November 7, 2012

The Outer Banks of NC  is still working to clean up the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

In Corolla, the bulk of the damage was to the dunes and therefore to the beach walkways. Everyone is working hard to get these walkways ready and the beach cleaned up in time for Thanksgiving check-ins.

Duck is doing the same thing only they did see several oceanfront homes damaged.

Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills are both working hard to repair the damage to Highway 12, or what we call The Beach Road. There was a lot of damage and lost dunes but they are working hard to get things back to normal. As of today, parts of the road are still closed. The Avalon Pier, pictures to the right, suffered damage but is already open for fishermen to use the undamaged parts.

Highway 12 south of Oregon Inlet and into Hatteras is still closed. NCDOT is working really hard to get the road open in time for Thanksgiving. The people of Hatteras Island are suffering. Especially after lasts years devastation during Hurricane Irene.

We are all thankful that we didn’t have a direct hit and our thoughts are with those in areas that were hit the hardest. If you care to make a donation, you can do so here.

October 31, 2012

I’m sorry I didn’t post an update yesterday. I hope you were able to see the video I shot from Ocean Hill. If not, you can watch it here.

Corolla made it out pretty well, all things considered. We have significant damage to our dunes and a lot of stairs and walkways. We are still in the process of assessing our  homes. Owners should be hearing from us in the next couple of days for a report on damage (if there is any to report).  Ocean Hill and Whalehead had water in the roadways but it’s passable. Highway 12 was clear from Southern Shores north through Corolla.

Kitty Hawk is another story. There was ocean side flooding as far back as Highway 158 with water still standing today. The dunes are completely washed away with sand covering the streets. Parts of the “Beach Road” or hwy 12 are broken apart. Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head are also in pretty good shape.

Much of Hwy 12 is closed south of Nags Head. From Oregon Inlet south to Hatteras is closed but projected to open by Thanksgiving. The roads between the villages are open and passable.

From the Currituck County Website-

October 29 3:00pm: 

Currituck Will Open Storm Shelter Today
Currituck County will open a temporary storm shelter today at the Department of
Social Services (DSS). The shelter will begin accepting residents at 7:00 pm.
Any county resident wishing to stay overnight in the shelter due to flooding at their
property, or other storm-related conditions, may report to the DSS office, which is
located at 2793 Caratoke Highway. Shelter officials may be reached at (252) 619-
4429.
Residents needing transportation to the shelter should call 9-1-1. Law enforcement
personnel will help provide transport to the shelter.
Anyone coming to the shelter must bring all necessary personal items with them.
This includes bedding, food, medicines, etc. Alcohol and pets are not allowed in the
shelter. The DSS shelter is a temporary operation meant to provide a dry, safe
accommodation for residents in need of relief from the storm.

October 29 7:30am:

Overall, Currituck County fared very well overnight as Hurricane Sandy moved up
the East Coast.
Deputies of the Currituck Sheriff’s Office provided continuous reports from all
sections of the county overnight. No major incidents of damage or storm-related
medical emergencies have been reported at this time.
Damage assessment teams will begin a complete reporting of conditions this
morning at first light.
Deputies report sporadic localized flooding, but main roadways remain passable. In
Corolla, NC12 is clear but the 4-wheel drive beach road is not passable at this time.
Standing water is reportedly up to the dune line.
Citizens should not attempt to drive through standing water in any part of the county.
Sandy is expected to bring more wind and rain today, and localized flooding is
possible throughout the county.

October 28 6:30pm:

“Currituck County Government offices will open at 10:00 am on Monday, October 29,
2012. From 10 am – 5 pm, employees will follow the adverse weather policy.
As a reminder, Currituck County Schools are closed on Monday. The county’s
Recycling Centers and Transfer Station will also be closed on Monday.
Currituck Emergency Management advises residents to remain indoors as the
strongest winds from Hurricane Sandy will be in the area tonight into Monday
morning.
The National Weather Service predicts an additional 2-4” of rain in the area over the
next 24 hours, with potential gusts of up to 60 mph in coastal areas. Gusts of 40
mph are expected further inland.
Residents should not attempt to drive during periods of high wind and heavy rain. All
citizens should have emergency supplies ready in case of power outages. Residents
can report power outages to Dominion Power at 1-866-DOM-HELP.”

October 27 8:00 pm:

“Flooding on NC12 May Affect Currituck Outer Banks
Currituck Emergency Management advises citizens that flooding from Hurricane
Sandy may make NC12 impassable at times during the next few days. Residents in
Currituck County should remain aware of this possibility and avoid traveling along
NC12 during the storm unless absolutely necessary.
Along with high surf and water levels from the ocean, forecasts call for soundside
flooding as the storm moves north and the winds shift out of the northwest. This
would be similar to flooding instances on NC12 during Hurricane Irene in 2011,
when sections of the road were impassable.
Currituck County has pre-staged emergency personnel in Corolla, through the FireEMS Department and Sheriff’s Office. Citizens should be aware that response and
medical transport could be affected by flooding and storm conditions.
Citizens are asked to only travel during the storm if necessary and to take all
precautions for personal safety.”

October 26, 2012 10:30am:

“Citizens Advised to Monitor, Prepare for Sandy
Currituck County Government urges all residents and visitors to stay alert to the
possible impacts of Hurricane Sandy and make safety preparations prior to Sunday,
October 28, 2012.
Currituck Emergency Management is monitoring Hurricane Sandy as it moves
towards the East Coast. At this time there are no evacuation plans for Currituck
County.
Currituck County is establishing a partial activation of the Emergency Operations
Center. Fire & EMS and the Currituck Sheriff’s Office are prepositioning assets on
the Currituck Outer Banks.
Sandy is expected to bring sustained winds of 30-40 mph on Sunday and 50-60 mph
on Monday into Tuesday, before diminishing by Tuesday evening. A total rainfall of
6-8” is predicted. These factors could result in downed trees and localized flooding.
On the Outer Banks, rough surf and storm surge is expected. The beach road in
Corolla may be impassable during the Sunday – Tuesday timeframe. Residents in
the 4-wheel drive area should be prepared to remain in place during this time.
All residents are encouraged to stay indoors during periods of high winds and should
not attempt to drive through flooded roadways.
Residents should secure outdoor items, such as trash cans, have an adequate food
and water supply for a minimum of three days, and anticipate potential power
outages. Residents in low-lying areas should anticipate localized flooding and move
vehicles to higher ground, if possible. All residents should make certain their
emergency safety kits are ready ahead of the storm.
Residents should also listen for any announcements from Currituck Public Schools
regarding any possible school closings or delays.
Visitors expecting to come into Currituck County this weekend should monitor the
storm’s progress and plan accordingly. Visitors should contact their rental company
for updates on local conditions and possibly delay their arrival into Currituck until
after the storm passes. “