. One that, in September 2018, rose more than 25 feet when Hurricane Florence dumped more than 30 inches of rain.

Floodwaters forced most of the town’s residents to evacuate and destroyed or damaged more than 80% of its buildings.

“There’s nothing woke, there’s nothing political, there’s nothing wasteful,” Bender said to Jackson.

There’s also nothing left of the federal program that helped communities tailor projects to reduce and prevent damage from future storms.

Four days before Pollocksville officials were to sign contracts to kickstart their project to raise buildings, President Donald Trump’s Federal Emergency Management Agency killed the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or BRIC, grants program.

The agency said only projects that have been completed will be fully funded.

Gone was the nearly $1.1 million in funding this small Jones County town had worked so hard to secure through a process vetted by FEMA for more than 30 months.

“The rug was pulled out from under us,” Bender said.

A coalition of 20 state attorneys general, including Jackson, filed a lawsuit on July 16 in a federal court in Boston accusing FEMA of unlawfully terminating the BRIC program.

“The basic argument is that was not FEMA money to cancel,” Jackson said during a press conference under a picnic shelter in the town’s waterfront park. “That was congressional money. Congress gave that money to FEMA and told FEMA how to spend it. They said we want you to spend it helping small towns like Pollocksville defend themselves against the next flood. That is exactly what Pollocksville was doing with this money.”

Tuesday’s visit to Pollocksville was his second in recent days to a North Carolina town awarded BRIC funding only to have it ripped away.

Several days ago, Jackson went to Hillsborough to visit a pumping station that flooded when Tropical Storm Chantal swept through parts of central North Carolina early this month. Plans were to construct a new pumping station outside of the floodplain with more than $5 million in BRIC funds.

“We’re going in order of indefensibility,” he said Tuesday in what seems to be a campaign of sorts to raise awareness of FEMA’s decision to cut the BRIC program.

Pollocksville is one of 68 towns, cities and counties in the state that have been awarded BRIC grants since the program officially began its first round of funding in 2020. As previously reported by Coastal Review, almost half of the local governments awarded funding are in the 20 coastal counties.

The only completed BRIC project in the state is a living shoreline in Duck.

Congress approved the program in 2018 with bipartisan support and Trump’s signature during his first presidential term. Since then, nearly $5 billion has been committed to communities across the country for projects to elevate buildings and roads, relocate vulnerable sewer pump stations, control flooding, and strengthen building codes.

“Yes, we want to get this money back to Pollocksville,” Jackson said. “If we’re successful it means we get money back for the entire state.”

He said he expects the court will hold a hearing “within the next few weeks” over a request by the attorneys general for an injunction to lift the funds from being blocked.

“That’s been our request that they treat this as an emergency,” Jackson said. “What we want the court to do is say, while this matter is winding its way through court, which will take six to nine months to fully resolve, the money can continue to flow.”

Jackson said there’s no lack of evidence to support the importance of BRIC funding for communities like Pollocksville that are trying to better protect its residents and infrastructure from floods and other natural disasters exacerbated by the changing climate.

“The flood here, the flood in Hillsborough that happened three weeks ago, there’s fresh evidence with respect to an enormous number of these things,” he said.

The National Weather Service Office staff in Newport invites newcomers to the area, anyone who has never experienced a hurricane and those who would like to learn more about preparedness to attend one of three upcoming community forums.

The first is at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Havelock City Hall, 1 Governmental Ave.

The event will include a presentation from a meteorologist with the National Weather Service on hurricanes and their effects on this part of the state.

“We will go over why you should never focus on just the category of the storm along with discussing all of the impacts any tropical cyclone can bring. We will cover the hurricane outlook for the season while emphasizing it only takes one storm to make an impact on your life,” NWS staff said.

Subsequent community forums are set for 11 a.m. Monday July 28, at the Greene County Senior Center, 104 Greenridge Road in Snow Hill, and at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at the Jones County Civic Center, 832 N.C. Highway 58 in Trenton.

Register online to attend any of the three upcoming forums, which are free to attend and open to all.

The events will conclude with a community discussion and the opportunity to ask questions.

More buildings in 78 North Carolina counties between 1996 and 2020 were exposed to flooding than previously recognized, and almost half of them were not within the federally designated areas that require flood insurance, a new study finds.

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill researchers used anonymous, address-level National Flood Insurance Program records and observational damage to create maps of 78 flood events that three-quarters of the state experienced during those 25 years to determine which buildings experienced flooding and how often.

They found that more than 90,000 buildings flooded at least once, which they predict is “more than twice the number of flooded buildings compared to those at addresses associated with NFIP claims filed between 1996 and 2020,” according to the study published Monday in Earth’s Future, an Advancing Earth and Space Sciences journal.

The study’s results “illustrate that flood exposure, especially repetitive exposure, is much more widespread than previously recognized” and “demonstrate the value of simulating flood events beyond those that generate the most damage and get the most attention from governments, media, and researchers. This first-of-its-kind database of flood maps can be used to better understand how flood exposure, vulnerability, and risk change over time.”

Lead author Helena Garcia, a doctoral candidate in UNC’s Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program, told Coastal Review that the team mapped the nearly 80 events to look at how much flooding at the building level has occurred across those events in those 25 years.

“We know a lot about some of the larger events, like hurricanes Florence and Matthew, but we had questions about some of the other events, too,” she said.

The team used the flood maps they created to build an index to determine what buildings had flooded and how often.

“When we did that, we found that over 90,000 buildings flooded in at least one of those 78 events, with about a quarter of those buildings, or 20,000 of them, flooding in two or more events,” Garcia said. Adding, that of those events, there were 44 that had tropical cyclone activity, and many of the buildings were damaged during those storms.

These findings provide an estimate of how much repeat exposure is happening, especially outside of the large events, like the fall 2018 Hurricane Florence, Garcia said.

The study shows that 43% of the structures that flooded out of that 90,000 were located outside of the Federal Emergency Management Agency-mapped flood zones, Garcia said. “The people that had flooded during some of those events might not have known or realized that they had flood risk at their property.”

FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area, or SFHA, is where the National Flood Insurance Program’s “floodplain management regulations must be enforced and the area where the mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies,” according to FEMA.

Antonia Sebastian, assistant professor in UNC’s Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program and Department of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences, told Coastal Review last week that a key takeaway from the study was how much flooding happened outside of mapped floodplains.

FEMA “floodplains are used as the primary indicator of high-risk areas, but flooding can occur outside of them,” Sebastian said. “We weren’t surprised that we had a lot of flooding outside of floodplains, but I think it’s a really important for people to recognize that even if you live outside of a floodplain, you could flood, and we’re finding some of these repetitive flooding hotspots in areas that aren’t mapped.”

About the study

The study area spans eight watersheds, including the entirety of the Neuse-Pamlico and Cape Fear River watersheds as well as portions of the Chowan-Roanoke and Pee Dee River watersheds.

For the study, the researchers used anonymous records of address-level NFIP policies in force and claims from the mid-1970s to 2020 from FEMA for the 78 counties overlapping these watersheds, which is about 77% of the state’s land area.

They used the available NFIP insurance data to map the flood events because it’s not a time-intensive method like physics-based models, and they could produce the flood maps quicker, Garcia explained.

She added that they would have looked at the entire state but the insurance data the team had access to was only available on the three-quarters of the state.

To determine what flood events to analyze, Garcia said the team established a threshold based on data from the 18 flood-related presidential disaster declarations for the study area from the 25-year period.

“We made sure that our algorithm found all of those (18 events) and also found 60 other events,” she said.

The findings highlight flooding hot spots and that information can be helpful for preparedness, mitigation and resilience efforts for these locations.

“We want to make sure that those are the places we’re putting the funding toward, because they need it the most, Garcia said. “And then in the future, I think it’s something to keep track of, to figure out are these hot spots of repetitive flooding shifting as we see different types of flood events that could be more intense or more widespread.”

One of the challenges the team encountered while working on the study was determining what counts as a flood event, Garcia said.

“There’s definitely flooding that happened over this 25-year time period that doesn’t show up in these 78 events, just because it didn’t fit the algorithm,” she said.

To define the flood events, researchers looked for flooding with at least 15 claims recorded within a seven-day period in the same watershed boundary. They chose that threshold because it included all 18 flood-related FEMA federal disaster declarations that occurred within the study area between 1996 and 2020.

Garcia said the biggest surprise for her was how many buildings experienced flooding and repetitive flooding, and not just on the coast. There are properties in inland areas like Lumberton, Winston-Salem and Chapel Hill.

Sebastian said that while the study answered questions, “the coolest thing about this study is all of the potential types of things we can do now with this information.”

Garcia said that with this data set, “we can look at impacts of floods and outcomes over time a wider range of events than we’ve currently or really been able to do so before,” such as financial and health impacts.

“Here we can focus on multiple events and also what happens when people see repeat exposure over time. So, what I’m doing with that is looking at basically people and their movements through time,” Garcia said, adding that there was also interest in finding out whether people are continuing to stay in these repetitive flooding hotspots or moving to lower their flood risk. “Does your experience with previous flooding kind of inform your next residential move, if you do choose to move?”

Dare County officials announced Friday that the public library in Manteo had to close temporarily because of extensive flooding on Burnside Drive and surrounding side streets.

The flooding was caused by a storm that arrived Thursday with rainfall that continued overnight.

“The area is currently unsafe for pedestrian traffic and low-lying vehicles and should be avoided,” officials said in the announcement.

The Manteo Library will remain closed until water levels return to a safe level and access to the facility is restored, officials said.

Once the library can reopen to the public, information will be posted on Facebook.com/DareCountyLibrary.

Library officials encouraged patrons to check out the variety of digital resources available online.

First in a series on a recent visit to Louisiana’s bayous, a trip sponsored by the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, to start a conversation between people there who are being flooded out and those in the Down East communities of Carteret County who face similar threats.

NEW ORLEANS – Our search for connections and common ground began with a tour of this storm-struck city on the Mississippi River.

We didn’t set out to find the Big Easy. No double-decked tourist buses for us. No frozen daquiris from one of the drive-throughs that seem to be everywhere. The famed French Quarter wasn’t on our itinerary. Neither were any cool jazz clubs on Bourbon Street or warm beignets at the Café Du Monde. No, ours was a melancholy excursion that took us to landmarks of our hubris, monuments to our supreme self-confidence that we can control the uncontrollable.

We visited the places where the levees gave way and the walls collapsed 20 years ago in August when Hurricane Katrina exposed their fragility and futility. Canals designed to drain water away from the city carried a devastating storm surge into it. One built to encourage commerce took the flood into New Orleans’ beating heart and drowned an entire parish that has yet to recover. Pumps failed, and as much as 17 feet of water ended up covering 80% of a city that exists mostly under sea level. Almost 1,500 people died, more than 100,000 families were left homeless, and about $200 billion worth of property was destroyed or damaged. The American Society of Civil Engineers later called it “the worst engineering catastrophe in U.S. history.”

The hurricane wasn’t the killer. We were. We thought we were gods who could contain the tempest. Rosina Philippe knows better. You’ll meet her later in our journey through the bayous of southern Louisiana. She’s an elder with the Atakapa-Ishak Nation in Plaquemines Parish, down in the far southern tip of the state. Her people have existed for centuries surrounded by water.

“Water will always meander,” she told us. “It will always find you. It will go this way and that until it finds your weakness. You can never control the water. You can only try to live with it.”

It seemed like a fitting first lesson for a group of North Carolinians who spent six days in June exploring a state that a dozen hurricanes have battered since Katrina, a place where a football field of marshes disappears on average every day. As Rosina warned and Katrina attested, the calculations of engineers may not offer much protection when the storms come, and the floods threaten.

Sponsored by Duke University and led by Karen Amspacher, a Harkers Island native and the director of a cultural museum there, the group hoped to connect the people of the bayous with those living at the water’s edge in the small fishing and farming villages of low-lying eastern Carteret County, Amspacher’s beloved Down East. They face a grim future of increasing storms and flooding as the climate warms and the seas rise. Many of their homes will become uninhabitable by century’s end. Can connecting with people who have already faced those dangers raise awareness and lead to understanding and ultimately to solutions?

“I don’t know if it can,” she said, “but we have to try.”

The Unexpected Flood

We drove along City Park Avenue, atop the remnants of a sand ridge that the Mississippi created eons ago, took a right on Canal Boulevard, and headed north, downhill, toward Lake Pontchartrain. In a couple of miles, we reached Lakeview, a neighborhood of handsome brick and stucco homes. We were below sea level, kept dry by the city’s extensive system of earthen walls, or levees. Look closely, advised Barry Keim, and the evidence of living below the sea is everywhere. Many of the houses’ foundations are exposed and their driveways cracked as the peat soil of the old marsh beneath them dries and compresses. Side streets are buckled, and the tops of storm drains are above the sinking pavement.

“Every house you see on both sides of the road was flooded after Katrina,” he noted. “The water here was 8 to 10 feet deep, some of the worst flooding in the city.”

A thick black line around the exterior of the neighborhood Starbucks memorializes those dark times. The line is more than 7 feet above the ground with one word printed above it in bold letters: “Katrina.”

“And this is where all that water came from,” Keim said, standing on the seawall that borders the lake. An affable man who was the state climatologist for more than 20 years, he now directs the Environmental Health, Climate, and Sustainability Program at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. He knows the city intimately, having grown up in one of its suburbs.

Down this way, they call the oval-shaped body of water behind him a lake, though it’s technically a lagoon because it has an opening to the Gulf of Mexico at its east end. By any name, it’s big, covering more than twice the area of North Carolina’s largest city, Charlotte. Though a levee was built along the shoreline here after a 1947 hurricane flooded a portion of New Orleans, Pontchartrain was considered far less of a threat than the mighty Mississippi, which snakes along the other side of the city.

Engineers found the lake to be a convenient place to dispose of excess water as New Orleans grew from its original settlement on the high ground of a natural levee created by the river. Over time, they dug three large canals to drain the low-lying land that locals call “the Back of Town.” Katrina came along on just the right path to turn the tables, pushing its deadly surge up the canals. “Everyone expected the big flood to come from the river,” noted Amy Lesen. “No one expected the levee system here to fail as it did during Katrina.”

A professor at Antioch and Tulane universities, Lesen organized much of the trip to come. She has spent most of her career teaching and writing about climate change and its effects on people. A striking resume popped up on Google when I searched: Bachelor of Science in marine fisheries biology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley; a long list of books and publications; an impressive array of research grants; and weighty appointments and awards. Most striking, though, is what Google only hints at. Unlike most professors, Lesen gets out of the classroom and into communities, helping the poor and disadvantaged recover from storms or prepare for them. Over the next six days, I will come to learn that she’s just a big-hearted Jewish girl from the Bronx who came to New Orleans almost 20 years ago and found her life’s work helping the marginalized water people of the bayous adjust to a rapidly changing world.

Residents of 4900 block of Warrington Drive didn’t have much time to react when Katrina arrived that morning of Aug. 29, 2005. All they could do was run for their lives. Water from the lake rushed up the London Avenue Canal, which ran through their backyards along a channel lined by concrete and sheet metal walls that had been reinforced just a decade earlier. The engineers unknowingly anchored their walls in the soft sand of an ancient barrier island, Keim said. At 9:30 a.m., a 30-foot section of the wall collapsed, releasing a geyser of sand and a torrent of water that topped 15 feet. The neighborhood disappeared. “When I drove down here, there were houses on houses, cars on top of cars,” Amy remembered. “It was complete devastation.”

We are peeking through the windows of 4918 Warrington, a solid brick house that withstood the flood. No one lives here now, and you can’t go inside. The Flooded House Museum is a stark re-creation, a haunting reminder of what the people here came back to after the flood waters receded. Dark mold covers the walls. The baby grand piano in the corner is destroyed. Yet, the books on the shelves seem undisturbed. Photo frames hang askew. Toys are tossed around the room, and a thick layer of dirt covers every piece of furniture. The wrinkled, faded front page of the city’s Times-Picayune sits atop a broken table. The newspaper was published the day before the storm. “Katrina Takes Aim,” the headline screams.

We headed back to the van. “I hate I have to take you on this tour of woe,” Lesen says.

Mister Go

In the ponderous language of the bureaucracy, it’s known as the Mississippi-Gulf Outlet Canal. Locals took the acronym, MSGO, and came up with a more memorable moniker, Mister Go. It was the last and maybe most depressing stop on Amy’s tour. Of all the deadly screw-ups that led to a drowned city, Mister Go was the most predictable and most lethal.

Fittingly, then, it started to rain, though the sun was still shining, as we headed south out of town on LA 39, following the Mississippi. A huge levee obscured the river on our right, though we sometimes glimpsed the smokestacks of passing ships. “The devil is beating his wife,” Keim said from the front seat. “That’s what we say down here when it rains while the sun is shining.”

As Lucifer wailed away, St. Bernard Parish rolled by our windows. At almost 2,200 square miles, it is the state’s second-largest parish, or what we In North Carolina would call a county. Eighty-three percent of it is water, however, making it the wettest place in Louisiana, which is saying something. The passing scenery confirmed that: a thousand cuts of water coursing through an endless sea of marsh grasses, dotted by small islands of bald cypress trees. “Out here, you’re in another world,” Keim noted.

We reached our destination, Shell Beach, which has neither a beach nor any readily apparent shells. Shrimp trawlers and rusting oyster dredges were tied up along the Mister Go waterfront, confirming the community’s past prominence as a fishing port. “If you came here before Katrina, you would have seen a lot of activity,” Keim said as we got out of the van. “It was a bustling place.”

About 40 minutes from downtown New Orleans, Shell Beach is about halfway up the 76-mile channel that links the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans’ inner harbor. The city had been clamoring for years for a shortcut for commercial ships. With support from the Army Corps of Engineers, Mister Go finally got congressional approval in 1956. The Corps started digging two years later, dredging up more earth then was moved during the building of the Panama Canal and destroying thousands of acres of wetlands in the process. The channel opened to shipping in 1965 at a cost of $92 million, or almost $900 million today when adjusted for inflation.

“Scientists warned of the environmental effects, and locals worried about the flooding.” Keim explained as we walked along the deserted waterfront. “The people here didn’t want this built. They thought it would be a disaster. It turned out to be worse than they imagined.”

As soon as the channel was dug, saltwater from the Gulf swept in, drastically changing the ecosystem. The dead, sun-bleached stalks of bald cypress and live oak trees, what scientists call ghost forests, mark the salt’s line of advance. Muskrats went next, taking the parish’s thriving fur industry with them. The oysters followed along with another industry. The brackish marshes were important to wintering waterfowl, but the birds went elsewhere after the water’s salt content tripled, killing most of the marshes.

The long-term effects stretched far beyond muskrats, oysters, and ducks, however. An estimated 20,000 acres of marsh that served as a buffer against storms were swept away over the next 40 years. By the time Katrina arrived, the original 500-foot-wide channel had more than quadrupled in size in some places.

Poor people bore the brunt of what came next. Katrina’s storm surge barreled up the channel and into the connecting Industrial Canal in the heart of New Orleans. Containing walls collapsed, and the city’s Lower Ninth Ward, a predominantly Black neighborhood, was under 12 feet of water. Its residents became the storm’s human face of suffering on TVs around the world. The Lower Ninth was the last place in the city to get power restored, the last to be pumped dry. Empty lots and collapsed houses covered in vines dot it still.

In poverty-stricken St. Bernard Parish, the destruction was complete. Every inch of the parish was underwater, every building flooded. Many who fled never came back. The parish’s population is still two-thirds of what it was before the storm.

The most-maddening thing about it? All that death and all that destruction and all that despair were for nothing. Absolutely nothing. A few people probably made money on Mister Go, but the economic boom it was predicted to trigger along its length never happened. In fact, it was a bust. Before the storm, the channel cost more than $8 million to maintain each year for the two large container ships that used it on any day. In the Corps of Engineers’ long list of misjudgments and disasters, the Mississippi-Gulf Outlet Canal must rank somewhere near the top.

Under extreme local pressure, the Corps shut the whole thing down after Katrina. It built a rock dam in 2009 at Mister Go’s Gulf end to close it to shipping and completed a $1.1 billion storm-surge gate across its connection to the Industrial Canal four years later. In New Orleans, it built floodgates at the mouth of the other canals.

The people of St. Bernard Parish were left to mourn, but they got busy building, too. They erected a monument along the shore in Shell Beach that lists the names of all 164 residents who died during the flooding: Bernhard, De la Fosse, Gallodoro, LaBlanc, Morates, Roark, Vidross …

“Those are the names of St. Bernard Parish,” Amy said.

Next in the series: Ground zero for wetland loss in the world.

State transportation officials announced Thursday that all roads damaged by a storm in southeastern North Carolina last year are open to drivers.

North Carolina Department of Transportation and local officials gathered this week to celebrate the reopening of the bridge over Prices Creek on East Moore Street in Southport.

The bridge officially opened to drivers Thursday afternoon.

NCDOT officials said this project was the last of 44 damaged sites in the southern coastal region to reopen after an unnamed storm with tropical cyclone characteristics brought historic rainfall and flooding on Sept. 16, 2024.

Major southeastern North Carolina routes, including N.C. Highway 211 and U.S. Highway 17, were damaged during the storm. State crews worked to restore critical routes to the area in the immediate aftermath of the storm, officials said.

Just beyond a wooded area that marks Paws Place Dog Rescue’s east-facing property line, signs of neighbors to come dot the horizon.

Rooftops of two-story houses in various stages of construction peek over treetops in a new development cropping up on one side of the rescue’s land in Winnabow, an unincorporated area along U.S. Highway 17 in Brunswick County.

On a recent May afternoon, Paws Place President Lee VanOrmer looked in the direction from where the steady sounds of building filled the air and mustered up her best, glass-half-full shot of optimism.

“That’s more families that can come here and adopt dogs,” she said.

The reality is that the new neighborhood, like so much of the seemingly endless development occurring in Brunswick County, is not one welcomed by existing residents worried that too much building, too fast, is creating problems.

Here in North Carolina’s southernmost coastal county, it’s not uncommon to read local news stories about mounting traffic-related issues, concerns about flooding exacerbated by stormwater runoff and human run-ins with alligators being squeezed out of the once-secluded areas they prefer.

And, by all indications, development here is not going to slow down.

Years of building to come

Since June 1, 2015, the county has approved 123 developments that call for the construction of more than 45,900 housing units, according to information provided on Brunswick County Planning and Community Enforcement’s website.

Only 13 of those developments are 100% complete. Construction of residences in more than half – 75 to be exact – has not begun.

“It is so much,” Brunswick County resident Christie Marek said. “When I started this I didn’t realize how much I was getting into. It’s like the more you try to change something you learn that we’re several years behind homebuilders. It’s like they almost planned on this.”

Marek founded Brunswick County Conservation Partnership, a nonprofit born out of a coalition of residents concerned about their county’s future. The aim of the partnership is to protect Brunswick’s natural resources and advocate for “responsible” development.

That can look like any variety of measures, be it creating wider buffers between a new development and wetlands or adjacent properties, limiting clearcutting, or implementing stormwater mitigation plans to ultimately keep runoff from flowing into and polluting streams and rivers, Marek said.

Marek lives in Ash, a rural, largely agricultural, unincorporated area along N.C. Highway 130 that she refers to as “the country side of the beach.”

“We don’t have a lot of growth out here,” Marek said.

So, when builders asked the county to approve a sprawling, multiuse development of thousands of homes and commercial space next to her small family farm, she took notice.

County officials in March 2024 approved Ashton Farms, a development that will include more than 2,700 single-family lots, 200 townhome lots and a little more than 20 acres of commercial space.

Early this year, the county planning board approved the 645-acre King Tract, an 1,800-home development through farm and forestland adjacent to Ashton Farms.

Residents persistently raised concerns about potential impacts these developments may have on what equate to hundreds of acres of wetlands in the area.

Months before the King Tract was approved, Marek began asking county leaders to adopt a temporary building moratorium.

“I would love to see a moratorium to just halt development until we get a flood study done and wildlife study done,” she said.

Brunswick County commissioners in a split vote last fall turned down that idea.

The county later posted an explanation on its website that local governments are barred from adopting temporary building moratoria.

“State law provides little to no ability for local governments to issue temporary moratoria on development projects within their jurisdiction,” the website states. “This aspect of state law is important to keep in mind whenever the County receives questions or suggestions to put a moratorium on residential development due to reasons like amending the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) or writing or updating plans.”

The website goes on to explain that proposed developments undergo “a thorough review process” and that impacts to infrastructure and water and wastewater systems are addressed before proposals go to the county planning board.

Several projects are either under construction or planned to expand capacity at wastewater treatment plants and the county has “dedicated significant time and resources” to updating its 20-year water and sewer master plans and five-year capital improvement plan, according to the county.

Brunswick County Conservation Partnership has applied for a $1 million grant to study the potential effects, including flooding, overdevelopment in the area may have on everything from wildlife to wetlands to trees.

But as the federal government guts grant programs, Marek said she’s not counting on those funds to come through. The partnership late last year launched an online donation campaign to raise funds to cover the cost of the study.

“It’s not that we want to stop all development,” Marek said. “It’s stopping irresponsible development and that’s what’s going on here.”

Wetter ground

There’s a patch of marsh on the grounds of where Paws Place Dog Rescue has operated the last eight years.

“We could count in the summer on it being dry,” VanOrmer said.

That’s no longer the case.

The kennel where dogs are housed in a sprawling building that sits at the end of a gravel road stretching hundreds of yards off N.C. Highway 87 is on 17 acres classified as being of minimal flood risk.

Yet, since the no-kill shelter opened in spring 2017, flooding and the threat of it has been on the uptick. VanOrmer is convinced that is due, at least in part, to encroaching development, despite assurances from officials that developers have to comply with the county’s stormwater management and discharge control ordinance.

Unprecedented rainfall from two coastal storms that swept the area within the span of less than a decade caused historic flooding.

Paws Place’s 7,000-square-foot building was inundated with 3 feet of water following Hurricane Florence’s record rainfall in September 2018.

U.S. National Guard troops were called in to help evacuate the kennel’s inhabitants at the time to dry ground at a local gas station.

Last September, Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight, more commonly referred to in these parts as the “unnamed storm,” dumped more than 20 inches of rain, destroying dozens of homes, washing out roads and causing millions of dollars in damages.

“We had water come up to the door and we used dog food to keep the water out,” VanOrmer said.

But the two people who rode out the storm at the kennel were trapped by floodwaters that cut off the entrance to the property.

The unnamed storm amplified to the rescue’s board of directors the need for an on-site storm shelter, one a quick walk from the kennel that, as of May 20, housed some 35 dogs.

The rescue had just enough money to pay a contractor to pour an elevated concrete slab that will be the base of the storm shelter.

Now the rescue is racing to raise enough money to finish the shelter, the ground level of which will house lawn equipment and a van. Walls of the second level, which will be climate controlled, will be lined with crates ready for dogs that get moved from the main building during storms.

“Really, the situation has become, we need an evacuation-type scenario,” VanOrmer said.

She said $95,000 in pledges have been made to the rescue, closing in on its $150,000 goal. VanOrmer said she hopes construction will begin in early June with the building being finished before September.

Next door, homes will likely continue to be erected in the new neighborhood of Saltgrass Landing, plans of which call for nearly 260 residences.

Another large housing development is planned adjacent the Paws Place property across Town Creek, which winds to the Cape Fear River.

“Unfortunately, we can’t seem to stop development,” VanOrmer said.

This is the first in a series of stories about the effects federal budget and staff cuts and the cancellations of programs and services are having in coastal North Carolina.

POLLOCKSVILLE – Jay Bender is rightfully proud of his town hall. Lovingly restored when it was moved to higher ground a few years ago, the old train depot has come to symbolize the grit of this little river town that a hurricane once tried to drown and its government in far-off Washington now has abandoned.

The mayor for 42 continuous years – a record in North Carolina – Bender fashioned his office to look like one that the stationmaster might have used when the depot was built in 1893. An antique rolltop desk anchors the room, accented by sturdy wooden chairs for visitors and framed railroad maps on the walls.

He led me to the handsome town council chambers with its wide-beamed oak floor and huge, sliding, wooden cargo doors that bear names and other graffiti that people scrawled during the building’s lifetime. “All of this was under water,” explained Bender. “We lost everything. We lost our records. We lost our computers. Everything.”

Related: North Carolina among most successful states for BRIC awards

The depot, which even then served as town hall, was a few blocks away, down on the banks of the Trent River, a pretty, usually placid stream that languidly flows northeast a dozen or so miles to its confluence with the Neuse River in New Bern. In these parts it’s known primarily for its catfish and largemouth bass. It was the little town’s biggest attraction.

Until it became the source of its destruction.

That would have been during those three, grim days in September 2018 when Hurricane Florence dumped more than more 30 inches of rain and unleased a biblical deluge. The river had overflowed its banks before, of course – back in 1999 after Hurricane Floyd, for instance – but never like this. Some experts would later speculate that the Trent hadn’t flooded that badly in maybe 1,000 years. It rose more than 25 feet, covering much of Pollocksville to its rooftops. Most of its 300 or so residents had to be evacuated. More than 80% of its buildings were destroyed or damaged, including every town commissioner’s home.

Bender, living in his grandfather’s old place on high ground, was spared. That’s where they ran the town until the river receded and the power was restored 11 days later.

The slow recovery then began.

Aided by state and federal grants, the town moved and refurbished the waterlogged old depot in 2021 and began getting pieces of its sewer and water systems out of the floodplain. Owners raised some buildings, and the town gussied up U.S. Highway 17, its main road, with a bike path, planters and banners.

The place was starting to look almost normal again, and Bender was feeling optimistic about his town’s revival until the Trump regime in Washington suddenly and without warning pulled the rug out from under him.

Killed without warning

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced about a month ago that it was cancelling its major grant program that provided seed money to communities that wanted to be better prepared for the next flood or weather catastrophe. FEMA didn’t contact Pollocksville or the 67 other communities in the state that were awarded grants but had not yet received any money. Neither did it notify the N.C. Division of Emergency Management, which administers the grants, or the media. The agency made the surprise announcement on one of its websites after 5 p.m. on a Friday, presumably to attract the least amount of attention.

Bender didn’t find out about the cancellation until the following week. It was the first time a federal grant program had been killed in midstream.

It would be another 12 days before FEMA clarified that only grant projects that had been completed would be totally funded. Those that have started might receive partial funding. Everything else was dead. In North Carolina, that meant almost $186 million in projects intended to help communities ward off weather catastrophes and save lives would have to be shelved unless the recipients could come up with the money elsewhere. That total includes about $81 million in the state’s 20 coastal counties, including $1.1 million for Pollocksville to raise six commercial buildings to revive its downtown.

“Losing the grant is very disappointing,” said Bender, whose town operates on an annual $600,000 budget. “It would have funded the next step in our long-range plan. Replacing the grant money will be difficult.”

The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants, known as BRIC, was the federal government’s showcase program to help communities help themselves by funding projects to lessen and prevent storm damage. It committed almost $5 billion to communities across the country since it was approved by Congress with bipartisan support and signed by Donald Trump in 2018 during his first term. Local governments had planned to use the money to help raise buildings and roads, relocate vulnerable sewer pump stations, control flooding, strengthen building codes and on similar projects to reduce the damage of future storms. The program was so popular that last year FEMA had to reject nearly 2,000 applicants because it didn’t have enough money to go around.

About $1 billion was allocated to the program as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021. Under President Biden, the BRIC grants were key parts of the government’s efforts to address climate change, and a special emphasis was placed on helping Black and other historically underserved communities. It was those directives that likely put BRIC on the regime’s hit list.

‘Wasteful,’ ‘political,’ fearful

An unnamed FEMA spokesperson said in the April announcement that the agency now considers BRIC to be “wasteful” and “political.” I called FEMA’s “news desk” at its regional office in Atlanta several times to get some examples. Each call disappeared into the ether because the number listed on the agency’s regional website didn’t even generate a dial tone. I sent an email to the address listed on the site. It remains unanswered. As do the emails and phone message I sent to the state’s two Republican senators, Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, asking for their reactions.

Many county and town officials also didn’t return emails and phone calls. They watched the bullying of the country’s biggest universities and law firms and heard the threats about withholding federal funds to public schools and museums. They apparently got the message. They would need FEMA someday, and all depended on federal funding for something. Bender understands his counterparts’ desire to remain under the radar. He’s relying partially on federal money to upgrade his water and sewer plants. “We lose this grant and we’re out maybe $20,000,” he said. “But I can’t build half a sewer plant.”

Anna Weber, however, needed no coaxing. She’s a policy analyst for the National Resources Defense Council and helps communities prepare for the violence of an unstable climate. She has a hard time understanding how spending money to prevent death and damage from future storms can suddenly be considered wasteful.

“In fact, investing in adaptation and resiliency against climate change is one of the least wasteful things we can do,“ she said. “It’s actually one of the best investments in preventing future local damage and loss of life from storms.”

She noted that studies have consistently shown that every dollar invested on projects to prevent storm damage results in at least $6 in savings when the pieces later have to be picked up and put back together.

BRIC also seemed to dovetail with the regime’s desire to require states to pay more for cleanup and reconstruction costs after a disaster, Weber said. The grants pay 75% of project costs. The applicant is responsible for the remainder. “These were communities that were doing this right,” she said. “The federal government wanted communities to step up and take some responsibility. These communities did step up and do what the government asked, and now the rug is being pulled out from under them.”

The charge that the grants were doled out as political favors by the Biden administration makes little sense in North Carolina, which Trump carried handily in all three of his elections. The 22 counties, which include the state’s most populous, that Biden won in 2020 received only about a quarter of the grant money, while the 20 coastal counties, many of which Trump won with 60-70% of the vote, received almost 45%.

Jessica Whitehead was North Carolina’s first chief resilience officer and helped evaluate the state’s first BRIC applications in 2020. She’s now director of the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience at Old Dominion University.

“Politics?” she said. “It never came up.”

No one asked Bender about his politics when the town applied for its BRIC grant.

“This had nothing to do with politics,” he said, “and I don’t know how you can consider it wasteful. This is all about trying to get our town back to normal.”

Guest Commentary

To stimulate discussion and debate, Coastal Review welcomes differing viewpoints on topical coastal issues. 

The Outer Banks is known for its beautiful coastline and rich ecosystems, drawing millions of visitors each year. Millions of dollars in tax and business revenue are collected as a result. Unfortunately, beach erosion poses a significant challenge to homeowners, business owners and vacationers along the barrier islands, particularly those in Rodanthe. Last year, the community lost seven oceanfront homes, a record high and an indicator of a worsening problem.

Beach erosion, which has occurred for millions of years, is the defined result of changing sea levels, currents, wind patterns, and severe weather events. In fact, the Outer Banks would not exist if not for this natural process. However, erosion is consuming as much as 15 feet of shoreline each year along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

To preserve structures in place, federal, state, and local governments have launched coordinated responses, investing heavily in beach nourishment, inlet relocation, and terminal groin projects in a race against the sea. To put the severity of this issue into perspective, a 2020 review by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (NC DEQ) Division of Coastal Management found that nearly 9,000 oceanfront structures are at risk.

Despite the growing problem, many property owners are forced to wait until their home collapses before they can file a claim through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Shoreline erosion damages are excluded from standard homeowners’ insurance, and the NFIP only covers flood-related damages, creating confusion and prohibiting proactive planning.

That is why I introduced the Preventing Environmental Hazards Act, a commonsense bill to address the unfortunate reality of beach erosion coastal homeowners face. The bipartisan legislation would authorize NFIP compensation for structures condemned due to chronic erosion or unusual flooding and allow advance payouts for demolition or relocation of up to 40% of the home’s value, capped at $250,000 – the same terms as current NFIP policy. The purpose here is to use the money to remove the structure before it collapses, rather than wait until it creates an environmental disaster.

As erosion continues to accelerate, thousands of homes across the Outer Banks are at severe risk of being swept away by the sea. Additionally, when a home collapses, debris can spread up to fifteen miles along the coast, contaminating groundwater through failing septic systems, harming aquatic species, shorebirds, and their habitats, posing safety risks to beach visitors, and creating other serious environmental hazards. Our coastal communities cannot afford a delay any longer for proactive solutions to address these challenges.

Since coming to Congress, I have worked tirelessly to address the challenges created by our shifting shoreline, meeting regularly with local officials, representatives from NC DEQ, and the National Park Service. It is a privilege and a top priority of mine to secure federal funding to help cover the cost of projects to protect our beach communities. However, mitigation programs intended to protect threatened homes are often slow, suboptimal, and difficult to access. Advance NFIP payouts will empower homeowners by providing flexibility to prepare for or recover from natural disasters while at the same time mitigating risks to beachgoers and mariners.

Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of Coastal Review or our publisher, the North Carolina Coastal Federation.

A project to reduce power outage time on Ocracoke was recently awarded state funding to improve North Carolina’s electric grid.

Tideland Electric Membership Corp.’s Project Ocracoke Resiliency will entail the installation of underground electrical lines and equipment, and relocating aerial lines to areas where they are less likely to be disrupted.

The project, which will also support the island’s microgrid to further increase resiliency and reliability, is one of seven in the state recently awarded more than $20 million from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office.

Projects selected for funding aim to update grid infrastructure and resilience against severe weather.

“We know that storms will keep coming with increasing frequency and intensity, and it’s critical that we build more resiliently to strengthen our electric grid,” Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson said in a release. “These investments will help improve the grid’s resilience and reduce outage times.”

Other projects selected through the competitive application process include:

• Wilson Community Resilience project, which will benefit rural areas in Wilson, Nash, Edgecombe, Pitt, Greene, Wayne and Johnston counties.
• Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corp.’s Foothills Resiliency project, which includes upgrades to decrease natural hazard-related outages by 35%.
• The Four County Electric Membership Corp. project that entails upgrades to the 55-year-old electric grid in Sampson County.
• The Fayetteville Public Works Commission project to decrease outage time and maintain low customer costs by replacing 480 wooden poles with steel poles.
• Duke Energy’s Cherokee Area Resiliency and Environmental Safety, or CAR-ES, project to transform the grid in two disadvantaged communities in the Cherokee area of Western North Carolina.
• Gastonia’s Strategic Upgrades for Resilient Grid Enhancements, or SURGE, project, which will upgrade and enhance the grid with infrastructure and technology improvements.

“While these projects will enhance our grid, they will also benefit our communities by providing access to resilient and reliable energy and workforce development opportunities,” State Energy Office Director Julie Woosley said in a release.

Funds for the projects are provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Tribal Formula Grants Program, which was authorized by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The state anticipates receiving annual funding to improve North Carolina’s electric grid over the next three years, helping the state achieve its goal of delivering reliable electricity at an affordable cost.

Guest Commentary

To stimulate discussion and debate, Coastal Review welcomes differing viewpoints on topical coastal issues. Morty Gaskill is a member of the North Carolina Coastal Federation Board of Directors. The nonprofit advocacy organization publishes Coastal Review, which remains editorially independent.

In 1976, a North Carolina Sea Grant newsletter sounded the alarm: large-scale land drainage was wiping out wetlands that protect our coastal fisheries. Fishermen saw their livelihoods at risk and 3,000 of them pleaded for action.

“We, the undersigned, being commercial and sport fishermen who use the creeks, rivers, and bays adjacent to Pamlico Sound and the waters of Pamlico Sound, petition the Marine Fisheries Commission and state officials as follows: … to investigate the effect of changing salinity in said waters upon the economy of Pamlico Drainage areas and to initiate proper controls to insure the continued health of commercial and sport fishing in this area.”

They saw it coming. But there was hope — state and federal leaders acted. For decades, farming, forestry, development, and fisheries co-existed under federal and state wetland safeguards — rules that carefully balanced economic growth and environmental protection. These safeguards didn’t create unbearable hardships; they provided stability for all.

Yet here we are again, nearly 50 years later, facing the same crisis — not just for our fisheries, but for our homes, businesses, and communities. Given the changing economic and environmental conditions of many coastal communities across North Carolina, it could not come at a worse time.

This time, the rollback of wetland protections isn’t coming from local drainage operations. It’s happening due to recent federal and state government actions. The Supreme Court’s Sackett v. EPA decision has dramatically narrowed the definition of federally protected wetlands. The North Carolina General Assembly followed suit, choosing to adopt the weaker federal standard instead of maintaining the stronger state level protections that had been in place for years. And now, under new leadership, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is further diluting the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, stripping even more protections from wetlands and streams that feed our coastal estuaries.

The consequences? More wetlands drained. More freshwater rushing unchecked into saltwater nurseries. More flooding. More property damage.

Costly gamble

History has already shown us what happens when we fail to protect our wetlands. In 1976, Rose Bay fisherman Troy W. Mayo spoke out as catches dwindled.

“Twenty-five years ago, I owned a 26-foot shad boat. We used to go out in Rose Bay, two people, for five or six hours and we’d catch 35 to 40 tubs of oysters—that was two men pulling by hand,” said Mayo. “Today you go out in this same area with a power winder and all modern equipment, and I’d be surprised if you catch 10 tubs of oysters.”

Scientists confirmed what fishermen already knew. “Salinity is a major ingredient for survival in the estuaries”; reported the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Preston Pate, who studied juvenile shrimp in Rose Bay, found that freshwater intrusion “definitely disrupted the salinity of small creeks in the area. The result was a smaller shrimp harvest by fishermen.”

But wetland loss isn’t just bad for fisheries. Wetlands absorb floodwaters, buffer storm surges, and keep pollution out of our waterways. Every acre lost means more homes and businesses at risk.

In North Carolina, our coastal communities have already been battered by hurricanes, rising insurance costs, rising property taxes, lack of affordable housing, and an aging drainage infrastructure that can’t keep up with heavier rains. Weakening wetland protections only adds fuel to the fire. It shifts costs onto property owners, local governments, and taxpayers — many of whom will be left paying for flood damage that could have been prevented.

Commonsense approach to conservation

Those lessons from the 1970s helped shape policies that kept North Carolina’s wetlands intact for decades. But now, history is repeating itself. The rollback of WOTUS protections and the state’s decision to weaken its own rules mean more wetlands will be drained, increasing flooding, pollution, and economic losses.

This shouldn’t be a divisive political issue. Wetland protections aren’t just about environmental policy — they’re about practical economics, public safety, and community well-being. They help prevent costly flood damage, safeguard private property, and support the resilience of coastal economies that depend on fisheries, tourism, and clean water.

Jim Brown of the Division of Marine Fisheries put it best nearly 50 years ago:

“We love beans and beef, and we have a serious need to extend agricultural operations. At the same time, we dearly love shrimp and oysters. There exists a very serious need for imposing compatibility between the two. Can it be done? That’s the question. Or do we just keep plodding along with our fingers crossed?”

If we ignore history, we aren’t just crossing our fingers — we are guaranteeing a grim future for our coastal communities. The fishermen of Rose Bay warned us decades ago. Will we listen this time? Or will we, once again, pay the price for failing to protect the wetlands that sustain our way of life?

Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of Coastal Review or our publisher, the North Carolina Coastal Federation. See our guidelines for submitting guest columns.

Home-based and amateur weather spotters in North Carolina are encouraged to join a countrywide network that documents the size, intensity, duration and patterns of rain, hail and snow.

Called the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network, or CoCoRaHS, volunteers are asked to take measurements in their own backyards.

“We are in need of new observers across the entire state. We would like to emphasize rural and coastal locations, and areas of higher terrain across the mountains,” state co-coordinator David Glenn explained in a release. Glenn is a meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s Newport office.

Visit the website and click on the “Join CoCoRaHS” emblem on the upper right side of the website to join the project. After registering, volunteers can purchase the required 4-inch plastic rain gauge through the network’s website at about $40 plus shipping. Volunteers will need to submit their reports through the network’s website or app.

“An additional benefit of the program for the National Weather Service is the ability to receive timely reports of significant weather such as hail, intense rainfall, or localized flooding from CoCoRaHS observers that can assist meteorologists in issuing and verifying warnings for severe thunderstorms,” Glenn added. 

Recently, drought reporting has become an important observation within the program and are now being included in the National Integrated Drought Information System. 

“CoCoRaHS observers provided valuable data for both Hurricane Florence and Dorian,” said Sean Heuser, a state co-coordinator and manager of the North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network, or NC ECOnet, at the State Climate Office of North Carolina.

“For these high intensity events, whether they are tropical systems or afternoon thunderstorms, CoCoRaHS observers are able to fill in gaps and provide a clearer picture of where we see precipitation maximums. We also use CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring reports to determine weekly drought conditions across the state and give recommendations to the U.S. Drought Monitor authors,” Heuser said in a statement.

The grassroots program formed after a severe thunderstorm hit Fort Collins, Colorado, in July 1997, causing $200 million in flood-related damage. North Carolina was the 21st state to join in 2007. By 2010, the network had reached all 50 states with nearly 10,000 daily observations.

“Monitoring weather and climate conditions in North Carolina is no easy feat,” state co-coordinator Heather Aldridge said in the release. “CoCoRaHS volunteers help by painting a better picture of precipitation patterns across North Carolina, filling in data gaps where there are no nearby stations. Reporting rain, hail, snow, and drought conditions is a fun activity for all ages.”

National Weather Service forecasters are expecting heavy snow and dangerously low temperatures along eastern North Carolina starting Tuesday evening and continuing into Wednesday morning.

With the coast expecting between 4 and 8 inches of snow, the possible effects have prompted a growing list of closures and cancellations for most coastal government offices from Currituck to Brunswick into Wednesday.

“High confidence remains that we will see an impactful snow storm starting after sunset tonight and lasting through early tomorrow morning. Blowing and drifting snow is expected, and brief blizzard conditions are also possible, especially along the Outer Banks,” meteorologists in the Newport office state in their final Tuesday briefing for the storm Tuesday afternoon.

Extremely cold weather is forecast to persist through Thursday, with morning lows in the teens and wind chills in the single digits. Highs Wednesday are unlikely to allow for a thaw, despite sunny skies. “Any snow that does melt during the daytime will refreeze into black ice at night, prolonging hazardous travel conditions for several days,” according to forecasters.

The National Weather Service Wilmington office Meteorologist-in-Charge Steven Pfaff said Tuesday to expect a recipe of snow and sleet, especially along coastal areas from near Southport to Georgetown, South Carolina.

Residents should consider the potential for heavier bands of snow that may lead to isolated higher accumulations overnight. The snow could keep falling along the coast until 5 to 8 a.m. Wednesday, Pfaff said.

In the Wilmington office’s final briefing around 4:30 p.m., forecasters said “Winter Storm Warnings are in effect everywhere, for 3-5 inches of snow over many areas with locally higher amounts.”

Warning Coordination Meteorologist Erik Heden, with the Newport office, noted during a late Tuesday morning briefing that this is not a typical winter weather storm, “where we see the snow, and then it’s melted and gone by afternoon. This will stick around for many days … because of the amount of snow, and also because the extreme cold temperatures, below freezing, especially at night.”

Heden said any snow that melts Wednesday will refreeze. “We’re into a stretch of cold weather that will just enhance the snow in terms of keeping it around on the ground for many days.”

Snow coupled with the wind will make traveling “quite treacherous,” because of poor visibility and slippery conditions on roadways. He added that the snow is to stop early Wednesday morning, but travel could remain hazardous for the remainder of the week, especially if the roads freeze over.

State transportation officials have a similar message. That residents should stay off the roads once the storm begins unless absolutely necessary.

“We’ve been out putting salt brine on roads since the weekend and are completing those operations to get ready for what Mother Nature brings,” said North Carolina Department of Transportation Chief Operating Officer Chris Peoples in a statement. “People should get any food and supplies they may need now so they don’t have to be on the roads later today, tonight or tomorrow morning unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

More than 800 transportation employees in eastern North Carolina have been pretreating roads and getting ready for the storm.

As of Tuesday afternoon, crews statewide had placed more than 1.7 million gallons of brine on roads. The saltwater solution lowers the freezing temperature of water to about 18 degrees, helping prevent ice from forming on pavement, according to NCDOT.

“During winter weather, just like in any severe weather situation in our state, our number one priority is keeping people safe,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a release. “Please continue to monitor local weather reports, keep off the roads if you can, and stay prepared for possible power outages.” 

Multiple warming stations are opening because of the cold temperatures. County emergency managers are to report warming stations that are opening in their communities on county websites, the governor’s office said late Tuesday.

Post updated with information from the governor’s office.

Featured Image

An egret hunts along the shore of an icy marsh Thursday near Pelletier Creek in Morehead City. Don’t look for a quick thaw as much of coastal North Carolina is under a winter weather advisory from 4 p.m. Friday until 10 a.m. Saturday. The forecast calls for the potential for light accumulations of ice and snow, although little to none is expected from Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Island. Photo: Dylan Ray

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has been awarded more than $1 million to create a drone program that officials say will improve response to natural disasters like hurricanes Florence and Helene.

NCDOT’s Division of Aviation was awarded a $1.1 million grant Monday from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the state announced Tuesday.

NCDOT is one of 47 recipients nationwide to be selected for funding from the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation Grants, or SMART, program. The SMART program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and has awarded around $200 million between 2022 and this year for planning and protype projects in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

“We are thrilled,” Nick Short, interim director of NCDOT’s Aviation Division said in a statement. “This will make us better prepared for natural disasters. With what we saw during Helene, Florence and other natural disasters, when you’re not able to use highway infrastructure to get goods and assets to an area, it seriously limits your ability to provide life-saving care and quick response to people in need.”

Aviation staff are to develop a program using drone-in-a-box technology. The secure boxes containing autonomous drones act as a charging station, storage and place from which to launch and land. These boxes can be placed in a community ahead of a natural disaster and then deployed remotely to start collecting images of damage and deliver emergency supplies.

“With the ‘drone in a box,’ we can place a drone with medicine like insulin on the side of a road and then those supplies are there and ready to be deployed right away,” Short explained. “We will be able to deploy the drone remotely, so we can begin collecting data and delivering supplies without having to wait on someone to respond by driving into the area. In doing so, we’re also removing the risk of putting people in further danger during a natural disaster.”

Staff will pilot the project in Lumberton, which was hit particularly hard by hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018.

“These storms tend to impact people in historically disadvantaged communities where roads and other infrastructure become inundated faster and for longer periods of time than many other communities,” Short said. “That was true in Lumberton during Hurricane Florence and is one of the main reasons we’re piloting this program there.”

The Division of Aviation will work closely with the town and surrounding communities because public feedback will be important as the agency studies the issue and develops a better response program, Short said.

While this program will be conducted in Lumberton, state aviation officials expect to evaluate the technology for disaster response deployment at other locations.

“This grant covers all the studies we’ll have to do, from researching the environment at these locations as well as all the community involvement we’ll be doing and feedback we’ll be seeking,” he said.

Short said expediting disaster response comes at a crucial time as scientists predict that climate change is expected to continue delivering storms that are more severe and more frequent.

Coastal communities have until 5 p.m. Jan. 24 to apply for state funding to help recover from hurricane damage.

The North Carolina General Assembly allocated $10 million to the Department of Environmental Quality for the funding, which is being administered by the Division of Water Resources through its Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund.

Funding can only be used for costs associated with beach nourishment, artificial dunes and other projects to mitigate or remediate coastal storm damage to the ocean beaches and dune systems of the state.

All applications will be evaluated to determine if the proposed beach nourishment or dune project would meet the minimum requirements, and ranked according to their projected environmental benefit, social benefit, economic benefit, as well as based on considerations of the project’s life, financial resources and project efficiency, officials said.

Any project the funds are used for must be matched dollar for dollar with nonstate funds.

To read more about the criteria used to select recipients, go to the guidelines on the department’s website.

The state office that helps homeowners and local governments with disaster recovery and resiliency is accepting public comments on proposed new mitigation funding use to help owners of properties at risk of flooding by elevating structures.

The North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency will accept comments until 5 p.m. Dec. 14 on a proposed amendment to how it administers Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation funds.

Changes being considered include allocations to the Affordable Housing Development Fund, the Public Housing Restoration Fund, the Infrastructure Recovery Program and Strategic Buyout Program, among other updates.

A draft of the new Substantial Action Plan Amendment 6 for mitigation funding is available for review online.

“The proposed action plan amendment is intended to address homeowner mitigation needs, including establishing the Residential Property Elevation Fund, which will be used to rehabilitate, reconstruct or replace properties located in a floodplain or at risk of future flooding,” according to the state. “The new fund will help protect properties against future flood damage through structural elevations and related activities.”

This fund is separate from the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery-funded ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program, which mostly serves properties that do not need home elevation.

Submit comments to either ncorr.publiccomments@ncdps.gov or to NCORR Public Comments, P.O. Box 110465, Durham, NC 27709.

In addition to mitigation initiatives, the office administers programs that include long-term disaster recovery, resiliency, community development, affordable housing, strategic buyout and local infrastructure.

A day of paddling on the Cape Fear River is being organized to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts in the western part of the state.

Cape Fear River Watch and Kayak for Carolina have announced that 100% of donations and registration fees for the Nov. 16 event will go to two groups, Helene Rebuild Collaborative, organized by fellow paddling industry folks to the west, and MountainTrue, dedicated to clean waters, resilient forests, and healthy communities through their MountainStrong Recovery and Resilience Fund.

Both causes are boots-on-the-ground collaborative efforts to help lay the groundwork for recovery and rebuilding.

Cape Fear Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette will lead a roughly 4-mile paddle along the Cape Fear River at 11 a.m. with a brief stop at Shark’s Tooth Island.

The put-in will be the Riverlights kayak launch and take-out will be at the River Road Park kayak launch.

The Cape Fear River Watch paddle will run as usual, except your paddle donations will be added to Kayak Carolina’s efforts.

You do not have to attend the paddle to donate.

If you’re interested in a different paddle, Kayak Carolina will be guiding other paddles throughout the day as well. They are offering a 9-mile, 4-mile and 3-mile paddle, which all leave at various times from various locations.

The state’s southeastern counties hit with historic rainfall in mid-September have been granted a federal major disaster declaration, and eligible residents and businesses can apply now for low-interest disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency declaration Gov. Roy Cooper’s office announced Saturday makes funding available for Brunswick, Carteret, New Hanover and Onslow counties to repair or replace public facilitates damaged between Sept. 15-20 by potential tropical cyclone No. 8.

The low-interest disaster loans Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced Friday are for those affected by the severe storms and flooding that took place Sept. 16–20 in Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties, and in Horry County in South Carolina. For more information and to apply online visit sba.gov/disaster.

The governor issued Oct. 16 a State Type 1 Disaster Declaration for individual assistance for Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties, as well.

“This storm brought historic rainfall and severe flooding to several areas of our state causing significant damage,” Cooper said over the weekend referring to the September storm. “These disaster declarations will help bring needed relief for folks impacted by the storm, including small business owners.”

The Small Business Administration offers disaster loans to businesses, homeowners, renters and private nonprofit organizations that can cover physical damage repairs, expenses for small businesses, funding to prevent future damage and operating expenses for companies with employees on active duty leave.

“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of North Carolina with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters with federal disaster loans,” Guzman said. “Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

Cooper requested the disaster assistance in letters sent last week to President Joe Biden and Small Business Administration Director Kem Fleming.

The Small Business Administration has disaster loan outreach centers in place to help with loan applications. Applicants can schedule an in-person appointment or drop by the centers in Brunswick or New Hanover County.

Hours for the Brunswick County center in the Town Creek Community Building in Winnabow are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The center will be closed Oct. 29, close at 5 p.m. Oct. 30, and close permanently at noon Nov. 1.

The New Hanover County center at Carolina Beach Town Hall was scheduled to open at 11 a.m. Monday and close at 6 p.m. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and permanently close at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28.

Before Hurricane Helene devastated parts of western North Carolina and Hurricane Milton charged across Florida, Brunswick County commissioners were raising concerns about the federal government’s depleted disaster relief funding.

One week after an unnamed storm dumped more than 16 inches of rain last month on parts of the county, commissioners adopted a resolution “unequivocally” supporting Congress fully fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund and replenish the more than $6.1 billion the agency was forced to transition to immediate needs funding.

When immediate needs funding goes into effect, funding for nonlifesaving and life-sustaining projects is put on hold so that the agency can get critical supplies like food, water and generators to communities in the wake of a natural disaster.

But the funding shift also creates a backlog in aid to local governments awaiting long-term disaster relief aid, which places “an undue burden on disaster survivors and local governments, and complicates already onerous programs with many counties relying on loans to cover recovery costs,” according to Brunswick’s resolution.

Congress in late September provided $20 billion for the disaster relief fund as part of a short-term spending bill to fund the government through Dec. 20 and, on Sept. 30, FEMA lifted the immediate needs funding status.

But, unless Congress acts this month, FEMA will likely have to reenact that funding.

The $20 billion Congress allocated to the disaster relief fund last month pales in comparison to the latest damage cost assessment from Hurricane Helene, a storm data analytics company CoreLogic estimates to range between $30.5 billion and $47.5 billion.

Hurricane Milton’s destructive path across an already hurricane-battered Florida is expected to rack up tens of billions more in damage.

“You’ve got to remember, there’s still a long line of disasters that happened before Oct. 1 that need to be paid for and so that fund is going to be depleted quickly,” said Brunswick County Commissioner Chair Randy Thompson, referring to the start of the federal fiscal year. “My guess is that fund is going to, once they start working on this disaster, it’s probably going to end up impacting it considerably to the point of it may put them right back in the same situation that they were in almost immediately.”

Thompson was speaking with Coastal Review by telephone Oct. 2 from somewhere in Avery County, one of the areas pummeled by Hurricane Helene when the storm swept up the Gulf Coast into Florida’s Big Bend north through western North Carolina.

He is chief executive officer of Thompson Disaster Recovery Associates Inc., a consulting firm that provides services to local, state and federal agencies. He had already been to three counties in the western part of the state, which suffered unprecedented flooding caused by Helene’s rains, when he was reached by phone.

“I have never seen anything like this,” he said. “There’ll be recovery, but this is a life-changer. I’m not sure what things will look like for a long time.”

As of Oct. 10, the death toll from Helene had risen to at least 230 across six states, including 88 confirmed in North Carolina.

On the same day Thompson spoke with Coastal Review, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that FEMA could meet immediate needs, but that the agency does not have enough funding to last through hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30.

In an Oct. 1 letter, several congressional leaders, including Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd from North Carolina, suggested Congress meet before both chambers are to return to session next month.

“Although the true level of devastation is still unfolding, it is clear that Congress must act to meet the unmet needs in our states and address the scope and scale of destruction experienced by our constituents,” the letter states, referring to Hurricane Helene. “This may even require Congress to come back in October to ensure we have enough time to enact legislation before the end of this calendar year.”

In a White House press briefing Thursday afternoon, Mayorkas, speaking via video conference from western North Carolina, said FEMA will be able to provide immediate needs relief to recent hurricane-battered areas.

“When Congress returns we will need them to act quickly to appropriately fund the disaster relief fund, upon which FEMA relies to deliver assistance to people after extreme weather events,” he said. “And so, we can meet the immediate needs, we will need funding, very rapidly.”

Erin Greten, a lawyer who provides counsel on disaster response and recovery assistance laws with Washington-based firm Baker Donelson, P.C., said in an email response to Coastal Review’s questions that if Congress does not act quickly, FEMA is likely to impose immediate needs funding, or INF, restrictions “again soon.”

“Congress is long overdue on passing a disaster supplemental to help FEMA support the costs of recent large events,” Greten said. “If Congress fails to act quickly, and FEMA is forced to re-enact INF restrictions, communities who rely on FEMA for their recovery will suffer.”

FEMA public assistance grants, for example, are reimbursement grants, which means an applicant has to submit a request for reimbursement after it has paid for the work.

“Most applicants do not have funds available to advance the funding necessary to perform the work without incurring debt,” Greten said. “If Congress fails to sufficiently fund the (disaster relief fund) and FEMA is required to apply INF restrictions, FEMA will halt reimbursements for permanent facility repairs and replacements, causing communities to accrue unnecessary financing costs through no fault of their own.”

Thompson said when counties and local governments pull money from their fund balances to meet emergency needs, they rely on federal reimbursement.

At the time this report was published, Brunswick County had not received a federal or state declaration for damage caused by the unnamed storm that flooded properties and washed out well-traveled bridges and roads.

As Brunswick recovers from the hit it took from the unnamed storm last month, the county has received numerous calls and questions from residents there about how they can help provide aid to fellow North Carolinians in the western part of the state, according to the county’s website.

The county estimates it has spent about $2.8 million directly related to the storm, including damages to county property, “and that insurance will not likely cover,” according to information provided by Brunswick County Communications Director Meagan Kascsak.

“However, this number is subject to change as we are still assessing expenditures from the storm,” she wrote.

Under a federal declaration, FEMA reimburses 75% of the total cost, Thompson explained. North Carolina has historically provided a 25% match.

“That part of it is something that is extremely important, but if you don’t get assistance and payback from FEMA and if it’s extended over long periods of time it actually could hurt the local government in their preparation of having a fund balance to be able to address immediate needs as they come up,” Thompson said. “This is huge for everybody and for us to pick it up as a local jurisdiction, this is something that impacts the nation, not just little Brunswick County.”

A portion of Brunswick County’s N.C. Highway 211 is set to be reopened to vehicle traffic Thursday, ahead of schedule, officials said, after the bridge was damaged by a storm in September.

The N.C. 211 bridge over the canal just north of Southport was to reopen to traffic at mid-morning. 

The section of highway was closed Sept. 16 after heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to the bridge. That prompted the North Carolina Department of Transportation and its contractor to detour traffic onto the new bridge over the canal. 

When the highway reopens, drivers will use the new alignment and bridge and then back onto the main roadway. Barricades, signs and pavement markings will guide drivers through this new traffic pattern. 

Drivers should note the N.C. 211 bridge at Dutchman Creek, which was also damaged beyond repair by the same storm, remains closed. Traffic will be directed to take Dosher Cutoff SE to N.C. 87. 

Officials said crews were “also diligently working at this location and are hopeful to have it reopened by the end of the month.”

Both sections of roadway affected by the storm are part of the project to widen N.C. 211.

As Hurricane Helene moved Wednesday through the Gulf of Mexico, heading for the Florida panhandle, officials here reminded residents to prepare for the storm’s effects.

“Helene is expected to become a major hurricane by Thursday. While significant impacts will remain west of our area, some impacts are still possible for Eastern North Carolina,” forecasters with the National Weather Service said at its 11 a.m. Wednesday briefing.

Because of the storm’s size, forecasters expect that effects will be felt far away from the storm center, especially to its east. “Local impacts will include gusty winds, some areas of flooding, isolated tornadoes, and dangerous surf conditions,” they said at the noon briefing.

Also on Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency ahead of the powerful storm expected to cause flash flooding, numerous landslides, damaging debris flows, slope failures across steep terrain, and riverine flooding across portions of western and central North Carolina. Flooding may occur in areas that do not typically flood, according to Cooper’s office.

“Helene threatens heavy rain, flash flooding, landslides, and damaging winds to the mountains and Piedmont areas of our state,” Cooper said. “Now is the time for North Carolinians to prepare, make sure emergency kits are up-to-date and pay attention to the weather alerts in your area.” 

Effects could be felt as early as Thursday night, but Friday will bring the storm’s worst to this area.

“A few tornadoes are possible which may produce enhanced areas of damage,” and there’s an enhanced threat for rip currents, a chance of coastal flooding, especially in areas still with elevated water levels, and strong winds, especially over the coastal waters south of Cape Hatteras,” forecasters said.

The state of emergency gears up certain state emergency operations and allows for the North Carolina departments of Transportation and Public Safety to act to ensure the quick movement of utility vehicles and those carrying essential supplies such as food, medicine and fuel or transporting livestock, poultry and crops.

State officials provided the following tips to prepare:

• Have multiple ways to receive emergency information, including watches and warnings. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your cell phone and monitor local new outlets and the National Weather Service.
• Ensure that you have multiple ways to receive warnings, especially with the potential for severe storms to be moving through during nighttime hours.
• Have an emergency plan. Know where you would go if you need to evacuate, especially if you live in a flood prone area.
• Gather emergency supplies or refresh your emergency kit. Visit ReadyNC.gov for info on how to build an emergency kit.
• Never drive through flooded roadways or around barricades. Turn around. Don’t drown.
• Make sure you know where to seek shelter if a tornado warning is issued for your area.
• Check to see if your local emergency management office offers emergency alert services for its residents. You can visit your county government website for more information.
• Avoid unnecessary travel. If you do not need to drive, stay home. You can find current roadway conditions by visiting DriveNC.Gov.

As Brunswick County continues to recover from damage caused by flooding from last week’s unnamed storm, officials here are urging residents to keep an eye on a newly formed tropical storm they hope skirts well west of southeastern North Carolina.

Topical Storm Helene formed Tuesday and is forecast make landfall Thursday around the Gulf Coast of Florida.

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Helene’s center was near latitude 19.5 degrees north, longitude 84.3 degrees west, and the storm was moving toward the northwest at about 12 mph.

The forecast for Friday and into the weekend in the Brunswick County area could include rain, depending “on the timing and location of remnants of the system and will need to be monitored,” according to a county update issued Tuesday.

Brunswick County and portions of New Hanover County, including Carolina Beach, were awash with flooding after the recent storm that unexpectedly dumped upwards of 20 inches of rain.

Floodwaters closed schools, damaged and washed out portions of roads and displaced residents in Brunswick County.

The American Red Cross shelter has relocated from the Brunswick Center at Leland to The First Tee of Coastal Carolinas, 445 Tarkin Court NW, Shallotte.

James Jarvis, executive director of the Red Cross Cape Fear Chapter, said by phone Tuesday morning that the shelter was housing one person.

“We’re prepared to receive more,” he said.

The Red Cross is working with some residents displaced after a building in a senior living community in Southport was inundated by flooding. Jarvis said eight units within the building were damaged.

Individuals and families in need of post-storm assistance, including shelter, may call 1-800-RED-CROSS or the Brunswick County call center at 910-253-5383. The call center is operated 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

More than a dozen Brunswick County schools are to open their doors Wednesday. Schools were closed last week because of damaged roads.

The schools opening for face-to-face instruction include the following: 

• North Brunswick High School.
• West Brunswick High School.
• The COAST.
• BCECHS.
• Leland Middle School.
• Shallotte Middle School.
• Town Creek Middle School.
• Waccamaw School.
• Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary School.
• Union Elementary School.
• Supply Elementary School.
• Lincoln Elementary School.
• Belville Elementary School.
• Town Creek Elementary School.

“If there is an opportunity to open more of our schools, we will update you all as soon as possible,” a Brunswick County Schools Facebook post states.

The latest road conditions and closures in the county may be found here.

Real-time road incidents may be checked by visiting the North Carolina Department of Transportation‘s DriveNC.gov map (using the Potential Tropical Cyclone filter), the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office’s  social media pages and mobile app, and local municipal pages.

The county landfill continues to operate on its regular schedule. The Free Cleanup Week at the Brunswick County Landfill has been extended through Saturday to allow residents additional time to benefit from this service following the storm.

Stay prepared, alert.

Brunswick County residents are encouraged to be prepared during hurricane season. Residents should take the following preparedness tips:

• Register for the ReadyBrunswick emergency notification system.
• Track updates weather updates from the National Weather Service’s Wilmington office at weather.gov/ilm. The latest weather briefings are available at weather.gov/ilm/briefing.
• Have multiple ways to receive weather updates, including local news and radio stations, NOAA weather radios, and emergency alert notifications.
• Create a plan to keep you, your family, and pets safe if flooding is forecast for your area.

Storm recovery efforts are continuing this week in Brunswick County, where schools and county offices remain closed and roads and highways covered by floodwaters.

County offices, libraries and other facilities will reopen at their regularly scheduled times on Friday, “unless additional closures or schedule changes become necessary, according to a county release.

County commissioners have rescheduled the Sept. 16 meeting they had to cancel as potential tropical cyclone No. 8 dumped historic rainfall on North Carolina’s southeastern-most coastal counties. 

The board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the commissioners’ chambers, first floor of the county administration building, 30 Government Center Dr., Bolivia.

County residents may contact the county’s call center at 910-253-5383 with questions or by email to emergency.management@brunswickcountync.gov

A map of the road closures and the status of those closures may be found here. Click Here to See Latest Road Conditions and Closures in Real-Time

Officials are urging residents to take caution and check the county’s online map and the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s DriveNC.gov to stay up to date on accurate, safe routes.  North Carolina Department of Transportation‘s DriveNC.gov

Several roads damaged during the storm will have to be repaired, according a county release. DOT is assessing roads and bridges that are currently not flooded.

“Unfortunately, it is hard to tell when floodwaters may recede to allow people to pass through – and even then, the roads will still need to be inspected to ensure they are safe to travel on,” the release states.

Residents are reminded to steer clear of floodwaters, never driving, walking or swimming through inundated roadways or past barricades on roads.

Information will be updated on DOT’s map using the potential tropical cyclone filter and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office’s social media pages, mobile app and local municipal pages. Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, NC

The Brunswick County Landfill reopened today. Free Cleanup Week at the landfill is being extended into next week through Sept. 28.

GFL Environmental will be collecting curbside trash and recycling on Saturday for customers who normally receive pick-up service on Mondays and Tuesdays. Customers may call the company at 910-253-4177 to request earlier pickup.

Information on Brunswick County water and wastewater services is available here Advisories & News webpage. Residents may sign up for email notifications Utilities Updates as well. 

Customers may report issues by calling any of these after-hours emergency lines:

• 910-755-7921
• 910-371-3490
• 910-454-0512

County updates, including a list of opportunities for storm recovery assistance, are available here. brunswickcountync.gov/ptc8.

BOLIVIA – Brunswick County officials said Wednesday that county government offices will remain closed to the public Thursday because of “severe weather impacts” from the coastal storm earlier this week.

All Brunswick County government offices, libraries and other facilities will reopen on their regular schedules Friday, unless additional closures or schedule changes become necessary, officials said.

According to the announcement, county public safety and essential personnel were continuing storm recovery work. The public can call 910-253-5383 for answers to their questions.

Brunswick County Parks are open across the county, with the exception of Leland Community Park, Town Creek District Park, and Brunswick Nature Park.

All Brunswick County Flag Football, Future Stars Cheer, Youth Football, Youth Cheer, and Youth Soccer games scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21, are canceled.

Brunswick County Library is not charging fines for materials due this week. The Library will be fine-free through Monday, Sept. 23.

The county shares updates on issues relevant to the storm at brunswickcountync.gov/ptc8.

While potential tropical cyclone No. 8 was moving across the Carolinas Tuesday, parts of central and southeastern North Carolina were dealing with the aftermath — historic rainfall, road washouts and flash flooding.

National Weather Service forecasters began tracking the low-pressure system off the coast of the Carolinas late last week.

The center of the low pressure was onshore near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, by the 5 p.m. Monday update and did not develop into a subtropical or tropical storm as forecasters had said was possible. As of 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, the remnants of the low were “well inland over” South Carolina, forecasters said.

Several inches of rain associated with the low-pressure system dumped on coastal North Carolina Sunday and Monday.

“Brunswick and southern New Hanover counties measured 12 to 20 inches, largely confirming radar estimates,” forecasters said, adding much of that fell within a 12-hour period Monday.

“This storm brought historic rainfall totals and flash flooding to portions of New Hanover and Brunswick counties in Southeastern North Carolina. Climatological analyses preliminarily indicate local rainfall of this magnitude is expected to occur at a point, on average, once every 200 to 1000 years,” National Weather Service’s Wilmington office meteorologists said in an email Tuesday morning.

Southport and Carolina Beach were among the towns that experienced more than 15 inches of rainfall. Each had closer to 20 inches.

Carolina Beach Town Manager Bruce Oakley told Coastal Review Tuesday afternoon that it had been a “crazy” 24 hours.

“We rescued 115 people and 14 animals from homes and cars since yesterday morning, Things are improving, but we are still pumping water from our lake and other areas,” Oakley said. “There are also still a few roads under water including a section of the main thoroughfare through town. We did our initial damage assessment today and expect damages to residential, commercial, and public property to be well over a million dollars.”

Southport Public Information Officer ChyAnn Ketchum told Coastal review Tuesday afternoon that residents and visitors are urged not to leave their houses unless absolutely necessary.

The only way into and out of Southport as of this report was N.C. Highway 87. Officials fully closed N.C. Highway 211 and Moore Street because of collapsed road or bridges.

“There is still quite a bit of standing water around the city and in people’s yards, with many people experiencing flooding in their yards and homes. We are encouraging all residents, businesses, and property owners to document any damage with photos and videos and to measure water levels,” she said. “The devastation in Southport and Brunswick County is devastating, but Southport is resilient.”

Bald Head Island officials said Tuesday that several of the island’s main roads were unpassable, and they advised against traveling. The ferry that is the only link between the island and mainland had suspended operation.

Brunswick County and its towns and townships, Boiling Springs Lakes, Oak Island, Southport, Saint James, Sandy Creek, Bolivia, Bald Head Island and Varnamtown were under a state of emergency.

Brunswick County Communications Director Meagan Kascsak​​​​ said late Tuesday that the total number of damages is still being assessed as the response is ongoing and some damaged roads may still be under water.

“We will be able to make greater assessment of damages to structures when the period of threat is over and as we transition to recovery efforts,” she said.

Farther north, the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office forecasters reported rainfall in its coverage area as ranging between 1 and almost 8 inches over the past 48 hours. This office serves the area from the North Carolina-Virginia border to where Onslow and Pender counties meet.

Parts of Carteret and Onslow counties saw the highest rainfall amounts, with volunteers in Beaufort and Morehead City recording around 7.5 inches during that time, Atlantic Beach around 6.63 inches, and Jacksonville recording 5 to 7.88 inches. Counties in the northeastern part of the state saw no rain or only up to 4 inches.

The low-pressure coincided with one of this year’s king tides Sept. 15-23, which are the highest high and lowest low tide events of the year.

Storm response

State emergency response, highway patrol and transportation officials were still responding to closures and reports of damage in the southeast, the governor’s office announced Tuesday afternoon.

“Yesterday’s weather system reinforces why we prepare for the worst impacts of a storm and do not focus on the category or whether it is a named system,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement. “As we move into today, please be safe as there are many roadways impacted and unsafe conditions persisting around the state. Check on your neighbors, do not drive through flooded areas and do not let your guard down, as additional rainfall is expected through the afternoon.”

The storm compromised infrastructure, washing out roads and damaging culverts. Though the road closures were changing constantly, throughout the day Tuesday there were between 45 and 50 closures in the state.

More than two dozen closures were just in Highway Division 3, which covers Sampson, Duplin, Brunswick, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender counties.

“Do not drive through standing or moving water. It does not take much water to cause a vehicle to lose control or float,” Cooper’s office said.

Visit DriveNC.Gov for the latest roadway conditions.

“North Carolina Emergency Management is continuing to support the impacted communities across our state, especially in Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, to ensure that any needs are met. A part of this support will include an assessment of damages when safe to do so that will help to inform recovery efforts as quickly as possible,” Emergency Management Director Will Ray said in the release.

North Carolina Department of Transportation Communications Officer Lauren Haviland said Tuesday that NCDOT was assessing roads to determine the repairs needed.

“While the weather has improved, the N.C. Department of Transportation continues to urge people to stay at home for their safety and the safety of others, including emergency responders. The Department is working as quickly as possible to assess the damage and repair roads,” Haviland said.

Division 1 Communications Officer Tim Hass said Tuesday the only closure in the region that includes the Outer Banks was N.C. Highway 12 at the north end of Ocracoke Island. That area was closed Monday night due to ocean overwash, but the road is expected to be reopened by noon Wednesday, according to NCDOT.

“Other than that, we’ve had some sand and water on N.C. 12 in places, but no other closures,” he said.

Post-storm advisories

State recreational water quality officials on Monday advised that the public avoid swimming coastal waters from Mason Inlet down to Shallotte Inlet, to include Holden Beach, Long Beach, Oak Island, Caswell Beach, Bald Head Island, Kure Beach, Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach that are being heavily impacted by Tropical Cyclone 8.

State recreational water quality officials advise avoiding the floodwaters being pumped to waters at two oceanfront towns to minimize the flooding damage and to ensure roads are accessible for emergency vehicles.

Emerald Isle began Monday pumping floodwater into the ocean at Doe Drive, and on Tuesday at Fawn Drive, Seventh Street and 15^th Street, and into the sound at Channel Drive. Oak Island has pumped floodwater into the ocean near Crowell Street.

Town officials will place signs at the discharge site along the ocean beach to warn the public of the possible health risk and will remove the signs 24 hours after the pumping stops. State officials will notify the public after the signs are removed.

Water consumers of Brunswick County Public Utilities in St. James on Cedar Crest Drive, Oak Bluff Circle, Glenscape Lane, Pinecrest Drive and Pine Bluff Circle advised to boil all water or use bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Periods of low water pressure and outages caused by a water main break, which can increase the potential for back-siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system.

Regardless of whether potential tropical cyclone No. 8 becomes a subtropical or tropical storm before it makes landfall on the South Carolina coast late Monday, Eastern North Carolina residents were already feeling and will continue to feel the effects of the low-pressure system.

All tropical storm warnings had been discontinued and there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, as of the 5 p.m. Monday update from the National Weather Service.

At that time, the storm was about 45 miles west of the Cape Fear region, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. The center of the storm was around 33 degrees, 9 minutes, north latitude and 78 degrees, 8 minutes west, longitude.

The low-pressure system was expected to reach the coast of South Carolina Monday evening and then move inland across the Carolinas through Wednesday. The low was forecast to dissipate by early Wednesday.

“The main threat will be periods of heavy rain with storm total rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. The highest rainfall totals are expected for areas south of Highway 70. This will bring the threat of localized flash flooding especially in low-lying, urban, and poor drainage areas,” forecasters said Monday morning. Rain over the past week will make some areas more susceptible to flooding.

On the Outer Banks, expect minor flooding and inundation in low-lying areas, and N.C. Highway 12 may have standing water caused by ocean overwash, especially near high tide. The highest impacts should will likely be around the typical vulnerable spots such as Pea Island, the north side of Buxton and other locations with compromised dune structures, forecasters said.

The region is already facing tropical-storm-force winds, which are projected to continue into Monday evening, mainly south of Ocracoke Inlet. Onslow and Carteret counties are at the highest risk. These high winds could result in scattered tree damage and power outages.

Minor storm surge with inundation 1 to 3 feet above ground level remains possible through Tuesday night on the coast and tidal rivers, as well as minor ocean overwash along the coast through midweek. The Neuse, Bay and Pamlico rivers are expected to have the highest water levels and impacts.

Stronger and more frequent rip currents should be anticipated through much of the week, and dangerous marine conditions will continue for the coastal waters, sounds and rivers, with strong winds and dangerous seas.

Forecasters warn that a few tornadoes could produce locally significant damage, with the greatest threat occurring Monday into Tuesday.

Storm-related closures, advisories

Several state roads in southeastern North Carolina will be closed for the foreseeable future due to damage from Monday’s storm, North Carolina Department of Transportation said Monday afternoon.

The department is urging people not to drive at this time. If folks must get out on the roads, they should use extreme caution. Drivers should never go around a ‘road closed’ sign or drive through flood waters. Drivers should also be alert for damaged roads.

Portions of U.S. 17 and N.C. 211 in Brunswick County and U.S. 74 in Columbus County, are closed because of large amounts of rain throughout the day. Additional closures as inland rains move downstream are anticipated.

“As soon as it becomes safe, NCDOT crews will mobilize teams to make emergency repairs to impacted roads, including N.C. 211 where bridges are damaged over Duke Energy Canal and Dutchman Creek,” NCDOT officials said.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore recommended travelers avoid the north end of Ocracoke Island Monday evening during high tide because of a combination of a higher-than-average high tide and high surf advisory.

Travelers should also use caution at the north end of Ocracoke Island around high tides through the rest of this week, and use caution on the beach at the north end of Rodanthe, due to the presence of hazards, such as building materials and parts of septic systems, from threatened oceanfront structures.

Over the next several days, the seashore expects varying levels of ocean overwash in Hatteras, Buxton and Rodanthe, and possibly near the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge visitor center.

State recreational water quality officials are advising the public to avoid swimming in coastal waters in New Hanover and Brunswick counties that are being heavily impacted by potential tropical cyclone 8.  

These waters include Mason Inlet down to Shallotte Inlet, to include Holden Beach, Long Beach, Oak Island, Caswell Beach, Bald Head Island, Kure Beach, Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

“Severe weather events like tropical storms and hurricanes bring excessive amounts of rain, storm surge and cause extreme flooding. These conditions increase levels of harmful bacteria in our coastal waters that can cause illness,” Erin Bryan-Millush, manager of the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program said in a statement. “The sources of bacteria can vary and include failing septic systems, sewer line breaks and overflowing manholes.”

These waters should be avoided until testing indicates bacteria levels are within the state’s and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards. Testing will begin as soon as conditions are safe, and areas are accessible. The advisory will be lifted in part or in whole as test results become available.

Brunswick County has declared a state of emergency effective 11:30 a.m. Monday, which allows the sheriff’s office to control ingress and egress and move people within roadways that may be impeded by flooding or fallen trees.

“Potential Tropical Cyclone #8  is bringing excessive rain and dangerous flooding conditions to our area,” Chairman Randy Thompson said in a release. “Residents and visitors are encouraged to stay off the roads and stay alert as the storm passes through.”

Brunswick County government offices closed at 11 a.m. Monday. All Brunswick County government offices, libraries, parks, and other facilities will reopen on their regular schedules Tuesday unless additional closures or schedule changes become necessary. 

The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners meeting scheduled for Monday evening was canceled and will be rescheduled.

The Brunswick County Landfill and county convenience centers are also closed Monday. GFL Environmental still plans to collect curbside trash and recycling carts as scheduled this week, including Monday customers.

The Bald Head Island ferry service was temporarily suspended at 8 a.m. Monday and will remain so until further notice. Village Hall and Public Safety office staff are working remotely. A staff directory is at https://villagebhi.org/contact/.

Holden Beach Town Hall closed at noon Monday.

Caswell Beach announced around 11 a.m. Monday that staff had been notified that Barbee Bridge is closed due to impassable areas on Long Beach Road, but Swains Cut Bridge was open for access from Oak Island to the mainland. Portions of Southport-Supply Road between Middleton Boulevard and Long Beach Road were impassable as well.

This is a developing story and will be updated as needed.

Local, state and federal officials continued their message to be alert as Tropical Storm Debby slowly moved up the coast Thursday, soaking the region with heavy rain.

Throughout the day Thursday, the threat of tornadoes, flash flooding, severe thunderstorms, and excessive rainfall continued across much of the state.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service Newport-Morehead City office said Thursday that Debby made landfall near Bulls Bay in South Carolina early that morning and that it would slowly move toward and through central North Carolina while weakening through the night.

“Primary concern through the day remains the threats of flash flooding and tornadoes,” officials said Thursday.

Gov. Roy Cooper visited the North Carolina Emergency Management Regional Coordination Center East and the North Carolina National Guard Armory in Kinston on Thursday. He was joined by North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray and Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Coordinating Officer Rod McAllister.

“Tropical Storm Debby continues to bring dangerous rain and flooding to many areas of our state,” Cooper said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the work of first responders and urge people to take precautions against this storm and listen to guidance from state and local Emergency Management officials.”

There was a fatality in the state associated with Tropical Storm Debby and an apparent tornado late Wednesday in Lucama that damaged several homes and a middle school, Cooper’s office said.

As of Thursday, there were 13 storm shelters open in Cumberland, Columbus, Bladen, and Pender counties, 28 county states of emergency declared, and voluntary evacuation orders had been issued for parts of Brunswick and Moore counties.

Cooper signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency Monday and President Biden issued a federal state of emergency for North Carolina on Tuesday.

FEMA said Thursday morning that it had more than 900 staff and federal partners deployed to North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.

Search and rescue teams and swift-water rescue assets were ready to assist as needed, the agency said. FEMA’s Southeast and Mid-Atlantic distribution centers were stocked and ready to provide commodities throughout the region as needed.   

Closures, shelters

Brunswick County closed Thursday all government offices and government-run services with plans to reopen Friday.

North Carolina Maritime Museums in Southport, Beaufort and Hatteras were closed Thursday.

Moores Creek National Battlefield will be closed through the weekend because of flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby.

The Brunswick County shelter at Town Creek Middle School in Winnabow closed at 3 p.m. today.

To find an open shelter near you, text the word SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362. And for Spanish speakers, text REFUGIO and your ZIP code to 43362.

Public health

In addition to being aware of threats associated with a tropical storm, North Carolina Division of Public Health officials have issued heat-health alerts for New Hanover and Pender counties for Friday through Monday. The expected maximum heat index for Saturday is around 106 degrees for both counties. Maximum heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with air temperature, according to weather.gov.

“Heat of this magnitude can be dangerous to your health, particularly for people who are more exposed to extreme heat or more sensitive to extreme heat,” officials said, including those without access to air conditioning, living with disabilities or underlying health conditions, people who work or exercise outdoors or live alone, older adults and pregnant women.

Brunswick County Public Utilities has reported two discharges of wastewater on Wednesday, the ramification for which were exacerbated by the current weather conditions.

Officials announced Wednesday that a believed 300 to 500 gallons of partially treated wastewater were released to an onsite stormwater pond at the West Brunswick Regional Water Reclamation Facility in Supply. Due to recent rain and storm events, the stormwater pond has been discharging through the emergency overflow, which drains to a tributary of the Lockwood Folly River. Sampling and remediation of the affected site are ongoing.

The county reported Thursday that around 3,000 gallons of untreated wastewater were released to a tributary of the Calabash River at the Sea Trail Wastewater Treatment Facility Wednesday evening.

“This release occurred due to exponential rains and corresponding influent flows associated with Tropical Storm Debby which overwhelmed the treatment facility’s influent pump station’s storage capacity,” they said.

Safety measures

FEMA officials encourage residents to take the following actions for their safety:

Turn around! Don’t Drown! and be aware of flood risks. Do not walk, swim or drive through flood water as it may be contaminated and contain dangerous debris, and underground or downed power lines can electrically charge the water. Just six inches of moving water can knock a person down and 1 foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away. Stay off bridges over fast-moving water and never drive around barricades. Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.

Be ready to evacuate. Excessive rainfall may cause waters to rise rapidly, so you may need to evacuate with little notice. Residents and visitors should pay attention to local officials and heed any guidance, warnings or instructions as risk of flooding continues over the coming days.

Use generators safely. Always use them outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. Make sure to keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding. 

Flooding can affect power systems, as utility companies may shut down portion of the electrical grid. If the power goes out, use only flashlights or battery-powered lanterns for emergency lighting. Never use candles during a blackout or power outage due to extreme risk of fire.

Stay away from power and communications lines. Communication lines carry vital messages including 911 and emergency services and provide access to the internet. Call your utility providers directly to report down or cut lines and stay clear of the area.

Stay off the roads. This will help first responders and utility companies get help to those who need it most. If you evacuated, do not return home until local officials say it is safe to do so.

Document any property damage. If you’re able to safely do so, take photos and contact your insurance company right away for assistance and next steps.

Use caution when cleaning up. Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves and sturdy thick-soled shoes. Do not try to remove heavy debris by yourself. Use an appropriate mask if cleaning mold or other debris. People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled. Children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.

Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday advised that “we must be on high alert” because the slow-moving Tropical Storm Debby can bring dangerous conditions to a number of areas in the state.

Conditions including, according to forecasters, “tornadoes, heavy rains, flash floods and possible storm surge that can quickly inundate low lying areas,” Cooper said.

State Emergency Response Team members joined Cooper for the news conference held in person and streamed online about the slow-moving storm that was offshore of Charleston, South Carolina, at the time.

National Weather Service forecasters said Wednesday morning that they expect Tropical Storm Debby to move slowly just offshore of the South Carolina coast Wednesday, make landfall in South Carolina late Wednesday night and lift to the north through central North Carolina Thursday night and Friday morning.”

Cooper said that in North Carolina, “we’re all too familiar with rain and flooding that comes from slow-moving storms, so preparation now means saving lives later. We expect this storm to continue its slow, gradual approach, bringing multiple days of heavy rainfall and the potential for widespread and even severe flash flooding.”

Residents across the state “need to be prepared for a deluge. More rain than most of us see in a month, or even several months,” Cooper continued, adding that the southeastern region could see as much as 15 inches, and the central could see up to 10 inches. “In some areas, the rain combined with already saturated soil and winds can lead to downed trees and power lines.”

He urged residents to ready supplies in the event of power loss.  

North Carolinians should take this storm seriously and make sure you’re ready, especially if you live in low-lying areas, which means taking care of your pets, securing your home and belongings, having a way to stay informed, and making a plan now if told to evacuate.

Cooper reminded listeners never to drive through flooded roads or around barricades.

“It only takes 6 inches of fast-moving flood water to knock over an adult and just 12 inches to carry away most cars. Now is not the time to see if your car floats, because it doesn’t,” Cooper said. “It’s not safe to drive or walk through flood waters, our Department of Transportation and our first responders will tell you that we’ve lost too many lives after these storms because of people trying to drive through or walk through water.”

Emergency Management Director Will Ray said that with the forecasted rainfall amounts for up to 15 inches across eastern North Carolina and up to 10 inches in Central North Carolina, “we are anticipating major impacts from flooding across portions of the state. Rainfall in these amounts can flood homes and businesses, erode and damage roadways, and may create situations in which local officials may need to order evacuations to ensure public safety.”

Ray noted that areas that normally do not flood may be covered in water, “and I urge you to follow the guidance of your local public safety agencies.”

Ahead of the storm, Cooper said he has activated more than 350 soldiers and airmen from the North Carolina National Guard and deployed swift water rescue teams. He declared a state of emergency Monday to help move supplies, and the state received a federal disaster declaration from President Biden Tuesday evening that will help direct federal assistance.

Ray said these 350 soldiers were provided with high-clearance vehicles and other equipment to move supplies and personnel across the state, and are prepared to assist the counties that experience flooding.

The State Emergency Response Team has distributed to nine eastern counties water pumps, tarps, meals, water generators and sandbags and other supplies, Ray said, and continue to work with partners to stage resources that support the healthcare infrastructure across the state.

“Finally, please call 911, only for emergencies. We wish to keep emergency lines open for those with life threatening situations. As we begin to see impacts here in North Carolina, please remain alert earned and check on those in your community who may need assistance together taking care of our families, our neighbors and our communities. We are stronger during a disaster,” Ray said.

State recreational water quality officials also advised on Wednesday that the public to avoid swimming in coastal waters affected by Tropical Storm Debby from Wright Memorial Bridge in Kitty Hawk south to the South Carolina State line.  

“Severe weather events like tropical storms and hurricanes bring excessive amounts of rain, storm surge and cause extreme flooding. These conditions increase levels of harmful bacteria in our coastal waters that can cause illness,” Erin Bryan-Millush, manager of the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program, said in a statement. “The sources of bacteria can vary and include failing septic systems, sewer line breaks and overflowing manholes.”

Wednesday conditions

North Carolina Emergency Management officials said on social media Wednesday morning that Tropical Storm Debby was “meandering” offshore of Charleston, with the center of Debby expected to reach the South Carolina coast by Wednesday night or early Thursday.

Officials said that they were increasingly confident that, after landfall, Debby will move quickly north-northeast through South Carolina and North Carolina on Thursday and Friday.

“The main impact from Debby is still expected to be the threat for heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding,” officials said.

National Weather Service forecasters in the Newport-Morehead City office said in an 11 a.m. Wednesday update that Tropical Storm Debby would continue dumping significant rainfall on eastern North Carolina through the end of the week.

They said the main threat for eastern North Carolina would be periods of heavy rain with additional rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, and locally higher amounts possible. The highest rainfall totals are expected for areas south of Highway 70.

“This will bring the threat of localized flash flooding especially in low-lying, urban, and poor drainage areas. The threat of river flooding will also increase late week into next week,” said forecasters.

Tropical-storm-force winds could begin impacting portions of eastern North Carolina by Thursday afternoon with strong winds continuing through early Friday morning, potentially bringing scattered tree damage and power outages. A few tornadoes could produce locally significant damage through Thursday night, forecasters said.

Post has been updated.

Carteret County-based National Weather Service meteorologists have scheduled more hurricane preparedness forums in the weeks ahead.

Under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service staff from the Newport-Morehead City office began offering the forums in April and will continue to through the coming months.

The next two forums are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Avon Fire Department, and at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Dare County Emergency Operations Center in Manteo, which will also be offered online. Register with GoToWebinar for the link to participate online.

The August forums are at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Faison Fire & Rescue Building, and 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of New Bern. Details on these and future forums can be found on the weather service website.

Weather service meteorologists are to give a presentation on hurricanes and their impacts on eastern North Carolina during the forums.

“We will go over why you should never just focus on just the category of the storm, what the hurricane path track means, the various impacts tropical cyclones can bring,” according to the website. “We will also cover the hurricane outlook for the year while emphasizing that it only takes one storm to make an impact on your life.”

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management announced Thursday that it is awarding 20 grants totaling more than $6.21 million to 19 town and county governments.

The grants are for Phases 3 and 4 of the four-phase Resilient Coastal Communities Program, which was created to provide a community-driven process for setting coastal resilience goals, assessing existing and needed local capacity, and identifying and prioritizing projects to enhance community resilience to coastal hazards.

The primary objective of the program’s Phase 3 is to provide funding to assist communities with the engineering and design of prioritized projects identified in their RCCP Resilience Strategy or other existing plans that meet the program’s Phases 1 and 2 planning criteria. The division also said that some communities will receive money to develop or amend ordinances to enhance their resilience to coastal hazards.

“Funding the valuable resilience work of these communities allows them move their projects from concept to completion, building a stronger future by protecting residents and the coastal economy,” Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser said in a statement.

A total of $4.31 million is to be available to complete 15 projects in Phase 3. Most of these engineering and design projects incorporate natural and nature-based elements, such as wetland restoration and living shoreline design, the division said.

Specific projects include living shoreline construction to reduce erosion along public shorelines, updating development ordinances to align with resilience strategies, and comprehensive stormwater action plans with detailed drainage studies and easement acquisitions.

Dare County is to receive $234,000 for its Salvo Flood Mitigation Project, and the following 14 municipalities will receive engineering and design money for the completion of their Phase 3 projects:

• Ahoskie: $500,000 for stormwater action plan, upgrade the stormwater system.
• Aulander: $173,250 for permeable pavement and green stormwater infrastructure implementation projects.
• Beaufort: $100,000 for development ordinance resilience updates.
• Belhaven: $500,000 for stormwater action plan and easement acquisition plan, upgrade the stormwater system.
• Burgaw: $55,000 for rain garden installation and educational demonstration.
• Creswell: $500,000 to reduce flooding impacts in the First-Fourth street area.
• Elizabeth City: $140,000 for resilient stormwater ordinance project.
• Holly Ridge: $143,000 for multi-use greenway connection feasibility study.
• Nags Head: $500,000 to design living shorelines to restore and protect coastal community infrastructure in the Roanoke Sound.
• Ocean Isle Beach: $170,000 for living shoreline feasibility study and demonstration project.
• Plymouth: $500,000 for Stormwater Action Plan upgrade stormwater system.
• Vandemere: $57,800 for Vandemere Waterfront Park living shoreline.
• Washington: $500,000 for living shoreline and levee at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Washington Park: $237,300 for living shoreline at public shoreline areas.

Phase 4 money will go to implement shovel-ready projects to enhance coastal resilience previously awarded funding for Phases 1-3.

A total of $1.9 million is to be available to complete five projects in Phase 4 featuring a range of nature-based solutions, infrastructure improvements, and community-focused strategies to manage stormwater and mitigate flooding.

Specific projects include the construction of bioswales to store and filter stormwater runoff and ocean overwash, creating low-impact development demonstration sites with educational components for the public, stabilizing road shoulders with environmentally friendly materials that promote natural vegetative growth, and improving flood-prone roadways with permeable pavers and bioretention basins.

The following will receive implementation funds for the completion of Phase 4:

• Aurora: $1.1 million for wetland restoration and berm improvements at wastewater treatment plant.
• Beaufort County: $194,166 for low impact development demonstration site at Beaufort County Community College.
• Dare County: $160,000 for Hatteras Village bioswales.
• Duck: $144,000 for Teresa Court stormwater management improvements.
• Surf City: $331,535 for roadside infiltration resilience project.

Community applications were reviewed based on project alignment with the community resilience strategy and priority ranking; project outcomes including environmental, social, and economic impacts; the project’s ability to reduce the vulnerability of a critical asset or population; the project’s inclusion of nature-based or hybrid components; and the project’s ability to achieve the community’s vision and goals.

The program receives funding from a combination of state and federal sources.

For more information about the Resilient Coastal Communities Program, go to the division’s program website.

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Updated

Red warning flags whip against the wind Friday in Atlantic Beach, notifying swimmers to not enter the water. Life-threatening rip currents were likely and the surf zone dangerous for all levels of swimmers on all North Carolina beaches north of Cape Fear Friday, according to the National Weather Service’s experimental Beach Forecast webpage, which is color-coded to indicate the forecast rip current risk level. Yellow flags indicating moderate conditions flew on Brunswick County beaches Friday. Conditions had improved to moderate to low risk Monday. Photo: Dylan Ray

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Lines of clouds move over Askin near New Bern and the power lines overhead as part of a weekend weather front. Photo: Dylan Ray

In the weeks before this year’s hurricane season began, weather and safety officials worked to spread the same message: Because it only takes one storm to impact a community, prepare now.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Michael Brennan said Friday that “we’re on the precipice of what looks to be a very active 2024 hurricane season,” which began Saturday and ends Nov. 30.

This is the most active seasonal forecast that NOAA has ever issued in May, with the forecast looking to be busy with 17 to 25 named storms and eight to 13 hurricanes, of which four to seven are expected to become major hurricanes, Brennan said during a press conference at the Miami, Florida-based center.

There’s a “very high chance of a very active hurricane season,” but the main message “is preparation has to be the same every year, regardless of what any seasonal forecast says. It only takes one storm affecting you and your community to make it a busy hurricane season,” Brennan continued.

Brian Haines with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety told Coastal Review that while the Climate Prediction Center calls for an 85% chance of an above normal season, “history has taught us that it only takes one storm to impact our state, which is why we encourage all North Carolinians to be resilient and prepare for any natural or manmade disaster.”

National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Erik Heden with the Newport/Morehead City office shared a similar message. “It takes just one storm to make an impact on our life,” Heden said.

Assistant State Climatologist Corey Davis, speaking during a recent webinar about this year’s hurricane season forecast, said much the same.  

“An active hurricane season does not necessarily mean it’ll be an impactful one locally, but by the same token, it only takes one storm in your area to make it a very impactful and a very memorable season,” Davis said.

Tropical storms, hurricanes threats

Heden said Friday to “never, ever focus on just the category of the storm,” referring to the Saffir-Simpson Scale that measures only hurricane wind speeds, which determine a storm’s category, 1-5.

“The category tells us only the strength of the storm based on wind alone. It says nothing about how much rain we will see, what the storm surge will be, how long the storm will sit over us, whether or not it is a large or slow-moving storm,” Heden said. Adding, that Irene in 2011 and Florence in 2018 were Category 1 storms. “The category of the storm is part of the puzzle, not the whole puzzle.”

Brennan emphasized Friday during the press conference that it doesn’t take a major hurricane making landfall for there to be major impacts.

“Rainfall flooding has been the deadliest hazard in tropical storms and hurricanes in the United States over the last 10 years. It’s been responsible for more than half of the fatalities. The rainfall flooding is almost entirely unrelated to the strength of a storm,” Brennan said.

“It doesn’t matter what category it is, whether it’s a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane, all that matters is how long it rains and how hard it rains in a given location for a given amount of time, and again, that rainfall flooding has been the biggest killer,” Brennan added.

It’s water hazards in general have officials most concerned.

“The combination of rainfall flooding storm surge and surf and rip currents are responsible for about 85 to 90% of the fatalities we see in tropical storms and hurricanes across the United States,” Brennan said.

He called surf and rip currents “an underappreciated hazard” in tropical storms and hurricanes. These have killed more people than storm surge over the last 10 years in the United States, especially along East Coast-facing beaches like Florida, North Carolina and New Jersey. “They’re susceptible to dangerous ocean conditions that are spawned by hurricanes that might be hundreds of miles away.”

Post-storm safety is another increasing point of emphasis, Brennan said.

“We’ve lost almost as many people after tropical storms and hurricanes in this country in the last 10 years as we’ve lost from the direct forces of the storm itself,” he said. Indirect fatalities are those occurring from accidents, power issues, cardiac arrest, improper generator use, heat exhaustion and lack of medical access that are connected to storms.

To help communicate the hazards associated with hurricanes and storms, Brennan said that the National Hurricane Center is disseminating Spanish language products translated by artificial intelligence programs to reach those whose primary language is Spanish.

“The other thing we’re doing is rolling out an experimental version of the cone graphic by mid-August that’s going to show the inland extent of the tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings,” Brennan said.

How, why preparing is critical

Knowing your risk is the first step to prepare for a hurricane, Brennan said Friday.

“Know if you live in a storm surge evacuation zone — that forms the foundation of your entire hurricane preparedness plan,” Brennan said. You may be asked to evacuate your home by emergency management or government officials and “you need to know where you’re going to go, how you’re going to get there, what you’re taking with you.”

And remember that in many cases, you only need to evacuate tens of miles, not hundreds of miles, to get to a safe place.

“Preparation is key. If you’re going to shelter in place for a storm, you want to have your emergency kit in place,” Brennan said, and you should start collecting now multiple days’ worth of nonperishable food, water, medicine, batteries — “anything you’re going to need to survive the aftermath of a major hurricane landfall” — taking into account that there may be power outages for days, with no access to medical or emergency services.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks said Friday during the press conference that officials were “getting down to the wire” when it comes to making sure communities are prepared.

“The time to make sure that you have a clear understanding of your unique risk is now,” said Hooks.

Things you should prepare for and take into account to be risk ready include the following:

• Do you have medication that requires refrigeration?
• Do you have a medical device that runs off electricity?
• Do you have mobility challenges that make it more difficult to evacuate in a time?
• When was the last insurance checkup, including flood insurance?

“Now is the time to ask yourselves these questions, understand your particular risk for you and your community, and put a plan together so that you are prepared when disaster strikes,” Hooks said. “Start getting risk-ready now.”

Heden said that while peak hurricane season isn’t until Sept. 10, eastern North Carolina has had storms in June and July.

“You should prepare each and every year for hurricane season, and please don’t wait,” Heden said. Preparedness is a three-step process, he said.

The first step is to know your risk, and “Vulnerability extends beyond weather risk,” Heden said. “Who lives in your home? Do you have young kids, elderly parents? Does somebody in your home rely on power for oxygen? Your vulnerability will help you determine the next two steps.”

The second step is to have a hurricane kit with at least three to seven days’ worth of food, water and medicine.

If you choose to stay during a storm, you may not be able to get out or first responders may not be able reach you.

“Life won’t be normal right away,” and you may be without help for at least three days, or longer, Heden said, also suggesting purchasing  items here and there to buffer the financial strain of preparing.

And the third step is to have an evacuation plan with at least two places to go, Heden explained.

“I like to have a northern and southern option. You want to go away from the storm’s path. Don’t just plan to go to Goldsboro or Raleigh. Sometimes impacts occur well inland,” he said. “Make sure your plan includes your pets and anybody in your house. Your last resort is a shelter. Those are stressful and packed. You will be more comfortable in a hotel or a family or friend’s house.”

Haines said to ensure multiple ways to receive information from reputable sources, such as area emergency management team and public safety agencies, local media outlets, or North Carolina Emergency Management.

Everyone living or vacationing in North Carolina’s coastal counties should also Know Your Zone. That’s the name of an initiative that established evacuation zones to streamline the evacuation process in the event of an emergency, Haines said.

From an insurance perspective, State Department of Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said Wednesday during a press conference in Kinston livestreamed by Neuse News that preparation should include steps to protect important documents like car titles and deeds. Causey also recommended speaking with an insurance agent in advance of a storm, “and if you don’t have flood insurance, look at getting a flood policy, because you have to have a separate flood insurance policy to have that covered.”

Causey cautioned that companies won’t issue insurance when there’s a named storm heading in this direction.

“You’re not going to be able to buy insurance, and when you do buy flood insurance, there’s a 30-day waiting period, so you’ve got to think at least more than 30 days ahead to get that flood insurance coverage,” he said.

People really need to understand and know that homeowners policies do not cover floods, Causey explained. “We learned that lesson — hard lesson — during Hurricane Florence, when we had 23 southeastern counties underwater, and 88,000 people lost their homes and everything in it and found out they had no insurance because floods are not covered under a homeowner’s policy.”

He said the department is there to help and residents can call to speak to a representative or email with questions, disputes or claims. Contact information is on the department’s website.

Why an above-normal forecast?

“Human-caused climate change is warming our ocean globally and in the Atlantic basin, and melting ice on land, leading to sea level rise, which increases the risk of storm surge. Sea level rise represents a clear human influence on the damage potential from a given hurricane,” NOAA officials said when it released the May outlook.

NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad, speaking during a press conference May 23, said that this season is looking to be extraordinary in a number of ways. Data and models show El Niño/La Niña weather patterns playing a significant role.

El Niño is the flow of warm ocean surface waters from the Pacific toward and along the western coast of South America. La Niña is the opposite: an upwelling of cold Pacific Ocean water to the surface along the western coast of South America.

“The key this year, as in any year, is to get prepared and stay prepared,” Spinrad said. “It’s the best way to reduce risk, especially the risk of potential loss of life.”

The Climate Prediction Center in May forecast a 77% chance of La Niña forming during the August-October time frame and “We know the development of La Nina can lead to weaker easterly tradewinds and below average vertical wind shear in the tropical Atlantic Ocean.” Such conditions can be more conducive for tropical cyclone development.

Additionally, Spinrad said, NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information has reported record warm water temperatures for much of the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

“Forecast modeling indicates that above-average sea surface temperatures are predicted during the peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season from August to October,” Spinrad said. “We know warm sea surface temperatures are an important factor in rapid intensification of tropical cyclones to major hurricane status.”

NOAA’s outlook is for overall seasonal activity and is not a landfall forecast. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will update the 2024 Atlantic seasonal outlook in early August before mid-September, the historical peak of the season, officials said.

Visit ReadyNC.gov for more information from the state on preparing for storms or knowyourzone.nc.gov to learn more about the coastal evacuation zones.

Nearly 150,000 policyholders in the state will have to wait almost a year to find out if the cost of their mobile home insurance will increase.

The North Carolina Rate Bureau filed April 8 a proposed overall state average increase of 82.9% for mobile home fire policies and 49.9% for mobile home casualty policies, both over a three-year period. The nonprofit Rate Bureau represents the insurance companies and is not a part of the North Carolina Department of Insurance.

While both of these types of insurance for mobile homes are similar and include flood coverage, the fire policies cover “a broader range of perils,” according to the state.

Because Department of Insurance officials don’t agree with the Rate Bureau’s request, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has set a hearing date, as required by state law, for 10 a.m. April 7, 2025, in the Department of Insurance building in Raleigh.

“We are not in agreement with the insurance companies’ proposed increases,” Causey said this week in the announcement. “It is now necessary to hold a hearing to reach a resolution that will make the most financial sense for our residents and insurance companies.”

The hearing will take place unless the Department of Insurance and the Rate Bureau are able to negotiate a settlement before that date, officials said.

State law gives the commissioner 45 days to issue an order once the hearing concludes. Once the order is issued, the Rate Bureau has the right to appeal the decision to the N.C. Court of Appeals. An appeals court order could then be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The Department and Rate Bureau can settle the proposed rate increase at any time during litigation.

The mobile home fire policies increase request is 24.9% for 2024, 21.2% for 2025 and 20.9% for 2026. The mobile home casualty policies increase request is 15.9% for 2024, 13.9% for 2025 and 13.5% for 2026. The Rate Bureau is requesting that the increases take effect on Nov. 1 of each year.

The Insurance Department held a public comment period on the rate increases in April.

The last Rate Bureau mobile home rate increase filing was in 2022 and resulted in a settlement of 10% for mobile home casualty policies and a settlement of 15% for mobile home fire policies. Both took effect Aug. 1, 2023.

This special news feature is part of Coastal Review’s 12-month observance of the Coastal Area Management Act’s 50th year.

BEAUFORT – The state’s Rachel Carson Reserve protects more than its herd of around 30 wild horses.

The dedicated nature preserve’s five uninhabited barrier islands, totaling 2,315 acres, protect historic downtown Beaufort from the ravages of ocean winds and tides.

“You can see just how vulnerable the town of Beaufort can be during storms coming through that Beaufort Inlet,” Central Sites Manager Paula Gillikin said early Friday afternoon from the boardwalk on Carrot Island, one of the five islands making up the site.

Gillikin was speaking to North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality leadership, local, state and federal elected officials, fiscal research and governor’s office budget staff, partners, residents and volunteers, as part of a “Discover the N.C. Coastal Reserve Tour.”

The gathering of about 20 had met earlier that morning at Beaufort Hotel to tour the Rachel Carson Reserve. It was the third stop on a multi-year campaign launched in June 2023 when the Currituck Banks Reserve reopened after repairs. The second stop was at Bird Island Reserve in December 2023.

NCDEQ Chief Deputy Secretary Tim Watkins explained before the tour how 50 years ago, “North Carolina enacted the Coastal Area Management Act, or CAMA, as we all know it.”

“Passing CAMA in 1974 was a bold and important step that was intended to balance economic development and protection of coastal resources through coordination and planning under the umbrella of state and local partnership,” Watkins said. “CAMA was also intended to reflect the will of coastal residents in finding this balance.”

He noted how CAMA was amended in the 1980s to establish the state Coastal Reserve Program, which “provides public access to coastal areas, essential habitat, fisheries and wildlife, and a cleaner healthier environment for all. The reserve sites also strengthen our communities by developing a sense of place and creating opportunities to reconnect and recharge with our natural world.”

Coastal Reserve Program Manager Rebecca Ellin said that the reserve program protects more than 44,000 acres of coastal and estuarine habitats across the 10 sites.

These sites provide essential habitat for wildlife, educational opportunities for students, teachers and the public, living laboratories for scientists to inform the management of the state’s coasts and estuaries, public enjoyment for citizens and visitors and protection of local communities from storms and erosion, Ellin said.

“The reserve program in North Carolina started nearly 40 years ago with the designation of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. This happened in 1985 via a state-federal partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Estuarine Research Reserve System and the Division of Coastal Management,” she said.

The designation of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve provided an inspirational model for the state of North Carolina to protect additional habitat areas, Ellin continued.

“In 1989, the General Assembly amended the Coastal Area Management Act to do just that and formally established the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, which includes the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve.”

There were a handful of past and current elected officials on hand, including Rett Newton, who was raised in Beaufort and is a former town mayor. He said that protecting the Rachel Carson Reserve is “personal for us. It is personal. It may not be personal for Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, or Washington, D.C., but I assure you it is very personal for us.”

Beaufort Mayor Sharon Harker, who is in her second term, added that the reserve has a lot of talents, and the town is working with the state programs to protect the island for future generations. “It’s a classroom, it’s a laboratory, it provides us information so that we can inform policies to be better and proactive caretakers of the island, but the reserve is a gem. It’s part of our character, it’s part of our history.”

Sen. Norm Sanderson, R-Pamlico, who also represents Carteret County, told attendees that the reserve is worth fighting for and worth protecting, “not only for its beauty, but its protection” as a barrier island.  “It’s up to us to save it for the next generation.”

Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, was on the coast for the tour, as well. A resident of Greensboro, Harrison said she spends her weekends patrolling the shoreline of the Rachel Carson Reserve and has for 34 years.

She extended her gratitude to those who have made the reserve “such a special place” adding, “I love this place. I’m going to do what I can save it.”

Rep. Celeste C. Cairns, R-Carteret and Craven counties, spoke briefly, stating she is “so proud of this district. It’s impossible to express how much I love it here.”

Gillikin, who grew up in Beaufort and is currently a town commissioner, has been with the reserve program since 2007, and oversees both the Rachel Carson Reserve and Permuda Island Reserve near Topsail Island.

Gillikin said she feels “privileged to coordinate the stewardship of this site and to work with all the passionate community members and commercial users and teachers and advisory committee members. It really is all about people.”

She echoed Newton in that the site is very personal to her, because five generations back, her family owned a lot of the land, and “I never thought that I would come back to Beaufort and be a steward of the land.” She left Beaufort to attend the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

“Their blood, sweat and tears are out there. And mine are too,” she said, clarifying “no big injuries, just some nicks and cuts.”

After the tour, Ellin expressed her gratitude for those who joined, “to celebrate the Rachel Carson Reserve, share their perspectives, and take in its beauty and the diverse roles the reserve plays for ecosystems and people alike.”

About the Carrot Island Living Shoreline Project

Part of the event included a quick peek by boat of the Carrot Island Living Shoreline Project, currently under construction.

A representative of consulting firm Moffatt & Nichol, which is a contractor on the living shoreline project here, told Coastal Review Monday that work began April 12. A joint project between Carteret County and the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, the work includes around 1,475 linear feet of living shoreline, extending along the east side of Carrot Island, which is adjacent to Taylor’s Creek. 

The design features two sills. There is a sill of wave-attenuation units, called ExoForms and manufactured by Natrx, a nature-based resilience and restoration company in Raleigh, and a sill with oyster habitat units called Oyster Catchers, which are manufactured by Sandbar Oyster Co. in Beaufort.

The footprint for the ExoForms is around 11,250 square feet, with a length of 1,250 feet, and the footprint for the oyster habitat sill is about 6,960 square feet, and about 1,270 linear feet.

The sills run parallel to one another with a gap of 10 feet in between. Both are 100-foot segments with 10-foot gaps between the segments to allow water and wildlife to move through.

Plans include planting marsh grass, both Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens, to support stabilization of the shoreline and enhance the ecological value of the project, according to the company.

“The length of shoreline to be protected was chosen to provide maximum benefit to the Carrot Island shoreline based upon available funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality,” according to the company.

Gilikin said monitoring the project’s performance over time and sharing successes and lessons learned could inform future living shoreline design and estuarine shoreline management in coastal North Carolina.

About the reserve program

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve program initiative began in 1982 with funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System.

Three sites were dedicated in 1985 to be part of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve: Rachel Carson, Currituck Banks and the Zeke Island reserves. The fourth national site, Masonboro Inlet Reserve, was designated in 1991.

The state initiated the parallel program in 1987. This move, according to NCDEQ, was to protect other coastal areas that could not be incorporated into the national program. The state acquired Permuda Island near topsail Island that year and Buxton Woods in the southern Outer Banks in 1988.

In 1989 CAMA formally established the North Carolina Coastal Reserve Program. In the following years, the state program grew to include Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve in 1992, Bald Head Woods Reserve in 1993, Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve in Tyrrell County in 1999, and Bird Island Reserve, the southernmost site, in 2002.

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation announced Friday that it had won a national award for the flood warning system that allows the agency to better respond to hurricanes and other storms.

The advance-detection warning system, which became fully operational in 2022, was developed after Hurricane Florence caused more than 2,500 roads to close in 2018. NCDOT said the system allows the agency and its partners “to deploy resources more efficiently before a storm, recover more rapidly after it and adapt to changing climate conditions,” according to the announcement.

The department was one of 14 recipients from across the country to win the Federal Highway Administration’s 2024 Environmental Excellence Award award. The awards announced last week recognize transportation projects, programs or organizations that incorporate environmental stewardship and partnerships with other agencies. NCDOT and its partners were specifically recognized for their approach to flood resilience through real-time monitoring and predictive monitoring.

“This innovative system not only helps keep our transportation network more resilient against future flooding, but it also has the potential to save lives,” said Matt Lauffer, NCDOT’s state hydraulics engineer, in a statement. “We can use this information to better inform our emergency partners and the public about potential flooding problems.”

NCDOT’s system is a partnership with the N.C. Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Coastal Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and other consulting partners.

The system uses computer modeling programs that receive various kinds of data, such as rainfall totals and river forecasts. It also relies on a network of stream gauges that monitor 2,200 miles of state roads and almost 16,000 bridges and culverts across the state. During a storm, the system automatically generates email or text alerts to warn NCDOT maintenance and bridge crews of potential problems.

Last year, the flood-warning system was named a top-12 finalist for two prizes in the America’s Transportation Awards competition.​

Reprinted from Island Free Press

After photographer Don Bowers, who has been documenting storms in the northern Buxton beach area for decades, visited the shoreline Wednesday, he said that this week’s low-pressure system has caused more damage there than he has seen since he moved to Hatteras Island in the mid-1960s.

“In the 1970s, we had two big nor’easters that came through and pummeled the (Buxton) area, but we didn’t have as many houses back then,” he said. “This is as bad as I’ve ever seen it.”

Other areas of Hatteras Island were not as severely affected by the storm, but northern Buxton has had multiple cycles of oceanside flooding, particularly during recent high tides, since Monday.

The damage stretches from the northern Buxton border to the now-closed Buxton Beach Access at the end of Old Lighthouse Road.

As of Wednesday, Bowers reports that there are at least a dozen septic tanks that have been recently exposed.

There are a half dozen exterior staircases that have been washed away from homes, multiple broken water pipes, and extensive and miscellaneous debris.

Many side streets in the area remain flooded, while the pilings of oceanfront homes are submerged in ocean waters.

At the site of the former Navy and Coast Guard military base, which has been an area of concern since petroleum smells and sheens started appearing in the fall of 2023, the presence of old infrastructure has noticeably increased in the past several days.

Former remnants of concrete buildings, pipes, cables and other debris from the 1956 to 1982 Navy Base have been a continual sight since two offshore hurricanes brushed the Outer Banks in early September 2023.

As of Wednesday, more infrastructure along the shoreline has been revealed, and the petroleum smell has returned.

“I’ve been out there many times, and it smelled bad today – worse than it has before, I think,” Bowers said.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore personnel expanded the size of the closed beach area near the Buxton Beach Access on Sunday, and a revised precautionary public health advisory was issued for the area on Monday.

The Outer Banks may get a brief and minor respite after days of strong northeast winds, elevated surf, and accelerated erosion Wednesday afternoon, but a second low pressure system is expected to impact the Outer Banks starting late Wednesday night.

Additional overwash and erosion are possible in the next several days, and N.C. Highway 12 may be impacted in northern Buxton and other areas with vulnerable and compromised dunes.

For more information on the forecast, visit the National Weather Service.

This story is provided courtesy of the Island Free Press, a digital newspaper covering Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Coastal Review is partnering with the Free Press to provide readers with more environmental and lifestyle stories of interest along our coast.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded an emergency contract to replace and repair sandbags along N.C. 12 on Ocracoke Island.

The $489,000 contract was awarded to Barnhill Contracting of Rocky Mount.

The work set to begin Monday involves replacing approximately 800 sandbags that were damaged or displaced during recent storms and restoring the protective barrier between N.C. 12 and the Atlantic Ocean on the northern end of Ocracoke Island.

Single lane closures will be in effect while the sandbag replacement is taking place.

Guest commentary

To stimulate discussion and debate, Coastal Review welcomes differing viewpoints on topical coastal issues. 

Over the past five years, North Carolina communities have endured storm after storm. From the estimated $16 billion of damage caused by the powerful forces of Hurricane Florence to excessive rainfall that engulfed mountain towns during Tropical Storm Fred to the lasting impacts from various unnamed storms, we’ve seen firsthand how flooding disasters are changing North Carolina and its communities.

Now, more than ever, new approaches are required to address the increasing rate and severity of extreme rain events in North Carolina to safeguard communities, ecosystems and local economies. One way to reduce these risks is to build flood resilience across the state, an effort that has proven to save $6 for every $1 spent pre-disaster.  

North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is developing the state’s first-ever Flood Resiliency Blueprint in collaboration with numerous stakeholders, including Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), conservation partners, agricultural organizations, business representatives and local governments. And we are thrilled to celebrate the release of DEQ’s draft plan, which was presented to the General Assembly on Jan. 23.  

At the Joint Legislative Commission on Government Operations Hurricane Response and Recovery subcommittee, DEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser envisioned that “five years from now, other states will be looking to North Carolina because our process lets communities get back to day to day living quicker after storm events.” The Blueprint is a big step forward, resulting in a massive statewide effort dedicated to building resilient communities equipped to reduce and manage flood risk and vulnerabilities. 

What is the Flood Resiliency Blueprint?  

In 2021, the North Carolina legislature provided funding and a directive for DEQ to develop North Carolina’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint in response to increasing flood risk. Since then, community leaders, government partners, technical experts and academics have worked together to advance this initiative, ultimately designed to help all North Carolinians make informed flood resilience planning decisions.  

The Blueprint will compile all relevant resources and knowledge into one place, and once completed, will function as an online-decision support tool for state and local leaders. This dynamic tool will help establish a single standardized methodology for North Carolina’s flood planning and includes strategies specific to each of the state’s major river basins, including aspects of stormwater maintenance and holistic watershed management. 

DEQ plans to also include components such as multi-scale modeling, scenario exploration systems, guidance documents and planning tools. Additionally, DEQ will continue to update and refine the Blueprint draft by referencing advisory group feedback and community engagement, in addition to other resources. 

How will the blueprint support NC communities? 

One goal of the Blueprint is to help state and local leaders determine where to invest in flood resilience. The Blueprint will give leaders a better understanding of which communities are most vulnerable to flood risk and who needs financial support and technical assistance. 

To achieve this, DEQ will work with communities across five river basins in 2024. They will host information exchanges in each basin to allow communities the opportunity to co-design an action strategy to reduce flood risk within their river basin.  

Ahead of these exchanges, communities will have access to online tutorials and technical assistance to learn more about the Blueprint and how to use the platform. Additionally, the state legislature has pre-allocated nearly $100 million to DEQ to begin implementing projects upon completion of the Blueprint. 

How to continue advancing the Flood Resiliency Blueprint 

It is essential to get the Blueprint right. All levels of government need to work together on this – and we need to trust in science and look to our community leaders for guidance.  

To support downstream communities, the Blueprint must be able to evaluate flooding at a watershed scale to understand how much water is coming down the river and where that water flows out of the river during a flood. When communities seek solutions to reduce their vulnerability to flooding, they should consider what the area’s watershed looks like and how solutions could impact different areas. It’s recommended to look in-town and upstream to ensure the most cost-effective solutions are grounded in science and achieve the resilience results a community needs. Meanwhile, we must also avoid selecting solutions that increase flooding impacts on a neighbor’s property or in towns downstream. The Blueprint could make all this possible, leading to wiser investments of public funds and better outcomes for residents. 

Additionally, EDF encourages DEQ to continue prioritizing North Carolina’s communities in flood planning to align state resilience goals with local community needs. Community members need to understand the purpose of the Blueprint and have access to it so that they can help improve it. Ultimately, a fully built online decision support tool can help a community understand the trade-offs between various flood solutions.  

EDF looks forward to working with DEQ to continue advancing this important initiative and build resilience for the beautiful state of North Carolina.  

Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of Coastal Review or our publisher, the North Carolina Coastal Federation. See our guidelines for submitting guest columns.

With the shoreline surveys of three state-owned lands complete, North Carolina Office of State Archaeology officials are waiting for the contractor’s draft assessment of storm-related impacts before they can develop a plan to protect these vulnerable cultural sites.

When that data is delivered in the coming months about Hammocks Beach State Park in the Swansboro area, and Alligator River Game Land and the Scuppernong River section of Pettigrew State Park, both in Tyrrell County, Historic Preservation Archaeology Specialist Allyson Ropp said recently that her office intends to look at ways to protect the cultural sites on land, underwater and in the tidal zone.

Called North Carolina Shorescape Survey, this project and the Historic Cemetery Survey, which documented how cemeteries had been affected by hurricanes and identified unmarked cemeteries, are being funded through the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service.

The state’s archaeology office was awarded $1 million of the $17 million North Carolina received following the storm surges, rain and high winds from hurricanes Florence and Michael in 2018. Those storms threatened coastal historic structures and archaeological sites, according to an October 2023 update on the project. Both projects have been in the planning stages since 2020. Fieldwork for the shore survey wrapped up in late 2023.

Scott Seibel, associate vice president of multinational infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, told Coastal Review last week that his team worked on the three sites this past fall and are producing the draft report now. The plan is to deliver the draft by early March.

If there’s anything of interest in the data, they will explore it further, and if not, Ropp said her office will complete its report and then hold public meetings, most likely in April.

The three sites were chosen using a model that ranked the state-owned and -managed lands by environmental and historical significance.

Ropp said she designed the model by combining known data on storm surge and sediment movement, historic maps and existing archaeological information to prioritize all of the state lands in the 12 counties. Those counties are Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender and Tyrrell.

The shoreline is the focus because, as Acting State Archaeologist and Deputy State Archaeologist Chris Southerly said, there was a lot of activity at the shoreline environment, such as fishing or wading out into the water to collect shellfish.

“I’d say almost the majority of the cultural interface that we have maritime dealings with in water happens in that 60 meters (about 197 feet) one way to 60 meters the other from the shoreline,” Southerly said.

Because that interface can be difficult to reach, land-based archaeologists may not go all the way to shore and in-water archaeologists will stop where the boat stops.

Shorelines are where “a lot of cultural material could be lost,” Southerly continued. For example, an American Indian could have dropped something into the muck while getting out of his dugout canoe, or English settlers from their vessels, or by soldiers during war time.

The project in the Swansboro area is looking at archaeological sites within the shoreline environment – about 60 meters inland from the low-tide mark and about 60 meters offshore the low-tide mark – “to see how archaeological resources in those areas are being impacted by shoreline erosion, hurricanes, storm surge, inundation in general,” Ropp said.

Hammocks Beach is one of the more vulnerable sites, Ropp said, because the state-managed park is part of a barrier island, has a lot of known resources, and has a high potential for more to be discovered. The land also has a rich African American maritime history, which is another reason the park topped the list.

There are 27 known sites on two of the protected islands and the mainland. “Most of those, I believe, are prehistoric shell middens,” she said.

A midden is a mound of refuse that may include shells, fish and deer bones and plant remains — things Indigenous peoples harvested from the landscapes around them.

Southerly noted that shell middens are extensive in Carteret County and parts of Onslow County and are usually indicative of long-term habitation by American Indians. This means there’s a higher probability of finding an intact Native American site nearby.

“Shell middens are one of the key markers to look for along the coastal area for pre-contact American Indians,” he said, and built-up shell middens are a good indication of repeated settlement or habitation.

Both sites in Tyrrell County have a high potential for plantation-related resources, canal building, shipwrecks, and general marine infrastructure.

AECOM, a cultural resource management firm with offices all over the East Coast, performed this fall the land and in-water surveys with a field crew of about 15 and around 10 in the office working on artifact analysis and geographic information system, or GIS data.

The area for each of the three projects was 60 meters landward of the shoreline and 200 meters, or 656 feet, into the water.

The fieldwork at Hammocks Beach State Park included both terrestrial and underwater archaeology, Seibel said. “We surveyed the entire shoreline area of the mainland portion of the park, all of the shoreline area of Huggins Island, and the sound-side shoreline of Bear Island.”

For the terrestrial archaeology, which took place from early October to early December 2023, most of the work involved shovel-digging test pits at 100- and 50-foot intervals within the project area. The pits were about 12 to 16 inches in diameter and about 3.3 feet in depth.

The sediments were screened through 0.25-inch wire mesh to collect artifacts such as ceramic sherds, stone flakes and oyster shell from the pre-contact middens. They found brick and glass, too.

“We also inspected the ground surface for artifacts and features, such as brick foundations from former houses,” Southerly said. “All of our shovel test pits and any features that we found were mapped using a GPS system. Along the shorelines, we used an electronic data form to record information about the condition of the shoreline and the possible threats to archaeological sites from things like waves, tree fall, and looting.”

The underwater survey, which took about a week to complete, included using remote sensing equipment towed behind a boat including a side-scan sonar, magnetometer and sub-bottom profiler, Seibel continued.

“A side-scan sonar uses sound waves to produce images of the seafloor. A magnetometer records anomalies in the Earth’s magnetic field and is useful for identifying shipwrecks that contain iron, like nails,” he explained. “A sub-bottom profiler is similar to a side-scan sonar, except that it provides information about sediment layers below the seafloor and can be used to identify old and buried streams and terrestrial landforms from when sea levels were much lower than today.”

The terrestrial archaeology work was different at the two project locations in Tyrrell County, Seibel said.

“Along the Scuppernong River, since it was all cypress or cedar swamp, all we were able to do was slowly run a boat along the river’s edge to see if there were any signs of piers, docks, or other similar features or small areas that could be shovel tested,” he explained. “At the other project area along the Little Alligator River and fronting Albemarle Sound, most of the project area was also swamp, but often thick with phragmites, an invasive reedy plant. We were able to walk over the small beach areas looking for artifacts and dig shovel test pits in scattered areas.”

The underwater survey took about a week to complete for each of the areas, while the terrestrial survey work for all three areas totaled over three months last fall.

“As we expected, the mainland and Huggins Island portions of Hammocks Beach State Park have been used by people for thousands of years. Archaeological site types include large pre-contact shell middens and even a pre-contact village as well as the remains of historic home sites and a Confederate earthwork from the Civil War,” he said. 

At the sites along the Little Alligator River and Albemarle Sound, remains of fishing pound nets in the water were found as well as small scatters of artifacts from 19th and early 20th century houses and farms that used to line the shoreline of Albemarle Sound. Remains of a sunken ship were found during the underwater survey.

“Regrettably, there were no finds of any kind within our survey area in the Scuppernong River,” he said.

Seibel explained that this kind of work is important to North Carolina because it can help the state understand the types of archaeological resources present at Hammocks Beach.

“The more important aspect of the work is determining which of the archaeological sites along the shorelines of the park are under the most environmental threat and providing recommendations about how the state can prioritize preservation actions to help protect the most vulnerable archaeological sites and help preserve them for future generations,” he said.

In addition to the archaeological survey work, Seibel said they’re including a shoreline assessment to let the state know the types of environmental threats the archaeological sites at the park are under.

The assessment includes looking at historic and present-day data to determine the level of shoreline erosion that has taken place over the past 100 years or more, as well as projections for future erosion and other threats. This information is being used to help assess which archaeological sites are at the most risk and provide recommendations to the state for preservation efforts.

Ropp said the survey is not only going to be the baseline to gather the data of what’s at these locations and what they look like, but also testing out the methodology.

Coming out of this work will be foundational data for these areas as well as a way to perform this work, and come up with a methodology that can be adjusted as needed.

Combining AECOM’s management strategy suggestions plus boots on the ground, “we can come up with a means to manage and mitigate and adjust to these coming changes,” Ropp said.

Southerly said this work is going to be valuable in the long term because the methodology can be further developed to collect data about the different types of shorelines that “you would assume would probably be very similar” but are different, like the Alligator River and Hammocks Beach.

“You’re still coastal, you’re on the sounds, but putting tools in the toolbox so to speak, and having a methodology, having techniques, knowing what works, knowing what doesn’t work, lets us and lets other archaeologists once these reports are published, look at it and adapt and evolve the sites and that alone — other than figuring out what we’ve got here in North Carolina — that methodology, those techniques that can go into the field that someone else can use can help sites elsewhere, help someone else manage the sites collect the data before the sites become inundated,” he said.

Within this project, Ropp explained they plan to look at known sites across the coastal counties to see where they are in relation to some of these climate projections, particularly with sea level rise. “There’ll be a lot coming out of this project beyond the survey that we’re doing on the shoreline.”

Ropp and Southerly are encouraging the public to share any history or information about Hammocks Beach and the sites in Tyrrell County. Email the team at archaeology@ncdcr.gov.

The Down East Resilience Network is hosting a property insurance community roundtable this month for owners to learn more about their current insurance coverage to help better prepare for the future.

The open house is from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center on Harkers Island.

The Down East Resilience Network is a group of researchers, agencies, educators, students and others invested in the adaptation and resiliency that was formed three years ago to raise awareness of the environmental changes taking place in the region, which includes 13 communities in eastern Carteret County. To help with planning, register online.

During the open house there will be representatives from the state’s departments of Insurance and Public Safety, North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, the National Flood Insurance Program, Federal Emergency Management Agency and other specialists.

Roundtable discussions with insurance specialists are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Registration is not required to attend.

“This is not an insurance sales pitch, but rather an opportunity to learn more about coastal insurance changes/challenges,” organizers said.

This event is intended to give community members the opportunity to ask the following questions and address other concerns:

• Are you ready for the next storm, the next high tide or the next nor’easter?
• Is your home or business in a flood zone? What does that mean? Do you have questions regarding flood maps?
• Do you need flood insurance? Can you afford flood insurance? Can you afford not to have it?
• What resources does FEMA provide for pre-storm mitigation, post-storm recovery, long-term resilience?
• What companies are still covering coastal NC? What is the long-term projection for these companies?

The insurance roundtable is a recommendation from the Down East Resilience Network meetings held in Sept 2023.

Food will be available throughout the day for lunch, supper, and snacks. Organizers thanked Chalk & Gibbs Insurance of Morehead City for supporting the discussion.

Email museum@coresound.com with any questions.

The total number of Atlantic tropical cyclones that strengthened from weak Category 1 storms into major hurricanes within a 36-hour window has more than doubled in the last 50 years, a new analysis finds.

The observed maximum changes in wind speed for the lifespan of Atlantic tropical cyclones between 1971 and 2020 suggest that the intensification rates of these storms have increased as human-related greenhouse gas emissions warm the planet and oceans, according to the paper, “Observed increases in North Atlantic tropical cyclone peak intensification rates” published Thursday in Scientific Reports.

Historically, the most damaging tropical cyclones have been the most intense, with the majority undergoing rapid strengthening during their lifecycles.

Hurricanes Sandy in 2012, Irma, Maria and Harvey in 2017, Ida in 2021 and Ian in 2022 were the costliest U.S. weather and climate disasters in the last decade. All similarly strengthened rapidly, with most evolving from tropical storms to Category 3 or greater in under three days.

Because this strengthening can be difficult to predict and forecast, quickly intensifying tropical cyclones can create communication and preparedness challenges for coastal communities in a storm’s path, according to the study.

For the analysis, Dr. Andra Garner, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Rowan University in New Jersey, broke the 50 years’ worth of data up into three periods: the historical era, 1971-1990; the intermediate era, 1986-2005; and the modern era, 2001-2020. Maximum intensification rates were calculated for 12-hour, 24-hour and 36-hour windows.

The maximum intensification value of each tropical cyclone was defined for the study as the greatest increase in wind speed across any window of time during the lifespan of the storm.

Garner found that between 2001 and 2020, average maximum tropical cyclones intensification rates increased 28.7% compared to storms that happened from 1971 to 1990. Additionally, from 2001 to 2020, it became more common for tropical cyclones to intensify most quickly in the central Atlantic off the U.S. Southeast Coast, the southern Caribbean Sea east of Central America, and the southeast Atlantic off the west coast of Africa, compared to storms that took place from 1971 to 1990.

The tropical cyclones that intensify at their fastest rate over the central part of the Atlantic basin could be particularly dangerous for communities along the East Coast, “an area already threatened by other evolving tropical cyclone hazards in a warming world, such as slower-moving tropical cyclones and changing tropical cyclones tracks,” the study says.

Garner told Coastal Review this week that part of her motivation for this work is knowing the fact that ocean surface waters, which are a key fuel source for hurricanes, have warmed substantially in recent years. 

She cited the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s documented increases in sea surface temperatures of more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since the 1980s. The IPCC is a United Nations group that assesses science related to climate change.

“Since I knew that ocean waters are a critical component for hurricanes to intensify, and, in particular, for allowing hurricanes to intensify quickly, I wanted to see what kinds of changes might already have occurred in the observational record of Atlantic hurricanes over the past 50 years,” she said.

Garner said that the warm ocean waters are a vital source of fuel for hurricanes to strengthen.

“Think of it like your morning cup of coffee — for a hurricane, warm ocean waters act like the caffeine in our morning coffee that helps get us going. When we have abnormally warm ocean waters, it’s kind of like an extra shot of caffeine in the coffee, providing lots of energy for the storm,” she explained.

Keeping this in mind, and knowing that oceans have absorbed about 90% of the excess warmth human-caused climate change has generated in recent years, she said she set out to understand, broadly, how the intensification rates for Atlantic hurricanes has changed in recent years. 

Overall, the fastest average pace at which hurricanes strengthen has indeed significantly increased by more than 25% from 1971-1990 to 2001-2020. Also, during 2001-2020, it was about as likely for hurricanes to intensify by more than 57 mph in just 24 hours as it would have been for hurricanes to intensify by this amount in 36 hours in the historical era, she explained.

These kinds of changes have impacted how common it is for a hurricane to intensify from a fairly weak storm such as a Category 1 hurricane or tropical storm, into a major hurricane of Category 3 or greater.

In particular, between 2001 and 2020, the number of times that hurricanes intensified from weak storms into major hurricanes within 24 hours more than doubled compared to 1971 to 1990, “which is something that my results show would have been statistically impossible to have happen under historical climate conditions,” Garner said.

Her findings didn’t come as a surprise, rather, the analysis serves to quantify the phenomenon of strengthening tropical cyclones that is very much expected in a warmer climate, Garner said. The increased likelihood for hurricanes to transition from weak storms into major hurricanes in 24 hours or fewer was particularly striking, she said.

Garner stressed that her results indicate that there have been changes in areas where hurricanes intensify most quickly, increasing the likelihood of rapid strengthening in several locations, including along the East Coast.

“One of the main reasons these findings matter is that, when storms intensify quickly, they can become more difficult to forecast and to plan for, in terms of emergency action plans for coastal residents. We also know that many of the strongest, most damaging hurricanes do intensify particularly quickly at some point in their lifetime,” Garner explained.

“My work shows that we are already seeing overall increases to the fastest rates at which Atlantic hurricanes intensify, which means that we are likely already seeing an increased risk of hazards for our coastal communities,” she said, “Including, and perhaps especially, those in North Carolina, given that results showed an increased likelihood for hurricanes to intensify most quickly near the U.S. Atlantic Coast. This means that it will be especially important for our coastal communities to work towards enhanced coastal resiliency measures and emergency action plans that may be able to adapt to hurricanes that strengthen more quickly.”

Garner said that her findings should serve as an urgent warning. 

“The rates at which hurricanes strengthen — and the frequency with which they transition from relatively weak storms into major hurricanes — has significantly increased in just the last 50 years, over the same time when we see substantial increases to ocean surface temperatures due to human-caused warming,” she said.

“Without major changes in our behavior and a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, this is a trend that will continue to get more extreme,” Garner said. “There is hope — hope that comes from knowing that we are the cause of this problem, so we can also be the solution; hope that we could secure a more sustainable future. But that hope will only be realized if we take the necessary actions to decarbonize our economies.”

Guest commentary

In 2018, Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina, taking 42 lives and costing more than $16 billion in estimated damage. Now, five years later, many residents and communities are still reeling from the storm’s floodwaters. Blue tarps remain on unpatched roofs, businesses have not returned and communities have experienced disproportionate recoveries. 

The immediate and residual impacts from hurricanes Florence and Matthew, Tropical Storm Fred and other subsequent unnamed flooding events have had long-lasting impacts on communities. As a result, these events have encouraged state leaders to take action to better prepare for future storms.

Environmental Defense Fund thanks leaders, as well as businesses, conservation groups and community members, for working to build a more flood-resilient North Carolina. Let’s look at how far we’ve come in the last five years. 

Leaders develop Flood Resiliency Blueprint 

Working in collaboration with state agencies, local governments and nongovernmental organizations, Sen. Jim Perry, R-Lenoir, and Rep. John Bell, R-Wayne, led the authorization of the state’s first Flood Resiliency Blueprint. 

The blueprint will be used as a support tool to guide statewide decisions around resilience and is informed by advanced hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, which demonstrates how much water is flowing and where that water goes during a flood. Ultimately, this information will help guide investment of local, state and federal resilience funding toward cost-effective solutions to reduce flood vulnerability. 

The Flood Resiliency Blueprint will also provide accurate and timely information on flood risks and effective solutions for communities and landowners. This will help guide local efforts to manage and abate flooding within watersheds and river basins and help communities manage risks beyond traditional jurisdictional boundaries. In addition, it helps ensure funding is locally supported and regionally effective. 

Lawmakers expand funding for natural infrastructure

After Hurricane Florence, North Carolina’s state legislature appropriated more than $300 million toward flood mitigation efforts. Included was support to advance natural infrastructure projects and stream improvement efforts through programs at the state’s Department of Agriculture, Department of Cultural and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). 

The Stoney Creek effort is one example where DEQ’s Division of Mitigation Services has engaged private-sector environmental restoration firms to work with landowners and the town of Goldsboro. They have developed a watershed-scale approach to regional flooding using natural infrastructure projects, such as enhancing and restoring wetlands to store storm water and incorporating natural berms or in-ditch structures to slow the flow of storm water. 

Part of the $300 million also went to the DCNR’s Land and Water Fund to advance 17 proposals to implement natural infrastructure projects and to support the planning and construction of additional flood mitigation projects. 

Experts advance research 

State legislators and agency leaders have also advanced new studies through the University of North Carolina Collaboratory and state agencies to research the benefits of flood mitigation solutions and develop new datasets to inform the Flood Resiliency Blueprint and community solutions. 

For example, Dr. Barbara Doll from North Carolina State University led a 15-person research team to explore natural infrastructure solutions in the Neuse River Basin. The study found potential flood reductions of up to 45% in areas of high natural infrastructure adoption.

While Dr. Miyuki Hino from the University of North Carolina collaborated with colleagues and graduate students to examine floodplain management. Through her research, she found that for every building removed from the state’s floodplains, 10 new structures were built, raising concerns that floodplain buyouts are not keeping pace with new development. 

A look toward the road ahead 

Overall, these initiatives have been instrumental in helping North Carolina better prepare for the ongoing and growing threat of flooding and storm risk. We thank North Carolina leaders and collaborators for their recent efforts and ongoing commitment to address flooding. 

But even with this advancement, experts agree that many flood challenges still lie ahead. For instance, due to the Environmental Protection Agency v. Sackett ruling, millions of acres of North Carolina wetlands are now unprotected, leaving communities at risk of losing valuable, flood-reducing ecosystems. This Supreme Court decision shifts responsibility for the conservation and management of certain wetlands from federal agencies to the states. Whether and how North Carolina policymakers address the potential loss of wetlands, in addition to how much development occurs in the state’s floodplains, will significantly impact the story that is told after future storms. 

We call on leaders to prioritize state-level coordination and increase local capacity to identify and implement watershed-scale solutions, recognizing that flood solutions can’t be developed within traditional jurisdictional or landowner boundaries.

We also encourage leaders to ensure protection of wetlands and other natural flood defenses to enable communities, landowners and all North Carolinians to better prepare for and quickly recover from the next flood or storm.

To stimulate discussion and debate, Coastal Review welcomes differing viewpoints on topical coastal issues. See our guidelines for submitting guest columns. Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of Coastal Review or our publisher, the North Carolina Coastal Federation.

Updated Friday.

State recreational water quality officials announced Friday that the precautionary advisory against swimming in all coastal waters issued Aug. 31 because of Tropical Storm Idalia has been lifted.

The precautionary advisory is lifted for soundside swimming sites along the Neuse River in Craven and Pamlico counties. Test results of water samples taken from these waters show bacterial levels that meet the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s safe swimming standards.

Three sites remain under advisory because of bacterial testing. Swimming advisories were issued Aug. 22 at the public access to Bogue Sound at 16^th Street in Morehead City, July 9 at Jockey’s Ridge soundside access on July 9, and Thursday at Sandy Bay soundside access in Frisco.

Updated Thursday.

State officials have lifted the precautionary advisory against swimming issued for most ocean and sound waters soon after Tropical Storm Idalia passed the North Carolina coast, but a few areas remain under advisory.

Officials with the Recreational Water Quality Program said Wednesday that the precautionary advisory was generally lifted for swimming sites in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Carteret, Dare and Hyde counties.

They said test results of water samples taken from these waters show bacterial levels that meet the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s safe swimming standards. However, as of Thursday, the precautionary advisory against swimming remained in effect for the Neuse River in Pamlico and Craven counties.

In addition to the two swimming sites in Carteret and Dare counties that remained under advisories Wednesday, officials added another site in Dare County. Advisories remain in effect for the following sites:

• A swimming advisory issued Aug. 22 at the public access to Bogue Sound at 16^th Street in Morehead City.
• A swimming advisory issued on July 9 at Jockey’s Ridge soundside access.
• A swimming advisory was issued Thursday at Sandy Bay soundside access in Frisco.

Recreational water quality officials are to continue to test these areas and will notify the public when water samples collected meet the state’s and EPA’s safe swimming standards.

State officials will test these sites again Wednesday, and the results of the sampling will dictate further action. If the new samples also show elevated bacteria counts, state officials will post a swimming advisory sign and issue a swimming advisory.

The precautionary advisory was issued Aug. 31 after Tropical Storm Idalia dumped heavy rains and causing flooding, both of which can elevate bacteria levels in the water that can make people sick. Floodwaters and storm water runoff can contain pollutants such as waste from septic systems, sewer line breaks, pet waste, wildlife, petroleum products and other chemicals, officials said.

Officials said that coastal recreational waters in North Carolina are generally clean, but added that it is important to continue monitoring them and inform the public of any localized problems.

The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program samples 215 sites in coastal waters of the state, most of them on a weekly basis from April through October.

Featured Image

A Duke Energy truck is seen passing through floodwater along Community Road in Davis in Down East Carteret County Thursday as the effects of Tropical Storm Idalia on the North Carolina coast became clear in the morning light.

The utility said that high winds and flooding left about 20,000 Duke Energy customers without power Thursday morning, but more than 60,000 customers have had power restored since Wednesday.

The company said it plans to restore power to all affected customers possible by Thursday night.

“Duke Energy has more than 4,000 personnel in place to continue power restoration today,” said Jason Hollifield, Duke Energy’s Carolinas storm director. “We are committed to working as quickly and safely as possible to get the lights back on for our customers and we thank them for their patience.”

Photo: Dylan Ray

Updated at 9 a.m. Thursday

Eastern North Carolina can still see flash, urban and river flooding as well as coastal flooding from storm surge Thursday as tropical storm conditions continue through the day.

Winds were increasing over Pamlico Sound and the Outer Banks as of the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. update.

A tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph. At 5 p.m., National Hurricane Center meteorologists said that as of 8 a.m. Thursday, Idalia’s maximum sustained winds were near 60 mph.

Flooding in low-lying areas is likely, especially for areas adjacent to the southern Pamlico Sound including the Neuse, Bay, Pamlico and Pungo rivers.

Dangerous marine conditions are expected across coastal waters.

At 8 a.m. Thursday, the center of Tropical Storm Idalia was near latitude 33.7 degrees north, longitude 77.0 degrees west, or about 65 miles southeast of Wilmington and 135 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras. Idalia was moving toward the east-northeast near 20 mph, and this general motion was expected to continue Thursday morning. A generally eastward motion is forecast to begin Thursday and continue through Saturday.

Forecasters said the center of Idalia will track just offshore of the coast of North Carolina
Thursday and then move over the western Atlantic into the weekend.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles from the center.

A tropical storm warning extends from the central east coast of Florida to the North Carolina-Virginia state line, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.

The storm surge watch is in effect for Beaufort Inlet to Ocracoke Inlet and the Neuse and Pamlico rivers. This means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland.

Storm surge of 2 to 4 feet is likely for the Neuse, Bay, Pamlico, Pungo rivers and waters from Beaufort Inlet to Ocracoke Inlet. Areas south of Beaufort Inlet and north of Ocracoke Inlet to Duck can expect 1 to 3 feet of storm surge.

Storm-related closures

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher will be closed to the public on Thursday and plans to reopen Friday.

Cape Lookout National Seashore said it will temporarily close all public access facilities Thursday and the closure may continue through Friday, depending on conditions.

All facilities at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial will be closed Thursday. Once post-storm assessments are completed, facilities at the three parks will reopen to the public, staff said.

As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, the North Carolina Port of Wilmington was closed to inbound maritime traffic greater than 500 gross tons without permission from the captain of the port and the Port of Morehead City was closed at 11 a.m. All port operations were expected to be suspended at both ports Wednesday evening.

North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division announced Wednesday that most routes will be suspended Thursday and will resume once it is safe.

Service has been suspended for for the Southport-Fort Fisher, Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach, Bayview-Aurora, Cedar Island-Ocracoke and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke ferry routes.

For the Hatteras-Ocracoke route, service will be suspended after the 4:30 a.m. Thursday departure from Ocracoke. Officials will assess conditions in the morning to determine if service is possible for the Currituck-Knotts Island ferry route.

Featured Image

A strong southeast wind, heavy rains and an especially high tide combine to create a pool reaching from the ocean to the showers on the west side of the Oceanana Fishing Pier Thursday in Atlantic Beach. While not a king tide, which are the highest high- and lowest low-tide events of the year and happen when the Earth, sun and moon are aligned while the moon is at its perigee, or closest point in its elliptical orbit to Earth, Dec. 26-25 is a period of higher- and lower-than-normal tides. The the lunar perigee is Dec. 24. Photo: Dylan Ray

In September 2018, Hurricane Florence made landfall at Wrightsville Beach as a Category 1 hurricane. Tropical storms and Category 1 hurricanes are classified as “weak tropical cyclones,” and account for 70% of all tropical cyclones. Despite their name, weak tropical cyclones can still do a lot of damage — and their impact may be getting worse.

A recent study has shown that storms like this have been intensifying around the world from 1991 to 2020, something that scientists say is tied to global climate change.

The study, which was published in the journal Nature in November, included as a contributing author Dr. Wei Mei, assistant professor in the Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Mei and the research team found that in all ocean basins, weak tropical cyclones have been intensifying by 15-21%.

Storm intensity is not an easy thing to measure. Traditionally, tropical cyclone strength has been measured using satellite images, a method called the Dvorak technique. But using satellite data to calculate intensity creates information gaps.

“It consists of several steps that can introduce uncertainties because of the inherent subjectiveness,” Mei said. “As a result, the intensity of a tropical cyclone estimated by different trained meteorologists based on the Dvorak method can be very different, resulting in large uncertainties in the analysis of tropical cyclone intensity.”

Theoretical and mathematical models indicate that tropical cyclones intensify as surface waters get warmer — and research has shown that the oceans have gotten warmer and continue to warm. Unfortunately, satellite imagery cannot support the hypothesis of storm intensification in weak tropical cyclones, due to the interference of things like clouds and ocean spray. To find out whether or not weak tropical cyclones were truly intensifying, the research team would need to approach analysis of intensification trends using a different method.

To do so, the research team took advantage of the close relationship between ocean currents and storms. They used highly accurate current measurements taken by floating devices called surface drifters. These drifters were deployed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and they provided data that was able to complement traditional satellite imagery in quantifying storm intensification. The drifters were equipped with “holy sock” drogues, things that help stabilize the drifters’ position in the water. The drifters record measurements like location and water temperature, communicating that data to a satellite. Using the Ekman Theory, which is the understanding that winds transfer energy to surface waters and drive currents, the research team was able to estimate wind speed at a 10-meter height after identifying near-surface current speed. In other words, the scientists used their data on the ocean currents to calculate wind speed, therefore generating a better understanding of the storm intensity.

This new approach helped the scientists overcome the challenges of satellite imagery and shows that weak tropical cyclones have been intensifying during the three-decade study period. These results can help inform tropical cyclone models and increase their accuracy, which in turn can help coastal communities be better prepared for these kinds of storms. It is important for accurate information about weak tropical cyclones to be included in projections and models since weak tropical cyclones make up the vast majority of tropical cyclones.

It also helps scientists understand tropical cyclones in remote areas. And as more surface drifter data becomes available over time, the method used by these researchers can provide a much fuller picture of storm intensity and evolution.

According to Mei, there’s a link between this demonstrated storm intensification and climate change.

“Under global warming, the surface ocean gets warmer, providing more energy for tropical cyclones to develop and intensify,” Mei said. “Our earlier research has identified positive connections between ocean warming and storm intensification rate, particularly in ocean areas that are warming faster than other areas.”

What this means for coastal communities is that as the climate warms, tropical cyclones are expected to get stronger. Storms that may not have caused a lot of damage several decades ago are going to have a greater impact. This can make a critical difference for ecological communities — as shown in another recent study that theorizes that otherwise-resilient estuarine fish might have a harder time recovering from stronger storms — and human communities along the coast.

“The coastal communities need to be better prepared,” Mei said.

The National Weather Service Morehead City Weather Forecast Office issued an alert Monday that Subtropical Storm Nicole had formed that morning east of the northern Bahamas.

The storm is forecast to turn west toward the Southeastern United States and may eventually impact portions of eastern North Carolina later in the week.

Effects from the strong northeasterly onshore flow are expected Monday night through Wednesday, but are not directly associated with Nicole, forecasters said.

A coastal flood advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. Tuesday to 7 p.m. Wednesday, and a high surf advisory from 4 p.m. Tuesday to 1 a.m. Thursday.

Forecasters said up to 2 feet of inundation is possible in some areas near shorelines and tidal waterways resulting in an elevated threat of property damage. Some roads and low-lying property including parking lots, parks, lawns, and homes adjacent to the waterfront will experience shallow flooding.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials warned Monday that travel along N.C. 12 on the Outer Banks may be difficult because of potential ocean overwash and beach erosion from the two weather systems.

From Tuesday through Wednesday, the national seashore may experience strong winds, minor to moderate flooding along all oceanside beaches and significant beach erosion. Additionally, visitors should avoid a 2-mile stretch of beach at the north end of Rodanthe and use caution on any oceanside beach.

Visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather updates. To view travel conditions, go to: http://drivenc.gov.

Joe Huie was not expecting this.

Sections of docks and roofs, lumber and handrails tossed by Hurricane Ian-driven waves and wind-littered soundfront shorelines in southern Brunswick County.

“This is the worst we’ve seen so far,” Huie said. The debris field scattered along sound banks back into marshlands from Brick Landing in Ocean Isle Beach to Sunset Beach was staggering, “for such a weak storm, to be honest.”

Huie and a small crew of fellow fishermen headed south from their base in Sneads Ferry four days after the Category 1 hurricane made landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina, a small town nearly 80 miles from Ocean Isle Beach.

Within three days, the crew filled a 40-yard dumpster with what they’d picked up so far.

Much of what is being removed makes the case that North Carolina needs to reinstate building codes for residential docks and piers and that property owners should thoroughly vet the contractors who build these waterfront structures, environmental stewards argue.

“Hurricane Ian provided a really good illustration of how persistent this kind of debris is, the docks and piers in our coastal wetlands,” said Kerri Allen, manager of the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s southeast regional office and coastal advocate. “This is a storm that really had minimal impacts to the North Carolina coast yet it still brought a tremendous amount of dock and pier-related debris.”

Huie’s crew have been removing debris for the past 3.5 years from coastal marshlands spanning from Swansboro south to Brunswick County.

On cleanup days, the crew collects about 1 ton of material a day. Their work is part of a broad-scale effort by various agencies and groups, including the Coastal Federation, to remove marine debris clogging coastal marshlands and clumping up on spoil islands. The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review.

These areas are largely tucked out of view from boaters skimming across sounds.

Until he was hired by the Coastal Federation to walk through marsh and remove debris, Huie said he never saw what lay scattered just beyond the shorelines of the New River.

“The debris we’re talking about is in the marsh and it’s everywhere in the marsh,” he said. “If you don’t get out and walk it, you don’t see it. We had no idea there was that magnitude of debris there.”

In the days following Hurricane Ian, he found an intact porch structure in an area of marsh near Sunset Beach.

“It’s very nice. The tags were still on the decking boards where it was built not too long ago,” Huie said.

Such a find is not unusual, or so debris removal crews have learned these last few years through the large debris removal program.

“That’s been something that’s been really startling for us is how many new structures that go into place that just aren’t up to par,” Allen said. “Unfortunately, there’s a number of contractors who purposely build subpar structures either to meet a price point or sometimes to keep themselves in business so it’s really important to do your research and find a contractor worth their salt who really knows the wave energy and engineers a structure that’s going to last.”

In 2020, the Coastal Federation partnered with government agencies, community groups and scholars to create the North Carolina Marine Debris Action Plan, one that focuses on cleaning debris and stopping it at the source.

One of the recommendations resulting from that plan is a push for stronger state building codes by reinstating rules pertaining to residential docks and piers.

“With all the awareness that has come about through the marine debris removal program we’re hoping to use that and lobby the North Carolina Building Code Council to put docks and piers back in and hopefully strengthen that language,” Allen said.

The council is a 17-member, governor-appointed board that adopts and amends state building codes.

A handful of local governments have amended their town ordinances in an effort to reduce marine debris by banning the use of unencapsulated polystyrene foam in the construction and repair of floating docks.

Wrightsville Beach earlier this month became the fourth town to ban the material. Over the summer, all three towns on Topsail Island added the ban.

The Coastal Federation’s work educating those beach towns about how much polystyrene litter has been found in coastal marshes has also made property owners aware of the issue, Allen said.

Funding for the cleanup came from a North Carolina General Assembly appropriation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program.

The Coastal Federation has applied for additional funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program to launch a full-scale education and outreach campaign around the issue.

“I think the biggest takeaway for the coastal property owners is to really just choose their contractor wisely,” Allen said. “A dock that you build in Wrightsville Beach is going to be very different than one you building Emerald Isle because of the wave energy and location and environment. No one wants to be rebuilding their dock after every major storm and so by investing a little bit more research and sometimes money upfront they’re going to have a structure that’s going to last many years longer and also not end up as marine debris on our coast.”

Allen said the federation is in the process of developing a cost-benefit analysis to give property owners an idea of the difference in costs to build a dock or pier designed to last several years through multiple storms versus those that may be damaged or destroyed in one storm.

“In general, the individual components range from about 30% to 100% more expensive in what we’ve seen,” she said.

Staff are also exploring insurance incentives where insurance companies reward customers who have better built structures by lowering their rates.

In the meantime, the Coastal Federation plans to post a brochure on its website that will give property owners tips on how to find reputable contractors and what to consider when determining the best type of structure for the area in which it is to be built.

“Really it’s making sure that you both understand what the specific conditions are at the site of your dock and making sure that they are building a structure that is going to fail at a point that you both agree on,” Allen said.

Huie said he’s concerned about marine debris from larger, more powerful storms than Hurricane Ian.

“I’m just really worried what would happen if we had a Category 2 or Category 3,” he said. “It would take us years to clean up. It may alter some of the habitats forever just from the debris.”

Reprinted from Island Free Press

N.C. Highway 12 remained open between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet on Tuesday morning, after closing for roughly three hours on Monday afternoon due to ocean overwash, however, sand and water remain on the roadway, per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Several secondary roads on Hatteras Island still had deep sand and flooding as well, and travelers were advised to slow down and avoid flooded areas as saltwater can damage vehicles.

Additional overwash and soundside flooding remain possible Tuesday, and a coastal flood warning was in effect until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, due to the low pressure system off the Mid-Atlantic expected to move away from the coast over the next 24-36 hours.

Minor soundside flooding with inundation of 1-2 feet of very low-lying properties and roadways was expected adjacent to the Pamlico Sound from today into Wednesday, and 2-3 feet of oceanside inundation is expected north of Cape Hatteras, and was likely to impact travel along N.C. 12.

While there was no additional overwash on the highway with Tuesday’s 2:30 a.m. high tide, oceanside flooding was most likely around the afternoon’s high tide at about 3:30 p.m.

A high surf advisory was also in effect due to large breaking waves of 8-10 feet in the surf zone from Duck to Cape Hatteras. Swimmers should remain out of the water due to the dangerous surf conditions.

Ferry service for all Hatteras and Ocracoke Island ferries remained suspended as of Tuesday morning due to the weather conditions.

For updated information regarding road conditions on N.C. Highway 12, follow the North Carolina Department of Transportation on Facebook at www.facebook/ncdotnc12, on Twitter @NCDOTNC12 or visit drivenc.gov.

For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather information, or visit the NWS Newport/Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.

This story is provided courtesy of Island Free Press, a digital newspaper covering Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Coastal Review Online is partnering with the Free Press to provide readers with more environmental and lifestyle stories of interest along our coast. You can read other stories about Hatteras and Ocracoke here.

Updated 5:30 p.m.

Hurricane warning and watch areas were discontinued late Friday after Ian made landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina.

But as the storm became post-tropical, forecasters warn the threats of dangerous storm surge, flash flooding and high winds remained.

As of 5 p.m. Friday a tropical storm warning remained in effect for areas in North Carolina south of Cape Fear.

A storm surge warning remained in effect for areas south of Cape Fear and the Neuse River. A storm surge watch was in effect for north of Cape Fear to Duck, the Pamlico River and Cape Fear River.

The National Hurricane Center, in its 5 p.m. update, said that the center of the post-tropical cyclone was near latitude 33.9 degrees north, longitude 79.2 west. The
cyclone was moving toward the north at about 15 mph and was forecast to move farther inland Friday night over eastern South Carolina, move across central North Carolina early Saturday and western Virginia by early Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds had decreased to about 70 mph with higher gusts, primarily over water. Ian should continue to weaken overnight and dissipate over western
North Carolina or Virginia late Saturday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center. A WeatherFlow station at Oak Island reported sustained winds of 54 mph with a gust to 78 mph.

The National Hurricane Center said a combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded. This includes Little River Inlet to Cape Fear, which could see 3 to 5 feet above ground, the Cape Fear River with 2 to 4 feet of flooding, waters east of Cape Fear to Duck, including the Pamlico and Neuse rivers where 2 to 4 feet is possible, and the Albemarle Sound with 1 to 2 feet.

Local advisories

Brunswick County utility customers serviced by the vacuum sewer systems on Caswell Beach, including 104 to 713 Caswell Beach Road, and the island portion of Sunset Beach may experience periods of limited or no service due to potential storm surge from Hurricane Ian. County officials advise conserving water in order to limit demands on the wastewater system and to avoid sewer system backups from Friday morning through early Saturday. This means don’t wash clothes, run dishwashers or take lengthy indoor showers. All customers are encouraged to ensure that they have a working backflow device in their plumbing drain system. Oak Island and Holden Beach maintain their own vacuum sewer systems separately from Brunswick County.

Updated 5 p.m. Thursday

A hurricane warning was in effect late Thursday from Little River to Cape Fear and a and a hurricane watch issued for east of Cape Fear to Surf City, as the storm’s strength increased to 75 mph, reaching hurricane status again.

In its 5 p.m. Thursday update, the National Hurricane Center said the center of Ian was near 29.3 degrees north, 79.9 degrees west, or 335 miles south of Cape Fear and moving north-northeast at about 10 mph. The center of the storm was expected to move farther inland across the Carolinas Friday night and Saturday.

A hurricane warning and storm surge warning were in effect from Little River Inlet to Cape Fear the Neuse River in North Carolina as of 5 p.m.

A hurricane watch was issued for the North Carolina coast from east of Cape Fear to Surf City. A storm surge watch was issued for the Cape Fear River and remained in effect for north of Cape Fear to Duck, including the Pamlico River.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 415 miles.

The National Weather Service Newport office announced Thursday that periods of heavy rain were expected as Ian moves up the southern East Coast and toward the western part of the state. Unsettled weather may continue into early next week depending on the track.

Cool, breezy, cloudy and damp conditions with light rain spreading inland through the day will give way to more widespread, heavier showers on the coast late in the day, forecasters said. Heavy rainfall is expected Friday morning through Saturday morning, especially along the coast where 1 to 2 inches could fall before sunrise.

Winds could exceed 30 mph along the central coast of North Carolina, with 40-50 mph gusts. Sustained winds of 20-30 mph are expected along the Outer Banks generated by conditions resulting from the proximity of Ian to the south and high pressure to the north.

Usually right after a hurricane, dollar estimates of the damage are calculated and reported in the media and in academic and government papers, but the human toll exacted when floodwaters enter or destroy homes cannot be expressed in strictly monetary terms and may not be fully understood.

A collaboration of social and environmental scientists and engineers has been working to better grasp how flooding disasters disrupt people’s day-to-day lives in coastal North Carolina and how these communities respond and rebuild.

In addition to the economics, the effort, called Dynamics of Extreme Events, People and Places, or DEEPP, is working to gauge the environmental, social and psychological damage that hurricanes and flooding inflict. The goal is to help people in flood-prone areas better prepare and recover.

To accomplish this, DEEPP is piecing together information derived from surveys of families and individuals in affected communities along with satellite photos and flood and storm surge mapping. 

The project has focused on select areas within four counties, with communities chosen to represent diverse ecosystems and ecological environments that were also different economically and demographically. Interviewers have been working in the Hatteras area of Dare County, mainland Hyde County and Ocracoke, Beaufort and Down East in Carteret County, including Merrimon and North River, and most recently in New Bern in Craven County.

“Those areas span pretty different places, different kinds of livelihoods, and different degrees of damage from both Florence and Dorian,” said University of North Carolina researcher Dr. Elizabeth Frankenberg, director of the Carolina Population Center and a primary investigator with the DEEPP project. Among her areas of study is how people who survive disasters are changed, including their physical and psychosocial health. 

As guest speakers for a recent “Parlor Talk” hosted by the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center at its Morehead City museum store, Frankenberg and Dr. Nathan Dollar, a social demographer at the Carolina Population Center and project director with the DEEPP household survey, and members of the household survey team discussed their experiences and findings – so far. They said the work is the beginning of a long commitment to these counties and could lead to improved disaster response.

“Typically, we’re talking about the effect of an extreme weather event in terms of property damage,” Dollar said. “We know less scientifically about how people in communities are affected, how to prepare and how to recover and the complexities and the duration of that recovery.”

Frankenberg said that an early observation, although not a particularly surprising one, is that these coastal areas include a relatively higher number of residents with multigenerational ties to the community, as compared to more urban areas. 

“And that has generated, I think, a very deep attachment to place,” she said, adding that the feeling is complicated by residents’ anxiety about the future, with worries such as, “Is this going to be a viable place for my children or my grandchildren to make a living economically?”

“Looking backwards, it’s also clear that these major hurricanes had left scars on people’s economic outlooks and on their health or psychosocial health. Their recovery process is long, and it’s slow, and it’s complicated, and it’s hard to know in what order to do things and where to turn for potential assistance and whether you’re trying to move fast or whether to try to take your time and figure out what might be the best long-term solution for your home or your property,” she said.

Frankenberg said she had a deep connection to the coast, in particular Carteret County, where her father worked at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences in the 1970s, and that she had long wanted to better understand the area.

“That’s partially because I spent a long time studying the Indian Ocean tsunami in Indonesia, of all places, and got very interested in how water changes landscapes and then ultimately peoples’ lives lived in those landscapes,” she said.

She said the DEEPP project is to learn more about how families go about putting their lives back together after a flood.

“If you read the papers around hurricanes, a lot of effort goes into calculating property damage after big events and how many counties have disaster declarations, but then it quickly kind of drops off the papers. And I know from Indonesia that the process of trying to recover, trying to get your life back together and trying to rebuild what you want to rebuild, and also just thinking about your future, it’s really a months- and yearslong proposition after a really major storm,” Frankenberg said.

Random samples of tax parcel data provide the names and addresses, and DEEPP survey teams then go out to find those addresses and interview the residents. Sometimes, the addresses are long-term nursing care centers, sometimes the residents are homeowners, other times they’re renters. Some are full-time residents, sometimes the addresses are second homes.

“Sometimes, we’ll find that people have moved out. And ideally, we try to find them and understand their decision to move away from a particular place,” Frankenberg said.

Talking to every member of a family is how the researchers are trying to gain a deeper perspective of recovery. The surveys include modules for the entire household but also questions for each member of the household 15 and older. 

“So, we get the high schooler’s perspective on missing school and the mom’s perspective on not having daycare or babysitting or disruptions to work, and the dad’s perspective on trying to do the pieces that he’s taking responsibility for,” Frankenberg said. “Ideally, we talk to everybody in the household to collect this information.”

Some who are contacted are willing to talk to the interviewers, others not as much. Dollar said one of the biggest impediments to the success of the project is that people don’t like surveys. “And I don’t blame them. And our survey is not your typical 10-question survey. It takes a while,” he said.

There are also trust and privacy concerns for some, such as mistrust of outsiders coming in asking questions or worry about neighbors knowing their business.

Members of the survey team who were also present at the discussion said many were just happy that someone was willing to listen, that their voices were being heard.

Frankenberg said that the team’s approach was important in breaking down any barriers.

“It’s not so much that people don’t want to talk about the topics that we’re talking about, but it’s how to kind of ease into the interview, as opposed to just a normal conversation. And the more we can make it like a conversation, I feel like the better it goes,” Frankenberg said.

The information collected could have significant implications in terms of preparing for and responding to flooding disasters, the researchers said.

Dollar said that because of the Census Bureau’s undercount in mainly rural areas, the census doesn’t provide reliable information on not only population but also the age breakdown in that area.

“There are some serious significant issues related to aging on the coasts,” Dollar said. “All of these coastal counties are getting older and age is the factor that shapes people’s ability to prepare for and recover from storms. And I’ll say one of the strengths of kind of the household-based, tax parcel, methodological sampling approach is that we have really rich, representative data. We’re going to have a really good picture of what the population looks like in these counties.”

He said a better picture of the demographic composition of coastal counties could be important for planning and emergency preparedness.

“We really hope that data could be useful to the communities themselves,” Dollar said.

He said the researchers had been discussing their findings with officials at the Department of Emergency Management. “They’re very excited about the data that we’re collecting,” he said, adding that state officials were especially interested in “more people-centered emergency management approaches.”

RODANTHE — As a storm-crazed ocean churned furiously around its spindly pilings, a weather-beaten house collapsed Tuesday afternoon into the surf on this Hatteras Island beach.

It was the second house that day to fall into the raging sea. The first one fell early in the morning.

A number of people at the beach captured the moment on their cell phones when the second structure, a tan wooden house, crumbled into the water. One video showed a direct view as the house seemed to heave before surrendering to the relentless pounding. As soon as it caved into the ocean, waves surged under the wreckage and began carrying it away from the beach, as if a toy.

Related: Storm brings down second beach house, N.C. 12 still closed

An intense nor’easter had been sitting on the Outer Banks since Sunday, with strong winds and powerful currents pounding the beach and dunes and causing ocean overwash. The storm was expected to linger through Thursday. Dangerous conditions resulted in ferry cancellations and road closures on Hatteras Island.  

“These homes collapsing is not a surprise,” Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Dave Hallac said Tuesday in a telephone interview.  “To some degree, we were surprised that these houses didn’t collapse before.”

The first to fall was at 24235 Ocean Drive, which collapsed at about 3 a.m. Tuesday. The second structure at 24265 Ocean Drive went down shortly after noon Tuesday. The primary owners of each house live out of state, one in Tennessee and the other in California, according to Dare County tax records.

After another house collapsed Feb. 9 in the same Ocean Drive area at the south end of Rodanthe, Hallac said, Dare County officials had warned him that several other nearby houses were at risk of imminent collapse.

Hallac said that he had notified owners of the at-risk homes of the threatening situation and asked them to move the houses or take other proactive measures. Since then, he said, three of the owners had applied for and were granted permits to have a contractor remove debris after the houses fell. The owners of the two houses that collapsed Tuesday were notified that morning that they had fallen, he added.

But even with permits in hand, the contractor will not be able to get on the island until the storm passes and N.C. 12 is reopened. Even then, it will be impossible to access the remains of the houses until the ocean calms. 

After the house fell in February, Hallac said, a contractor picked up debris that stretched as far as 14 miles to the south. Considering that this storm has been so powerful, he said it’s hard to even guess how far and wide debris from two houses will travel on the currents. Although the contractor had removed a vast amount of debris, there were also numerous pickups required by National Park Service personnel and volunteers. It is likely the cleanup process will be similar, he said, but more extensive this time.

The stretch of beach near the homes is closed because of the risk posed by debris. And there was still at least one more house that appeared Tuesday to be in danger of being taken by the Atlantic.

“My priority right now is No. 1, public safety. A couple of two-by-fours or pilings can easily break a leg,” Hallac said. “And No. 2, is to protect Cape Hatteras National Seashore.”

Featured Image

Waves top the end of Jennette’s Pier Monday just after high tide. With a low-pressure system parked off the coast, waves pushed by near gale-force winds from the north and northeast battered the northern Outer Banks from Oregon Inlet to Corolla.

Related: Storm brings down another beach house, closes highway

Gov. Roy Cooper and other state officials advised residents Friday morning “to not let their guard down, as the worst part of this winter storm is still to come later today and tomorrow.”

Even though most of the state had a break in precipitation Friday morning, snow, sleet and freezing rain are forecast to resume later Friday and continue through Friday night, the state said.

“Roads will become more dangerous and power outages are still expected tonight in southeastern counties,” Cooper said in a statement. “If you can, stay put and off the roads as that’s the best way to stay safe.”

National Weather Service’s Morehead City/Newport office in an email briefing Friday morning also warned residents to stay alert.

“Please don’t let down your guard. The heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain is still on the way, and will become widespread later today and especially as we head through the evening hours tonight,” the email said.

For the area covered by the Morehead City office, which includes the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast, significant icing is expected. Around a quarter- to a half-inch of ice will likely produce power outages. The highest ice accumulations will likely be in Onslow, Jones, South Craven, Pamlico and Western Carteret counties, where power outages also may occur.

There could be 1 to 4 inches of combined snow and sleet for eastern North Carolina
except Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. There could be 6 inches or more north of U.S. 64. Precipitation is expected to end Saturday morning.

Travel will be hazardous to nearly impossible at times due to significant icing, sleet and snow. Temperatures are expected to be well below freezing Friday night and there could be lingering impacts through the weekend due to very cold temperatures at night.

Wind Gusts of 20 to 30 miles per hour may add to potential tree and power issues where there is ice. The strongest winds are expected near the Outer Banks.

Through Saturday morning there could be soundside and oceanside coastal flooding of 1 to 2 feet above ground level in the Outer Banks.

The National Weather Service’s Wilmington office calls for snow and sleet accumulations to be 1 to 3 inches in southeastern North Carolina. Significant ice accumulations of up to a half-inch are possible across this area as well. Wind gusts up to 20 or 25 miles per hour are expected. Conditions will worsen through Friday afternoon as areas of light freezing rain expand from south to north.

The State Highway Patrol advises significantly reducing speed and increasing following distance if you must travel. Clear ice and snow from vehicles and keep winter emergency supplies in your vehicle like a window scraper, jumper cables, blanket and a shovel. An immediate towing policy is in effect for vehicles left empty on North Carolina’s highways during this storm.

More than 110 National Guard troops with more than 40 high-clearance vehicles are staged at locations in eastern counties, prepared to assist where needed with transportation issues and debris clearance. Utility companies have crews ready to respond to the expected power outages, with power restoration efforts after last weekend’s storm complete, according to Cooper’s office.

Cooper signed a state of emergency on Wednesday ahead of the winter storm, to mobilize state resources and allow for the possibility of federal reimbursement for storm response expenses. The declaration also bans price gouging during this state of emergency. Complaints can be filed with the NC Attorney General’s office.

To keep safe during winter weather, North Carolina Emergency Management advises residents and visitors to follow these tips:

• Keep cell phones, mobile devices and spare batteries charged in case your power goes out.
• Keep fresh batteries on hand for weather radios and flashlights.
• Dress warmly. Wear multiple layers of thin clothing instead of a single layer of thick clothing.
• Properly vent kerosene heaters and ensure generators are operated outside and away from open windows or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. 
• Never burn charcoal indoors or use a gas grill indoors.
• Use battery-powered sources for light, instead of candles, if your power goes out.
• Use a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio or a weather alert app on your phone to receive emergency weather alerts.
• Store an emergency kit in your vehicle. Include scraper, jumper cables, tow chain, sand/salt, blankets, flashlight, first-aid kit and road map.
• Gather emergency supplies for your pet including leash and feeding supplies, enough food for several days and a pet travel carrier.
• Do not leave pets outside for long periods of time during freezing weather.
• Look out for your friends, neighbors and the elderly during winter weather and power outages.

North Carolina is bracing for a winter storm that could bring heavy rain, strong winds and flooding across eastern North Carolina late this weekend.

Precipitation is expected to begin early Sunday morning, with a wintry mix of sleet, freezing rain and some snow, before transitioning to periods of heavy rain by late Sunday morning into the afternoon, the National Weather Service’s Morehead City office staff predicts.

Weather service officials said that there could be some minor impacts oceanside on the Outer Banks Saturday, with more significant impacts possible Sunday into Monday for inland rivers, sounds and oceanside.

Overwash is expected on the Outer Banks north of Cape Lookout Saturday as large swell develops. Minor to locally moderate water level rises are possible for areas adjacent to the coast, Pamlico Sound, and the Neuse, Bay, Pamlico and Pungo rivers, officials said.

High surf could result in minor ocean overwash and beach erosion from Duck to Surf City. Wind gusts 40 to 50 mph along the coast are expected, including gale force winds likely late Sunday into Monday with dangerous seas in excess of 10 feet.

The National Weather Service’s Wilmington office forecasters said that ice will accumulate throughout the morning hours Sunday. Small accumulations of freezing rain, less than one-quarter inch, will create hazardous travel conditions. Bridges and other elevated surfaces will be most susceptible to dangerous icing.

Conditions are expected to be much worse across parts of the western Carolinas where this will become a major winter storm, officials said.

Gov. Roy Cooper signed a state of emergency Thursday in advance of the storm’s arrival, activating state resources to respond to the storm and to allow for the possibility of Federal reimbursement if the event qualifies, his office announced Friday.

“This storm will bring significant impacts from snow, sleet and freezing rain in different parts of the state, with likely power outages and travel disruptions,” Cooper said in a statement. “North Carolinians should pay close attention to their local weather forecast over the next few days, and make sure they are personally prepared before Saturday afternoon.”

North Carolina Department of Transportation crews and contractor resources are set to clear roads but response times will be delayed compared to previous storms because of labor shortages affecting crews statewide.

Because heavy rain and coastal flooding are possible across eastern North Carolina, it is important to never drive through flooded roadways. 

Transportation officials recommend staying off the roads once travel conditions deteriorate.

“Our crews and contractors are doing all we can to get ready for this storm and we ask North Carolinians to prepare as well,” said state Transportation Secretary J. Eric Boyette, in a statement. “Please make sure to plan ahead because this storm could impact travel around the state.”

State Highway Patrol officials remind motorists to reduce speed, leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles and clear all ice or snow from your vehicle before traveling. If you become stranded, pull off the highway, remain in your vehicle and call for help. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you can take shelter.

To prepare for winter weather, North Carolina Emergency Management officials recommend the following tips:

• Always keep at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food and a supply of medication in your home.
• Keep cell phones and mobile devices charged in case of power outages.
• Keep fresh batteries on hand for weather radios and flashlights.
• Dress warmly. Wear multiple layers of thin clothing instead of a single layer of thick clothing.
• Properly vent kerosene heaters and ensure generators are operated outside and away from open windows or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Never burn charcoal indoors or use a gas grill indoors.
• Use a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio or a weather alert app on your phone to receive emergency weather alerts.
• Store an emergency kit in your vehicle. Include scraper, jumper cables, tow chain, sand/salt, blankets, flashlight, first-aid kit and road map.
• Make an emergency supplies kit for your pet and include medical records, leash and feeding supplies, enough food and for several days and pet travel carrier.
• Do not leave pets outside for long periods of time during freezing weather.

Visit ReadyNC.gov for additional information on winter weather preparation, as well as information on power outages. Visit DriveNC.gov for current travel conditions from NCDOT.

This report has been updated.

At least one fatality may be related to the low-pressure system and tide-related flooding over the weekend.

The body of 65-year-old male identified as Gregory L. Miller of Durham washed up on the north end of South Core Banks Monday morning, Cape Lookout National Seashore officials said Monday. The discovery followed a weekend coastal storm that was accompanied by extreme high tides.

Related: ‘Mullet blow,’ ‘king tides’ join forces for nasty weekend

Miller had been staying at the Great Island Cabin Camp, where officials say he had fishing gear among his belongings. The cause of death was still undetermined, and park rangers and the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office were investigating.

Work underway on N.C. 12 as ferries resume

In addition to flooding and strong winds, the storm caused severe overwash along N.C. 12 on the Outer Banks. The highway remained  closed Tuesday morning between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe.

“But we are confident we can have this stretch reopened and safe for travel today,” said North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesman Jamie Kirtzer.

Officials said the stretch would be opened at 1 p.m. after NCDOT crews cleared much of the sand covering the Outer Banks highway.

N.C. 12 was closed just after high tide at 9 a.m. Sunday and remained closed the past few days as heavy winds and ocean overwash from a coastal storm made the highway unsafe for travel on Hatteras Island.

Drivers should use caution on N.C. 12 as standing water and sand are still present on parts of the road.

Travelers should check DriveNC.gov for the latest advisories.

Most state ferry routes, including those running to and from Ocracoke, had resumed regularly scheduled service Tuesday as winds subsided.

The ferries serving Ocracoke-Hatteras, Ocracoke-Cedar Island and Ocracoke-Swan Quarter were running the following schedules Tuesday:

• Hatteras-Ocracoke: 6 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., midnight.
• Ocracoke-Hatteras: 4:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
• Cedar Island-Ocracoke: 10:30 a.m., 4 p.m.
• Ocracoke-Cedar Island: 7:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
• Swan Quarter-Ocracoke:  10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
• Ocracoke-Swan Quarter: 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The Currituck-Knotts Island Ferry operations resumed its regular schedule at 10 a.m.

Other ferries have resumed their regular schedules, but the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach ferry is operating on a one-boat schedule because a boat with mechanical issues is being repaired.

A coastal low-pressure system with wind gusts up to 60 mph combined with extreme high tides over the weekend to inundate highways and roadways, residential, commercial and natural areas along the North Carolina coast.

The ocean overwashed dunes that protect N.C. 12 on the Outer Banks with moderate to major flooding that made the highway impassable. The effects were still felt Monday morning after winds had subsided and skies cleared along portions of the coast. N.C. 12 remained closed between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe, with travel deemed unsafe in the area, the North Carolina Department of Transportation said. Crews were still clearing sand from the highway, “where possible,” with the possibility of reopening Tuesday.

“Locals often refer to these coastal storms as “mullet blows” or use the term “sharks are in the collards” to describe the flooding this time of year, the National Weather Service’s Newport office noted in an overview of conditions posted Monday.

Other coastal areas saw varying degrees of flooding amplified by extreme high tides, known as “king tides.”

In Carteret County, streets and roads were under water in Beaufort, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, Down East and elsewhere. Natural areas such as the Rachel Carson Reserve were also inundated.

Several state ferries were still offline Monday because of winds and tides. Travelers are urged to follow NCDOT on social media or call 252-996-6000 for specific routes.

“We’re in uncharted territory here,” Maxwell realized as he looked at the peaks in his data. 

Dr. Justin T. Maxwell is an associate professor of geography at Indiana University, where he researches paleoclimatology, the study of the Earth’s past climates. Most recently, he explored the historical relationship between longleaf pines and tropical cyclone precipitation. Maxwell reconstructed North Carolina and South Carolina seasonal extreme rainfall totals as far back as 1700 by sampling tree rings from the Carolinas’ coastal plains.

In a rare instance when the graphical expression of data looks like real life, the charts of Maxwell’s reconstructed storms resemble the very trees from whence they came. A cluster of tall, skinny peaks rises on the right side of the graph, grouped like a stand of longleaf pines.

Each peak represents the rainfall from a single storm season. The wetter the season, the taller the peak.

Maxwell discovered a trend amid the forest of peaks and squiggly lines: Hurricane rainfall is increasing over time because storms are moving more slowly.

“Normally what we find is, ‘Hey, you think this drought was bad? Well, there was one in the past that was way worse,'” Maxwell said. Instead, his reconstructions told another story. “I don’t usually see all the big peaks at the more recent part. I wasn’t expecting that.”

The project took root in 2012. Maxwell and two former advisers, Dr. Paul A. Knapp and Dr. Peter T. Soulé, professors at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and Appalachian State University, respectively, started coring longleaf pine trees along the sandy ridges of Carolina bays, those elliptical lakes, ponds and depressions that dot much of the Eastern Seaboard.

To core a tree, scientists screw a borer, which resembles a cross between a hole saw and a lug wrench, into the trunk. When they remove the borer, the resulting core looks like a striped wooden dowel.

They collected samples at seven sites in North Carolina and South Carolina. In an earlier study, Maxwell determined that longleaf “latewood” — a sub-band within the tree ring that develops from late spring to early fall — responded to extreme flooding events.

“Tree rings can tell you a lot about different aspects of climate,” Maxwell said. “Whether that’s rainfall, soil moisture or temperature. It’s all about targeting the sites where trees are going to be sensitive to that variable.”

The conditions under which a tree grows determine what scientists can learn from it.

“Let’s say you go into an alpine region where it’s quite cold,” said Maxwell. “Those trees grow when it gets warm.”

Those trees provide scientists with annual data: a yearly temperature report that begins when the tree sprouts and ends when it dies.

Maxwell’s longleaf pines grow at low elevations along sandy ridges. Pocosins, or wetland bogs, border these ridges and have staved off loggers that might have otherwise clear cut these savannas.

Water drains quickly in the savanna. Longleaf pines possess shallow, expansive root systems that grow just above the water table. Extreme rainfall raises the water table enough for the pines to drink from it, producing significant latewood growth.

“The ring records all the rainfall for that season,” said Maxwell. “These trees happen to be really sensitive to hurricane rainfall, but it could have been from multiple storms in a given year.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration collects hurricane rainfall data, but their instrumental data only extend to 1948. NOAA data from 1948-2018 allowed Maxwell to calibrate his model. Once he saw that his peaks matched what NOAA’s instruments recorded, he could estimate seasonal storm rainfall back to 1700.

Further manipulation of the NOAA data revealed a strong relationship between hurricane speed and precipitation. Maxwell’s reconstructed rain totals “extend the record” and provide evidence that hurricane slowdown is a trend rather than a fluke.

“There was a bald cypress in North Carolina that was found to be over 2,000 years old,” Maxwell said. The oldest rings in the study originated from the stump of a longleaf pine that sprouted in 1636. North Carolina loggers likely felled the tree for turpentine to build ships. “If you have some of these really old trees, you can go really far back in time.”

A mystery storm and ‘detective work’

In his study, only two historic peaks rivaled the hurricane rainfall recorded in the last 30 years. Maxwell found storm research that might explain the 1703 rainfall event, but the cause of the 1741 peak remained elusive.

Dr. Cary J. Mock, a professor of geography at the University of South Carolina, offered two explanations for Maxwell’s 1741 mystery storms. Mock reconstructs extreme weather events from historical documents such as ship logs, diaries, early instrumental records and old newspapers.

“You need to utilize historical and genealogy skills to find the documents,” said Mock, “Like detective work.”

Mock proposed two storms that could explain the 1741 peak in Maxwell’s data, an August tropical storm and a September hurricane that traveled from North Carolina to New England.

“A South Carolina newspaper account mentioned the August storm as bringing heavy rains to North Carolina,” said Mock. Perhaps these heavy rains had soaked Maxwell’s longleaf pines nearly 300 years ago. 

Maxwell and his team are far from the only researchers investigating this trend in tropical cyclone precipitation.

Dr. Hans Paerl and Dr. Nathan Hall, are a professor and research professor, respectively, from UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City. In their  2019 study, they used rainfall data from the United States Geological Survey to measure tropical cyclone precipitation since 1898. While Maxwell created reconstructions based on tree ring samples, Paerl and Hall relied on rain gauge measurements taken along the North Carolina coast.

“It’s nice when you see people validating what you did,” said Hall.

Paerl and Hall reached a complementary conclusion based on observational data: Hurricane rainfall has been increasing drastically since the 1990s.

More extreme rainfall exacerbates many of the stressors that impact the coastal ecosystem. Runoff from as far inland as Raleigh floods estuaries with excess nutrients, which algae love. 

“If the density of algal blooms increased enough, they would decrease the transparency of the system,” said Paerl, “You might even see seagrasses disappear because there wouldn’t be enough light available to support their growth.”

“Seagrasses are very dependent on adequate light,” said Paerl. And Carolina fishers depend on seagrass. Several commercially and recreationally important fish species inhabit the seagrass meadows at some point in their life cycle, including red drum, spot and shrimp.

Changing landscapes

As cities expand, the landscape loses its natural ability to drain. Slower-moving hurricanes and the resulting extreme rainfall stress city drainage systems, causing flash floods.

Both hurricanes Matthew and Irene hit the town of Nags Head hard. Hurricane Matthew delivered 12 inches of water in four and a half hours in the north end of town.

“There was one area right around the northernmost outfall that was around 3½ feet deep,” said David Ryan, the town engineer for Nags Head. Ryan said that the water remained “upwards of 48 to 72 hours” before draining.

Holly White, the principal planner for Nags Head, said that elevated groundwater levels exacerbate shallow flooding, likening the soil to “a full sponge.” When the groundwater levels rise, the soil cannot absorb more stormwater. Sea level rise, extreme rainfall events and increased urbanization contribute to Nags Head’s oversaturated sponge.

“As development increases, we bring in water from off the island into our system,” said Kate Jones, Nags Head’s senior environmental planner. “People use that in their homes and in their irrigation.”

The town built two groundwater lowering systems that wring out the soil in preparation for incoming storms. Other solutions the city is pursuing include permeable concrete to drain surface water, incentivizing tree planting and installing new drainage pipes.

Still, White wonders if coastal communities are doing enough. The biggest barrier the town faces is funding projects to prepare for future conditions. Nags Head partnered with North Carolina Sea Grant, a federal outreach program that provides resources to coastal communities, but their staff still faces many hurdles.” Nags Head partnered with North Carolina Sea Grant, which provides resources to coastal communities, but the staff still faces numerous hurdles.

“How do you eat the elephant? One bite at a time,” said White.

National Weather Service officials warn eastern North Carolina residents that severe thunderstorms are possible later this week.

“A complex low pressure system will impact the area Thursday and Friday, bringing the potential for several hazards. Severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday night into Friday morning. Damaging wind gusts, a few tornadoes, and locally heavy rainfall are possible,” a notification Wednesday from the National Weather Service’s Newport/Morehead City office explained.

The storms have the capacity to produce damaging wind gusts, a few tornadoes and locally heavy rain. Due to threat timing being at night, officials advise ensuring multiple ways of receiving warnings, according to the Weather Service.

In addition, Rough surf, minor beach erosion and localized ocean overwash are possible north of Cape Hatteras Thursday night.

The detailed forecast as of Wednesday afternoon shows showers and the possible thunderstorm after 11 p.m. Thursday. The low is expected to be around 65 degrees with southeast winds 14 to 18 mph, and gusts as high as 28 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. The area could receive up to an inch of rain.

On Friday, showers are likely before 8 a.m. Though the weather service calls for a partly cloudy day with a high near 74, the day will be breezy with a south wind of 17 to 20 mph and gusts as high as 30 mph are predicted. The chance of precipitation is 60% and there could be up to a half-inch of rainfall.

PEA ISLAND — Considering the growing prevalence of drone photography and video footage over miles of natural landscape, a bird’s-eye view has been proven to be more than eye candy in determining climate impacts. But for wildlife managers at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, a major stopover for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, the compact low-flying machines are also competitors for feathered fliers’ airspace. 

That’s why a recent paper analyzing nearly a decade of aerial photographs of the Outer Banks refuge used images taken by a standard airplane to discern how the island is evolving.   

The report, “Land cover changes on a barrier island: Yearly changes, storm effects and recovery periods,” was the first to develop a method for quantifying landscape change on barrier islands, and by extension, changes to different kinds of wildlife habitat. The paper, published Sept. 16 in Applied Geography, also revealed that storms that may be destructive to human infrastructure can at the same time enhance habitat for coastal wildlife.

“Quantifying land cover changes in long- and short-time scales and recovery periods is important for land management purposes and to gain a better understanding of the connection between physical, biological, and environmental processes driving the evolution of coastal regions,” according to the paper.

Although researchers focused on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, located on Hatteras Island between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe, the methodology is applicable to other coastal barrier islands.  Detailed, color-infrared images taken from 2011 through 2018 were used by researchers to calculate changes every year in land cover and create terrain models, according to a Sept. 28 press release from North Carolina State University. The team was then able to assess changes in topography across the island, and how land responded to storms and how long it took to recover. Land was divided into a dozen categories, such as beach, marsh and estuarine pond, and each was measured every April. 

The aerial photography, which is done by North Carolina Department of Transportation, has not been limited to the parameters of the study timeline.

“We are continuing to get the data,” Beth Sciaudone, a research assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at N.C. State and a co-author of the paper, said in an interview. 

Although satellite images are useful in detecting different land vegetation and changes from storm damages, she said that aerial photographs taken by planes provide better resolution.

Pea Island has been the subject of numerous studies over the years, but this is the first time a study has combined topography and high-resolution imagery taken on a frequent basis, she said. 

“We are literally counting up the number of acres of marsh versus dunes versus ponds, and providing kind of hard numbers rather than, ‘Yes, we know that the beach has been eroding. We know that the sand dunes have been eroding,’” Sciaudone said. “But now we’re able to put numbers on it.”

The images revealed how dramatically Hurricane Irene in 2011, and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, altered the Pea Island refuge, especially Irene. The storm overwashed the road in Rodanthe, flooding the pavement, flattening dunes and destroying part of the road. But further north, an inlet was ripped open not far from the refuge’s visitor center. Within a short time, much of the water disappeared, leaving a sand flat that was attractive nesting areas for shorebirds. But the photos show the area is becoming more vegetated. 

The project, the genesis of which goes back to the N.C. 12 Transportation Management Plan for the Bonner Bridge replacement, was done with support from NCDOT.

“It’s a science-based approach to understanding how some of these changes are happening — and we see that in real time,” Rebecca Harrison, coauthor of the study and supervisory refuge wildlife biologist at the refuge for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, said in an interview.

“So, I think everybody knows that this place is changing, and thinking about how that impacts our different areas of interest, collectively, I think, really lends power to creative problem-solving, and considering potential solutions for that.”

Liliana Velasquez-Montoya, an assistant professor at the U.S. Naval Academy who worked on the project while a postdoctoral researcher at N.C. State, is corresponding author of the paper. Coauthors also include Margery Overton, a professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at NC State. 

Overton, among numerous experts from, among others, NCDOT, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and East Carolina University’s Coastal Studies Institute, is a member of the Coastal Monitoring Team, a product of the N.C. 12 Transportation Management Plan. It is an expanded version of a monitoring project Overton and N.C. State coastal scientist John Fisher conducted on impacts of the terminal groin built on the south side of Oregon Inlet in 1991 to protect the Bonner Bridge and the road from erosion.

Starting in 1997, planning for replacement for the then-34-year-old bridge was encumbered by disagreements and legal actions between agencies and conservation groups, and many of the issues were centered on impacts to habitat and resources at Pea Island. An exquisitely fragile strip of sand perched inches above sea level between the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound, the refuge is frequently beset by powerful tropical storms and beach-pounding nor’easters.

With the sole highway on Hatteras Island bisecting the refuge, by necessity transportation and refuge officials, along with those of other stakeholder agencies, had to work together to protect their turf and move projects forward.

Eventually they developed mutually effective partnerships, Harrison said. Among them, she added, is the Coastal Monitoring Team, some members of which branched out to work on the Pea Island paper. Others are also members of the most recent iteration of the N.C 12 Task Force that is focused on protecting the road from the effects of sea level rise and other climate change impacts.

The replacement bridge over Oregon Inlet that links N.C. 12, named the Marc Basnight Bridge, was completed in 2019.

“Just the proximity of us thinking about these issues together across agencies — even when our missions are different —- the communication and the partnership has really been incredible to expand our opportunities for these collective things,” Harrison said.

One excellent example of the beneficial collaboration between NCDOT and the refuge was a complicated situation with endangered sea turtles nesting on top of the dunes. When the refuge biologists were trying to devise ways to divert a real risk of the turtles and hatchlings heading toward the highway instead of the ocean, NCDOT personnel came to the rescue by rigging up a blockade from bridge debris that guided the turtles to the sea rather than certain demise under tires.

One of the surprising observations the images showed, Harrison said, is that on the ocean side of the island, there is a 2-mile stretch of beach that is extraordinarily narrow, considering that the island there is wide. It was also interesting, she added, that the amount of marsh on the sound side of the island appeared more extensive than she had realized.

Erosion on both sides of the island is a concern for maintenance of the transportation corridor as well as habitat for birds and other wildlife, and will continue to be monitored, Harrison said.

Sea level rise has also elevated attention to the need to adjust future management of the refuge’s impoundment ponds, where migrating birds flock in the spring and fall. 

“It’s definitely on the refuge’s radar,” she said. “I don’t think we have a good, simple answer for that right now other than we’re evaluating what kinds of strategies to use in the face of these changes and additional projected climate change.

“Is there any opportunity for restoration, or is it more of a retreat scenario or an adaptation scenario?”

And now the refuge managers have a new methodology by using aerial images to inform their future decisions. 

The National Hurricane Center says a low-pressure system just south of the North Carolina coast has a 30% chance of development.

Forecasters said Friday that a window of more conducive conditions is likely to open this weekend, making heightened winds and heavy rains, particularly along the coast, more likely. As of Friday, the elongated area of low pressure was more than 150 miles off the coast of South Carolina, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms well to the east of the center of circulation, and forecasters said strong upper-level winds should prevent any significant tropical or subtropical development during the next day or two.

By Sunday, conditions could briefly become marginally conducive for subtropical development, but by early next week, the low is expected to be affected by a frontal boundary, which should end the opportunity for any subtropical or tropical formation.

The National Weather Service Newport-Morehead City office advised beachgoers to be mindful of the dangers in the surf zone as onshore flow and increased swells will bring an increased rip current threat. Most North Carolina beaches were expected to see a high risk of rip currents Friday.

In a year with very few tropical systems, Hurricane Four of 1913 received barely a notice by the Raleigh office of the Weather Bureau of the United States.

“While located offshore North Carolina early on September 3, the cyclone peaked with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph … and a minimum barometric pressure of 976 mbar … Hours later, it made landfall near Cape Lookout at the same intensity,” Lee A. Denson, section director in Raleigh for the bureau, wrote in his annual report. “Shortly after moving inland, the system weakened to a tropical storm. By September 4, it deteriorated to a tropical depression before dissipating over northeastern Georgia.”

Denson also reported winds as high as 74 mph at Hatteras, noting that, “The worst of the property damage occurred in the vicinity of New Bern and Washington … Northeast to southeast gales caused waterways to rise 10 ft above previous high-water marks. Large railroad bridges in both New Bern and Washington were washed away, as were many other small bridges. Many low-lying streets were inundated …”

What Denson did not include in his report, however, was the storm’s impact on the immediate coast, where telephone and telegraph lines were down, and rumors circulated nationwide that everyone on Ocracoke Island had perished. “Tidal Wave Hits Island Killing 500” was the headline in the Wilmington, Delaware, Evening Journal.

Also not included in the Weather Bureau report was that the British tramp steamer Glenaen had run hard aground at the southern point of Ocracoke Island, or the four ships the Life-Saving Service had reported lost between Rodanthe and Cape Lookout.

The schooner Richard F.G. Hartley, bound for Charleston, South Carolina, was first to founder Sept. 2 after being “overtaken by bad weather … 20 miles off Bodie Island,” the Life-Saving Service recorded in its annual report.

With the ship damaged and clearly sinking the report noted, “the master chose what was doubtless the lesser of two evils and headed for the shore, hoping thereby to save the lives of his crew and himself, if not his ship.”

That’s when the schooner was discovered by the surfman on watch at the Chicamacomico Station at “about 2 o’clock on the afternoon.”

Crews from Gull Shore to the north and New Inlet to the south were telephoned and came to aid in the rescue. The wind was blowing due east at 70 mph “rendering the outlook of putting a line over the schooner exceedingly doubtful.”

As waves washed over the ship, the crew was thrown into the sea. Clinging to wreckage, the men were brought to land by the Life-Saving Service men who braved the surf to rescue the survivors. Of the seven-man crew, two were lost to the sea.

Still, the rescue was considered a success. “The survivors from the master down, were heartily of the opinion that the corps did all that was humanly possible in their behalf,” according to the report.

Although the Hartley was the only known fatal shipwreck during the hurricane, it was not the sinking that caught the nation’s attention in its aftermath. Rather it was another wreck and the rescue of its crew, followed by accusations of piracy.

A dramatic rescue

When launched in 1900, the George W. Wells was the first of its kind — a six-masted schooner and one of the largest wooden sailing ships ever built. Thirteen years later, as Hurricane Four roared ashore at Ocracoke on Sept. 3, 1913, the ship was dying. Sails were ripped from the masts and the ship was hard aground on a shoal 400 or 500 yards from the beach.

The Hatteras Inlet U.S. Life-Saving Service Station on the northern end of Ocracoke Island first reported the foundering ship. Knowing that the Wells was stranded on a reef well offshore, Station Keeper David Barnett requested aid from Durants Station on Hatteras Island.

By 3 p.m., the crew from Hatteras Inlet was at the scene. Twenty minutes later, the Ocracoke Life-Saving Service crew arrived, “having sighted the vessel offshore and followed her up the beach as she scudded before the gale.”

There is no record of why aid was not requested from the Ocracoke Life-Saving Station, but it is possible that Barnett knew that station was attempting the rescue of the British tramp steamer Glenaen that was beached at Ocracoke.

Although not mentioned in the Life-Saving Service’s annual report, it’s possible that the Ocracoke Station crew was at the site of the grounded ship. When the tide went out it was apparent the steamer was undamaged and so hard aground that there was no danger of being swept from the sandbar. With the wind blowing hard from the southeast, the George W. Wells, which had been bound for Florida, would have been pushed northwest, parallel to the Ocracoke beach and visible to the Ocracoke Life-Saving Service crew.

Related: Shipwrecks Link Researchers to Bygone Era

With the crews of three stations on hand, the attempt to rescue the 14 crewmen and six passengers began. It would be a difficult mission.

“The schooner lay four or five hundred yards off the beach, and, as the weather was thick with the wind blowing toward the land, she was a very poor mark for the Lyle gun” that was used to project lines over stranded ships. 

“Several attempts, all of them ineffectual, were made to put a line over her,” the Life-Saving Service noted.

Capt. Joseph York of the Wells responded by tying a rope to whatever would float, an effort to use waves and currents to carry it toward shore. This worked, and the Life-Saving Service crew waded into the angry surf to retrieve the floating gear.

As lines were attached to the breeches buoy that would bring the crew and passengers to safety, one of the lines broke and was quickly replaced. Then on the beach, “the tackle on shore parted. This mishap also being repaired, the breaches buoy at last sped to the schooner and in a short while every soul on board — 20 persons all told — was safe on the beach.”

Lifesavers accused

Although the Life-Saving Service described the efforts to rescue the Wells’ crew as “exceptionally meritorious,” York, the ship’s captain, was not satisfied.

Two weeks after his rescue, he made his displeasure known.

“Saved by Lifesavers, He Now Calls Them Pirates … Capt. of Wells threatens to make charges,” read the front-page headline of Sept. 17, 1913, in the Washington Daily News.

York was angered over the salvage price for the ship.

“They are a bunch of pirates,” the Beaufort County paper quoted him as saying. “They have formed a combination, a trust, among themselves to buy all wrecked vessels. They agree not to bid against each other and in that way they prevent competitive bidding. When the Wells was sold at auction I was forced to let her go for $800. I should have got $1,500.”

He went on to say that there was also wholesale looting of the ship as it lay on the beach.

“My mate, Gus Green, and I had to drive the natives away at the point of pistols to prevent them from stealing the whole ship,” the Daily News quoted York as saying.

The ship burned two days after it beached. York claimed it was set fire over “a falling out over the prize.”

York’s accusation of Life-Saving Service personnel colluding to fix the salvage price of his ship also appeared Sept. 15, 1913, in a Washington Post interview, which would be cited in a letter to the House of Representatives from Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Bryon Newton dated Nov. 29, 1913, and read into the congressional record.

The Life-Saving Service was part of the Treasury Department and, according to Newton, York was asked to uphold his claim.

“A telegram was … sent to Capt. York by this department, demanding that he substantiate his charge or withdraw it, but although diligent effort was made to reach Capt. York the department was unable to get any reply from him,” according to the letter.

Although the captain could not be contacted, the Treasury Department deemed the charge serious enough that it warranted investigation.

“Each keeper positively denied that there was any truth in Capt. York’s complaint,” the investigation found, and “the wrecked vessel was bought by Mr. Adolphus Burrus, a person in no way connected with the Life-Saving Service.”

The investigation exonerated the service of any wrongdoing, writing, “It is considered very unfortunate, as well as an injustice to the Life-Saving Service, that the false and misleading statements contained in the clipping referred to should ever have been published.”

Worth noting is that Adolphus Burrus’ older brother was Hatteras Inlet Surfman Roscoe Burrus. The brothers were close in age, both born in 1882.

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An onlooker holds on to his hat as waves crash into the pilings of the Oceanana Fishing Pier in Atlantic Beach Thursday as Tropical Storm Elsa moves through Carteret County. The storm brought to the state heavy rainfall and maximum sustained winds of near 45 mph as it accelerated toward the northeast. Photo: Dylan Ray

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Over the last few months, eastern North Carolina has experienced the extremes of both drought and flooding – in some areas at the same time.

Although the two may seem opposites, state Drought Management Advisory Council Chairman Klaus Altertin explained in a recent interview that areas can have drought and flooding simultaneously. That’s because droughts take months to develop as below-normal rainfall continues week after week, whereas one storm can drop a week’s or a month’s worth of rain in a day, resulting in short term-flooding.

Determining whether a location is in a drought is complex because so many factors such as rainfall, temperature, time of year, duration of shortfall, need to be considered, Altertin said.

There is not a specific amount of rain that can change drought status. The designations are relative to the amount of rainfall considered normal for a location, the time of year and the overall conditions.

There are five drought levels — abnormally dry, or DO; moderate drought, or D1; severe drought, or D2; extreme drought, or D3; and exceptional drought, or D4. These levels are determined by the Drought Management Advisory Council, or DMAC. In general, 2 to 3 inches of rainfall in one week will be enough to improve conditions by one level.

The council meets every Tuesday to review past conditions and determine whether drought is developing or abating across the state. Once the council reaches a consensus, its members send their recommendations to the U.S. Drought Monitor for incorporation into the national map, Altertin said.

The council is made up of representatives from the U.S. Geological Survey, National Weather Service, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state Department of Public Safety and the State Climate Office, Division of Water Resources, North Carolina Forest Service, the State Climate Office and other similar agencies and organizations.

Altertin explained that one challenge of the process, as specified by the U.S. Drought Monitor, is that the council can only consider conditions up to 8 a.m. Tuesday mornings, as the national maps are released on Thursday mornings.

“It can be raining while the DMAC is discussing the map, but they can’t include that rain in the decision making,” Altertin explained.

The council has a bit of a lag since its decisions are based on past rainfall and aren’t supposed to include a forecast component, but rainfall that causes flooding will often result in an improvement in the drought category the following week.

“It’s easy to get confused when you see an area announce severe drought the same week they get 5 inches of rain. Part of it is timing and part of it is the variability of rainfall in North Carolina,” Altertin said. “Typical rain events in the summer here tend to drop heavy rain in blobs or bands so even if the DMAC could consider the forecast, they couldn’t predict which area would get the rain and which would miss out. The event a couple of weeks ago was unusual. We don’t see those kind of rainfall totals, and as evenly distributed, without a tropical storm.”

Assistant State Climatologist Corey Davis with the North Carolina Climate Office told Coastal Review that drought can be one of the most complicated weather hazards, “since, unlike a thunderstorm or hurricane, it can be tough to see it coming, tough to measure it while it’s happening, and tough to know when the threat has ended.”

Davis said a drought is generally defined as a sustained lack of precipitation that’s either severe enough or long-lived enough to cause impacts such as crop damage in agriculture, wildfires in forestry and declining water supplies in water resources. 

As droughts stretch on for weeks or months, some of the main effects observed are declining groundwater levels and deeper soil moisture levels, Davis said.

“While a big rain can help with that, during those events, we usually see heavy amounts falling over a fairly short time period, especially during tropical storms. This can bring a lot of moisture right at the surface, like to streams and topsoil, but at a certain point, those become saturated and the rest of the water just runs off, and it may never infiltrate deep into the ground where it’s really needed,” he said.

Because of this, many may find that they have big puddles in their backyard after a thunderstorm moves through, but their well may still be low if in a drought.

Davis said he often emphasizes that there’s more to drought than just dry weather.

“For instance, as we move into the spring and summer, if you go a few days without rainfall, your lawn may start to look yellow or brown in spots, but that doesn’t mean you’re in a drought. However, if you have consistently missed out on precipitation for several weeks or months and you can’t plant anything in your garden because the soil is too dry, that’s often a sign that you’ve gone beyond normal seasonal dryness and have entered drought,” Davis said.

Davis said that in the world of drought monitoring, “we often look at precipitation deficits over the course of three months, six months, or even 12 months. So 2 inches of rain in an afternoon is a lot, but if you’re 8 inches below normal over the past six months, that one event (even if it produces flooding) won’t fully resolve that deficit and its associated longer-term impacts.”

Davis said the amount of rain needed to recover from a drought depends on location and time of year. For example, Phoenix averages about 8 inches of rain per year, so drought may emerge if they’re an inch or two below normal, and an inch or two of extra rain may be enough to end that sort of drought.

“In North Carolina, a 1-inch deficit is a drop in the bucket compared to our annual average precipitation, which ranges from about 45 to 60 inches, depending on where in the state you’re at. We’re also more sensitive to precipitation deficits in the spring and summer, when evaporation rates are higher, and impacts can emerge more quickly than during our cool season,” Davis said.

Davis pointed to the recent drought as an example.

“Much of the coastal plain was anywhere from 3 to 8 inches below its normal precipitation this spring, so we would have needed around those amounts to fully recover. And we’ve largely seen those sorts of totals, or even greater ones, so far in June. Wilmington exited the spring 7.2 inches below normal, and it has been a little over 6 inches above normal so far in June, so it is now out of drought, and not even classified as Abnormally Dry on the U.S. Drought Monitor.”

Davis said a general rule is that 2 inches of rain in a week is usually enough to improve by one drought category, such as going from Severe Drought (D2) to Moderate Drought (D1). However, there are exceptions, he said.

The cycle of flooding and drought this year is an example of what to expect under climate change. Most projections show the state and a good chunk of the Southeast generally getting wetter, with more average precipitation per year.

“This stems from basic physics: evaporation and water-vapor content increases as temperatures warm, and that more-saturated air in turn produces more precipitation. While that may make it seem like droughts should become less common, we also expect to see and are seeing a change in our overall precipitation pattern,” Davis said. “More rain is falling in fewer events, and we’re seeing more intense dry spells and droughts between these rain events. These ‘flash droughts’ can be exacerbated by hot weather, which of course is another consequence of climate change.”

Looking at how the weather has played out so far this year, the state started 2021 with an especially wet winter — the 12^th wettest on record statewide dating back to 1895 — then went into the ninth-driest spring, and are now on pace for a record wet June in some spots.

“The Wilmington area started the year with four days where at least an inch of rainfall was recorded between January and March. Then in April and May, Wilmington never had more than half an inch of rain on a single day, and it had stretches of nine days, 11 days and 12 days in a row without any measurable rainfall, so Severe Drought emerged there,” Davis explained. “Since June 1, Wilmington has already seen another four days with more than an inch of rainfall. These alternating cycles of very wet and very dry are already happening, and expected to continue in a changing climate.”

The drought categories are determined on the historical frequency of occurrence. Davis said that abnormally dry conditions would be expected to occur about 30% of the time, moderate drought about 20% of the time. An exceptional drought should occur only about 2% of the time.

“So if we see a particular weather station is running a springtime precipitation deficit of 3 inches, we can compare that with historical observations and determine roughly how rare of an event that is, which can help identify the local drought category there,” Davis said. “Classifying drought requires more than just rainfall data, though. Impacts are equally, if not more, important, and for each drought category, there are associated impacts we look for. Entering Moderate Drought (D1), for instance, we expect to see some reports of crop damage and water restrictions. For Severe Drought (D2), those impacts become crop losses and water shortages.”

The U.S. Drought Monitor uses a “convergence of evidence” approach, which means multiple indicators and impacts are considered to set a particular drought category.

“As an example, it’s not unusual to have drier weather in the fall, and some farmers may delay harvesting until a bit of extra rain comes along to finish maturing crops for the growing season. But based on that sort of report alone, we wouldn’t call it Moderate Drought if other indicators, such as recent precipitation and streamflows, were all roughly in the normal range,” he said.

Often during a drought, Davis said they are asked when and how will the drought end.

“I usually answer that we don’t know when, but we probably know how, because it’s usually a tropical storm or hurricane. With Claudette moving through this past weekend, it seems like that will be the case for many areas this time as well,” he said. “But even still, we can’t rule out drought sticking around in some areas this summer. We’ve still got the hottest part of the year ahead of us, and it’s not uncommon for some parts of the state to miss out on rainfall this time of year, at least when we don’t have a tropical storm bearing down on us.”

He said that for the western part of the state, in both 2016 and 2019, the worst drought conditions didn’t emerge until September and October. Those events were also unique in that the coast had seen heavy rain and flooding from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and from Hurricane Dorian in 2019, while parts of the mountains were in extreme drought.

This is another way to think about the question, “how can we have flooding if we’re in a drought?” Davis said. “North Carolina is a big, diverse state both geographically and meteorologically, so it’s very possible to have both drought and flooding happening at the same time in different areas.”

Crews from the state Department of Transportation and a North Carolina contract company wrapped up a two-week cleanup of debris from a tornado that hit Brunswick County in mid-February.

The tornado damaged much of the Ocean Ridge Plantation neighborhood and surrounding area on Feb. 15. Crews spent 14 days, including one weekend, removing debris from the private neighborhood and state-maintained roads nearby, according to NCDOT.

Crews picked up vegetative debris, including trees and limbs. In all, about 4,945 tons, or 24,728 cubic yards, was collected. To put that in perspective, the debris would have covered a football field and would be about 14 feet tall. About 3,500 tons, or 17,300 cubic yards, came from the Ocean Ridge Plantation neighborhood alone.

The department was given authority to help the private community after Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order. NCDOT and Brunswick County officials worked together on this effort.

There will be a statewide tornado drill at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday as part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, which is Sunday to March 13.

In a release from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office declaring March 7-13 Severe Weather Preparedness Week, he urges residents to prepare and practice safety plans in case severe weather strikes.

Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are not unusual in the state, and while spring is the most active season for severe weather, the recent thunderstorms that resulted in a deadly tornado in southwestern Brunswick County prove they can happen anytime of the year, according to the governor’s office.

“All North Carolinians need to prepare for severe weather, especially severe thunderstorms and tornados,” Cooper said in a statement. “We have seen the devastation and deadly results these storms can bring. Having a preparedness plan, an emergency kit and a way to stay alert to weather reports will help protect you and your loved ones.”

Test messages for the tornado drill will be broadcast via the Emergency Alert System on radio, television and on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radios.

During the tornado drill, move to the lowest floor and the most interior room of the building, while wearing a mask and staying at least 6 feet away from people with whom you don’t live.

“We recognize the challenges of holding a tornado drill in the workplace during COVID. If possible, hold the drill in small groups at different times, where social distancing can be maintained but still allows everyone to have the experience. The drill is a great way to practice what to do when severe weather strikes,” said Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry.

In 2020, the state recorded 48 tornado touchdowns, including one that spun up as a result of Hurricane Isaias in Bertie County, leaving two people dead. There were also 247 flood or flash flood events across the state and 609 severe thunderstorms with damaging winds or hail of 1-inch or larger, according to the state.

Tornadoes form during severe thunderstorms when winds change direction and increase in speed. These storms can produce large hail and damaging winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. A tornado can develop rapidly with little warning, so having a plan in place will allow you to respond quickly.

Emergency Management officials recommend the following safety tips:

• Develop a family emergency plan so each member knows what to do, where to go and who to call during an emergency.
• If thunder roars, go indoors. Lightning is close enough to strike you.
• Know where the nearest safe room is, such as a basement or interior room away from windows.
• Know the terms: WATCH means severe weather is possible. WARNING means severe weather is occurring; take shelter immediately.
• Assemble an emergency supply kit for use at home or in your vehicle. Make sure to include a three-day supply of nonperishable food and bottled water.
• If driving, leave your vehicle immediately to seek shelter in a safe structure. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle and do not stop under an overpass or bridge.
• If there is no shelter available, take cover in a low-lying flat area.

Get more information on tornadoes and overall emergency preparedness online at www.ReadyNC.org.

Damage from the severe tornado that struck southwestern Brunswick County late Monday is consistent with wind speeds of up to 160 mph, according to a report from the National Weather Service‘s Wilmington office.

Brunswick County Emergency Management reported three fatalities and 10 injuries associated with the storm and at least 60 properties sustained various damage.

The National Weather Service storm survey that cataloged the damage consistent with wind speeds of up to 160 mph is ongoing and NWS will provide additional information as it becomes available.

State emergency management and the Highway Patrol have been on the scene since Monday night and continue to assess damage to determine what resources may be available to assist in recovery efforts, according to the county.

Brunswick County Chairman Randy Thompson declared a state of emergency effective noon Wednesday in response to the loss of life, injuries and properties damaged by the tornado that impacted the Ocean Isle Beach area early Tuesday morning.

Gov. Roy Cooper visited the county Wednesday to survey damage and speak with emergency management officials and homeowners beginning to recover from the tornado.

“People in Brunswick County were hit hard by this ferocious tornado and we want to make state resources available as much as possible,” said Cooper in a statement.

This is the deadliest tornado in southeastern North Carolina since the Riegelwood tornado in Columbus County in November 2006, the NWS said.

The NWS Wilmington office provided a detailed account of the tornado’s path from when the tornado touched down and damaged a number of trees near Kingsmill Court in the Sea Trail Golf Resort near Sunset Beach, with wind speeds estimated to have reached 80 mph. The tornado moved northwestward and crossed a swampy area north of N.C. 179, or Old Georgetown Road.

When the tornado reached N.C. 904, or Seaside Road, it destroyed a large metal building and overturned a number of RVs. The National Weather Service estimates that wind speeds were estimated to have reached 115 mph.

The tornado continued to track northeastward, crossed Saw Pit Swamp and entered the Ocean Ridge Plantation community, where the tornado became exceptionally powerful and damaged or destroyed a large number of well-built brick homes.

Wind speeds of at least 165 mph were thought to have happened because several homes suffered complete destruction of all walls. Debris from one home was swept completely clear of the foundation.

The tornado crossed U.S. 17 near the entrance to Ocean Ridge Plantation. A double-wide mobile home on the north side of U.S. 17 was rolled over and destroyed by wind speeds estimated near 110 mph. The tornado continued moving northeastward through the woods and approached Green Bay Road NW. Wind speeds of at least 115 mph were needed to create this degree of damage, the NWS said.

Brunswick County confirmed three fatalities and 10 injuries associated with a potential tornado Tuesday morning in the Ocean Isle Beach area.

Brunswick County Emergency Services responded to the emergency in the Ocean Ridge Plantation neighborhood in the unincorporated Grissettown community in the southeastern part of the county, where it is estimated that at least 50 homes were affected in the incident and several power lines were damaged, causing power outages, the county announced Tuesday.

The path of the tornado that affected parts of Brunswick County did not directly impact areas within the Ocean Isle Beach town limits, the town announced. The island temporarily lost power, but has since been restored.

Individuals are advised to avoid the area as crews work to mitigate potential risks due to debris and downed power lines.

Emergency crews from Brunswick County Emergency Services and the sheriff’s office were continuing Tuesday morning to assess the area for additional residents in need of assistance due to injury or damages to property, according to the county.

The county opened a temporary shelter for those who were displaced. For assistance and shelter contact emergency services at 910-253-5383.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington was working Tuesday to confirm tornado activity in the area.

The Great Gale of 1878 is a largely forgotten storm now, but as it tracked up the Eastern Seaboard in late October it left a path of destruction from North Carolina to New England.

The U.S. Army Signal Corps, with its series of telegraph stations lining the coast, was responsible for tracking tropical storms, and 1878 was a typical year for tropical systems. At the time, the Corps did not name the storms, they were simply assigned numbers.

There were 12 tropical storms for the year; 10 became hurricanes, but none was as destructive as the 11^th tropical system, the Great Gale of 1878.

Taking a path through North Carolina similar to those of hurricanes Hazel in 1954 and Floyd in 1999, the system passed through the state, crossing into Virginia somewhere around the Great Dismal Swamp.

As it roared northward, it created a night of terror for ships sailing North Carolina waters. Perhaps nothing was as grim as the evening of Oct. 22, 1878, and the sinking of the schooner Magnolia as recorded in the 1879 “Report of the Chief Signal Officer to the Secretary of War.”

Written by Army Signal Corps Sgt. W. Dixon, Kitty Hawk, the report offers no embellishments beyond the basic facts, but a tale of the night of terror emerges.

“October 22 to 24 — During the (hurricane warning) display a hurricane was experienced at this station. It began at 6:30 p.m. of the 22nd from the southeast. The wind and rain increased rapidly until 2 a.m. of the 23rd, and the barometer had reached its minimum at that time; actual barometer read 29.064 and the wind velocity reached 88 miles per hour. The wind shifted suddenly from the southeast to southwest, increasing in velocity and carrying away the anemometer. Damages during the storm can be given briefly as follows; Schooner Magnolia, Capt. George Wurtle, was wrecked in Albemarle Sound; vessel total loss; captain drowned. First Lieut. James A. Buchanan, acting signal-officer and inspector, was a passenger on board on his way south for the purpose of inspecting the signal stations along this coast and was saved by lashing himself to the gunwale, after the vessel had capsized and was grounded, and swimming ashore.”

The Great Gale was first recorded as a tropical system Oct. 18, 1878, in Jamaica, although a paper written in 2000 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center indicated the storm probably formed a few days earlier.

“It is hypothesized that a tropical disturbance was present around October 16 in the southwestern Caribbean,” according to the NOAA paper.

The storm moved north, stalling briefly over Cuba, then gathered speed as it passed through the Florida Straits Oct. 21, 1878, before making landfall around 11 p.m. the next day between Bald Head Island and Cape Lookout.

By 1878, the Signal Corps had telegraph lines from Key West to Maine. Its task was to hoist warning flags as storms approached, report the weather conditions and record whatever havoc a storm may create.

Pvt. H.J. Forman’s report from Cape Lookout gives one of the first witness accounts of the storm.

“October 21 to 24 — Heavy rain during storm signal of much benefit to vessels in the harbor and fishermen on the beach. On October 22 steam yacht Florence Witherbee anchored in harbor; on the night of the 23d she parted her chains and had to run ashore to save life; at this time the velocity of the wind was 100 miles per hour. The same night the schooner Wyoming was dismasted and driven ashore 25 miles north of this station; the captain and one consular passenger were washed overboard and lost.”

From the Cape Hatteras Signal Corps office at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse came the terse report: “Two-masted schooner Altoona, of Boston, cargo, logwood, ran ashore 11:45 p.m. of the 22nd; total loss.” The crew was saved, however.

‘Dangers of the Sea’

Some of the most chilling accounts of the storm came from newspapers, such as the Nov. 1, 1878, New York Times recounting of the rescue of the City of Houston, an iron-hulled steamship designed to haul freight and passengers between New York and Houston that sank near Frying Pan Shoals.

“Dangers of the Sea…An Abandoned Schooner Rescued” the headline reads.

The story begins Sunday, Oct. 20, 1878, when the ship left New York, “and had favorable weather until the following Tuesday, when a heavy gale set in … By 9 0’clock in the evening a leak, which soon became uncontrollable, was sprung and some of the machinery was dibbled.”

By 2 a.m. Oct. 23, the engines were flooded and the passengers told of the danger and at 4 a.m., orders were given for everyone to put on life preservers.

“Signals were burned from the pilot-house, but it was intensely dark and raining heavily, so that no vessel saw them.”

At daybreak “… the steamer was now beginning to sink, and the boats were about to be lowered when the (steamer) Margaret hove in sight.”

By 8 a.m., when the rescue operation began, there was “10 feet of water in the after part of the vessel.” An hour later, passengers and crew were safely aboard the Margaret.

The J.K. Barnes

There was a fourth ship that sank in North Carolina waters during the Great Gale. Launched in 1865, the steamship J.K. Barnes was one of the first purpose-built Army hospital ships in the U.S. fleet. Named after the Surgeon General Joseph K. Barnes, the ship was designed to handle up to 449 wounded soldiers and the medical personnel to care for them. In 1870, it was sold as surplus and renamed the General J.K. Barnes.

The ship foundered Oct. 23 off Cape Hatteras. The crew transferred to a schooner that took them to Charleston, South Carolina.

After North Carolina, Tropical Storm 11 quickly became extratropical but continued north as a powerful storm. According to The Hurricane of October 21-24, 1878, a Delaware Geological Society publication written by Kelvin Ramsey and Marijke J. Reilly in 2002, “Between Philadelphia and Dover on the Delaware River and Bay coast, the storm surge was in the form of a surge wave perhaps as high as 5 to 8 feet above high tide (12 ft above sea level).”

The path of the storm took it slightly west of Philadelphia. It finally curved out to sea near Portland, Maine, where 60 mph winds were reported.

Public pressure for funding

Notable by its absence are reports from the Lifesaving Service, the Coast Guard’s predecessor.

As the Great Gale ravaged the coast, the Lifesaving Service was spread thinly, with no stations south of Chicamacomico in what is now Rodanthe. And on the Outer Banks between False Cape on the north end and Chicamacomico, there were only seven stations.

Two horrific shipwrecks along the Outer Banks in the winter of 1877-78 highlighted the problems that years of inadequate funding for the Lifesaving Service had caused.

In November 1877, the USS Huron ran aground just 200 yards off the Nags Head beach. As waves pounded the ship, the crew waited in vain for the men of the Nags Head Lifesaving Station to rescue them, but the station was closed until December. Of the 132 men on board, only 34 survived.

Two months later, in January 1878, the Metropolis struck a shoal 100 yards from the beach. Jones Hill, now the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, was the nearest lifesaving station, 4 miles away.

Initially, the crew was not aware the Metropolis was in distress. When they finally did arrive, they brought inadequate supplies for the rescue and proved to be poorly trained.

Of the 245 men and women on the ship, 85 perished.

Bowing to public pressure, Congress acted, providing funds to keep lifesaving stations open year-round and adding new stations beyond the seven that existed on the Outer Banks. Beginning in July 1878, when the new fiscal year began, enough money was appropriated to create new stations, hire professional crews and keep stations staffed year-round. There were eventually 29 North Carolina Lifesaving Service Stations.

Update, Sept. 22:

At 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced that N.C. 12 will not reopen Tuesday. The high tide coming in Tuesday morning severely hampering efforts to reopen N.C. 12 on Hatteras and Ocracoke. Crews continue working to clear sand and water off the road. NCDOT expects to reopen N.C. 12 around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

11:30 a.m. update: Unfortunately, the high tide coming in now is severely hampering efforts to reopen Highway 12 on Hatteras and Ocracoke today. Crews continue working to clear sand and water off the road, but we have to push the reopening time back to 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/8amZ28rWsB

— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) September 22, 2020

Original post follows:

Hurricane Teddy swirling out in the Atlantic has already brought ocean overwash and left deep sand covering several sections of N.C. 12, interrupting travel between Ocracoke and Hatteras this past weekend, effects that continued Monday.

Strong, long-period swell from the distant hurricane arrived over the weekend and will continue along the North Carolina coast through midweek, with the potential for significant beach erosion and dune overwash, according to the Monday morning update from the National Weather Service’s Morehead City/Newport office.

N.C. 12, which was closed on and off to traffic over the weekend because of ocean overwash and deep sand, remains closed as of Monday morning between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe and on Ocracoke between the pony pens and the ferry terminal. The North Carolina Department of Transportation expects the sections to be closed until Tuesday.

“The combination of seasonal high tides, strong northeast winds, and long form waves created by Hurricane Teddy has caused ocean conditions that have broken through protective dunes and deposited large amounts of sand and salt water on the road. In some spots, the sand on the highway is 4-to-6 feet deep. However, no structural damage to the road has been observed,” according to NCDOT officials Monday afternoon.

NCDOT crews have been working since Saturday to clear the road while rebuilding dune lines when conditions permit. High tide cycles have slowed or even reversed. NCDOT has around two dozen people, along with a contingent of front-end loaders, excavators and graders working to reopen the road.

NC12 remains CLOSED between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe, as well as on Ocracoke between the pony pens and the ferry terminal. Water and deep sand cover several sections of roadway. At this point, we expect these portions of NC12 to remain closed through Tuesday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/Zt40fFba6C

— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) September 21, 2020

Sunday night’s high tide was the most severe of the event so far, according to NCDOT. Crews began operations to clear the highway at 8 a.m. Monday, but officials expect the next two high tides will produce similar results.

Additionally, NCDOT in a social media post explained that the strong northeast winds are keeping the Pamlico Sound routes from operating, while river levels are too high at Cherry Branch and Bayview and  the N.C. 12 closures have suspended service between Hatteras and Ocracoke.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore reports losing about 80 yards of dunes.

A coastal flood warning remains in effect for the Northern Outer Banks and Hatteras Island until Monday afternoon, but minor coastal flooding will continue for Tuesday’s high tides, according to the National Weather service. The coastal flood advisory has been extended for Pamlico, Southern Craven, Carteret and coastal Onslow counties as well as Ocracoke Island and Core Banks until Tuesday afternoon, with minor flooding forecast at high tide. The advisory for Beaufort and Tyrrell Counties expires Monday night.

A high surf advisory is extended for beaches north of Cape Lookout until Wednesday afternoon and evening. Water levels peak during the high tide cycle this morning and early afternoon.

This includes the Outer Banks north of Oregon Inlet, where impacts have been minimal so far, but the late morning high tide today will bring the greatest threat for ocean overwash and inundation of low lying roads, parking lots, and properties. https://t.co/SLch4TQMGB

— NWS Newport/Morehead (@NWSMoreheadCity) September 21, 2020

The Island Free Press reported that the following areas are especially prone to ocean overwash, and will likely be impacted over the next several high tide cycles:

• South of the Basnight Bridge to the Pea Island Visitor Center
• Mirlo Beach area, on the northern edge of the tri-villages
• South of the Avon Pier along Ocean View Drive
• At the north end of Buxton
• Between Frisco and Hatteras Village
• Along Pole Rd., south of Ramp 55 in Hatteras village
• Along the north end of Ocracoke island

The center of Teddy is forecast to move east of Bermuda Monday before transitioning to a powerful post-tropical cyclone as it moves near or over portions of Atlantic Canada late Tuesday through Thursday.

This story will be updated as needed.

NAGS HEAD — Unimaginative meteorologists called it “The Great Atlantic Coast Storm of 1962.” The late Aycock Brown, though, was a more lyrical sort. As the longtime publicist for Dare County, Brown had a flair for turning a phrase. He was also a religious man. Brown looked at the calendar and noted that the great storm had hit on the first Wednesday of Lent.  Thus, he christened it with the name that has come down through history, The Ash Wednesday Storm.

It arrived 50 years ago this week. For three days, it lashed almost 500 miles of the Eastern Seaboard, from the Outer Banks to Cape Cod, with unremitting winds that topped 70 miles an hour. It hurled 30-foot waves against sand dunes and beach towns, cutting new inlets, flooding roads and collapsing buildings. Atlantic City’s famous steel pier crumpled under the onslaught; Ocean City’s boardwalk splintered. Assateague Island in Maryland was so inundated that plans to develop the island were scrapped and it later became a national park.

Aycock Brown, left, and David Stick. Photo: Outer Banks History Center

Nor’easters don’t generally kill, but when this one was done, 40 people were dead. The price tag for the damage was later estimated at $500 million in current dollars. The U.S. Geological Survey considers it to be one of the 10 worst storms in the United States in the 20th century.

Though no one died in North Carolina, the northern Outer Banks were staggered by the blow. Sixty buildings were destroyed outright. More than 1,300 others were heavily damaged. A new inlet flowed near Buxton, cutting off southern Hatteras Island.

“It was total devastation,” remembers Wayne Gray, a freshman at N.C. State University at the time who went to Nags Heads the weekend after the storm to help his uncle with the clean-up. “It looked like a tidal wave had hit.”

The Ash Wednesday Storm and Hurricane Hazel in 1954 remain the yardsticks against which other coastal storms in the state are measured.

No Warning

It came with no warning on the moonless night of March 7. This was before the days of all-seeing satellites and clever computer models. “We didn’t have the modern technologies we have today,” noted Stockton “Stocky” Midgett, 84. “The weather on the radio was all local.”

But there were signs of trouble. A brisk northeast wind had been blowing for a couple of days.  Small craft warnings were up north of Hatteras. The Weather Bureau issued a gale warning for Tuesday night.

Inland, a blizzard had blanketed much of North Carolina with snow. North, in the Shenandoah Valley, as much as 23 inches covered the ground.

Yet, there was no hint of what was to come in the Wednesday morning newspapers. Gary Powers dominated the front pages. The U2 spy pilot who had been captured and later released by the Russians had testified Tuesday before a Senate committee. The morning newspaper in Norfolk offered encouraging news that no significant snow was expected in the Tidewater. By the time its carriers tried to deliver the paper to the Outer Banks, though, the flooding was so severe that they couldn’t get through.

The Croatan Hotel area, Kill Devil Hills. Photo: The Ash Wednesday Storm by David Stick

The remains of Oregon Inlet Marina. Photo: The Ash Wednesday Storm by David Stick

The storm struck at the worst possible time. The moon was closest to the Earth, and the sun and the moon were aligned. These astronomical conditions produced the feared perigean spring tides that only occur every two years. The storm would continue through five cycles of maximum high tides.

David Stick, then the chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, quickly found out what that meant. The late historian and author, who would write the definitive book on the storm, left his home on Colington Island before noon Wednesday with his three sons, heading to Kitty Hawk School, the county’s disaster control center. No stranger to driving on sand or through low water, Stick pressed forward in his Jeep station wagon. In Kill Devil Hills, near the Avalon Beach bypass, his car drowned out.

“The stupidest thing I ever did,” Stick told an interviewer in 2008. “It (the Jeep) was a box, and it was rocking back and forth. The water came up in the car and we watched a cottage over by the ocean disintegrate and then the various parts came by us on both sides, though fortunately none hit us.”

After an hour of terror, a friend pulled Stick’s vehicle to safety and he continued on to the school, and “from then on I didn’t leave that school for about two or three days,” he said.

Cut Off in Buxton

Carol Dillon remembers how hard the wind was blowing and how loud the ocean roared that Wednesday morning. She and her family lived in their motel in Buxton. She took comfort in the wide beach that fronted the village.

“I remember looking out the window and seeing this wave come down the road and into the parking lot,” she said. “It was the first time we ever had water in the parking lot.”

Dillon would find out later about the “Gem.” The 501-foot Liberian tanker was taking on water as she struggled through heavy seas near Ocracoke. She would break in half that night, killing one aboard.

Neither did Dillon know that morning that she and her neighbors were cut off from the rest of the world. Storm waves had pushed through Hatteras Island, creating a new inlet between Buxton and Avon.

“We were isolated for days,” Dillon said. “They had to bring in food by ferry.”

Midgett nearly became the storm’s only casualty in North Carolina when he and others tried to cross the new inlet in a friend’s small dory.” I like to got drowned in the new inlet that was cut,” he said. “The current was running through so strong that it nearly threw me overboard. They had to grab me by my legs to save me.”

Midgett and his late brothers ran a bus line from Hatteras to Manteo. “I was driving that bus when I was 10 years old,” he said. “I had to sit on a pillow and look through the driving wheel.”

The storm cut a new inlet between Buxton and Avon. Photo: Program for the Studies of Developed Shorelines, Western Carolina University

Having a bus also meant having a garage to store and work on the buses. Garages naturally become the final resting places for old cars, many of which found another life as inlet fill. “We put a bunch of old cars in that inlet to try and fill her up,” Midgett said. “Everybody who had old cars dumped them in the inlet.”

They didn’t work, Dillon said. Neither did the old drums dumped into the break. The inlet was briefly bridged and finally filled by two dredges.

Heroes Aplenty

No one died on the Banks that day because of the heroism of many. Stick’s book The Ash Wednesday Storm recounts many acts of valor that undoubtedly saved many lives. In Nags Head, Ephey Priest rescued so many people from flooded houses with his road grader that no one ever knew the exact number. Men in Kill Devil Hills repeatedly launched little skiffs into the tempest, checking house after house and rescuing all they found. They would return home, change into dry clothes and go out again.

In Kitty Hawk, Sam Beacham and Bill Quidley attached a small outboard motor to a skiff that had washed up on the U.S. 158 Bypass. They plucked people waving from the rooftops of houses or stranded in flooded cars. Quidley, a Specialist 5 in the Army, was later awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his heroism.

Far from his home in Kitty Hawk that day, Coast Guardsman Gary Perry was on the deck of his ship in Guantanamo Bay. A radioman came topside.

“You Perry?” he asked.

Perry confirmed that he was.

“You’re from the Outer Banks?” the radioman inquired.

Yes, again, said Perry,

“They ain’t there no more,” the man said.

It would be three weeks before Perry, now the mayor pro tem of Kitty Hawk, returned to Norfolk to learn that the Banks had survived. But it was a near thing.