2/9/2012 New Pea Island Inlet Migrating South:
The new Pea Island inlet created by Hurricane Irene is migrating south as evident by aerial photos taken repeatedly over a period of time since the inlet was cut about 6 months ago. Photographer Dan Bowers is documenting the southward progression of the new Pea Island inlet in pictures. The sand appears to be building up on the north side and the water is migrating toward the south side getting dangerously close to the CHEC power poles. Electrical power to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands is dependent on the power poles at the new inlet site. Work to the power poles near the inlet had to be carried out to insure that loss of power not be a possibility to the islands. DOT crews have been reinforcing the southern shore of the inlet to slow erosion to the base structure of the temporary bridge.
2/3/2012 Cost of Permits Announced:
Permits for driving on the beach for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore will cost $120 a year or $50 dollars a week. They go on sale Feb. 15, 2012. A transition period from Feb. 15 until March 15 will give everyone time to become familiar with permit requirements and give the park service time to prepare. Permits will be sold at 3 park service locations:Coquina Beach, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Ocracoke Visitors Center.
The offices will be open daily (except Christmas Day) from 8 AM to 4:30 PM year round.
Applying for a permits means watching a 7 minute video on how to drive for off-
1/21/2012 Large Turnout on Ocracoke to Oppose Ferry Tolls Increase:
There is a plan by the NCDOT to increase the sound-
1/18/12 Lane Closures for Bridge at Pea Island Inlet Bridge:
Starting on Jan. 18th the NCDOT will have to limit traffic to one lane over the bridge at Pea Island on Highway 12 due to the need for work around the bridge to prevent erosion. The one lane traffic restrictions will be from 7 AM till 6 PM daily for approximately 5 weeks. For more info.
Go to www.ncdot/travel/nc12recovery.
1/19/2012 NC Ferry System Fees
There will be a series of public meeting by the NC Ferry Service to hear your opinions on the new proposal to increase the fees to ride on one of the state ferries. The state is considering increasing the fees to try and bring in an additional $5,000,000. All changes are to take effect on April 1, 2012.
1/13/2012 Coming Spring of 2013:
The Bodie Island Lighthouse with its horizontal black and white stripes will soon
be open for climbing for the first time ever. The brick lighthouse was built in 1872
and is one of only a few in the nation that has its original Fresnel lens. The view
from the 156-
1/2/2012 Permits for beach driving:
Permits for driving on the beach go on sale soon. The new rule becomes effective
in February. Trailers are already in place at which the permits will be sold and
where the video will be shown. Watching a seven minute video is required prior to
purchasing the permit and then signing an agreement. Afterwards you will receive
a sticker for your vehicle. One sticker per vehicle. There are two permits available-
12/12/2011 Options to Permanently Fix Highway 12 Damaged by Hurricane:
Build a bridge within the easement and nourish the beach.
Build the bridge within the easement but don’t nourish.
Build a 2.5-
Construct and maintain high dunes north of Mirlo and use beach nourishment, without building a bridge.
Cost range -
11/23/2011 Climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse for the Holiday!
On Saturday December 10 from 10:00 AM -
11/13/2011 New Sound-
A new sound-
11/4/2011 Ferry Routes to Ocracoke Suspended for Coastal Storm:
Due to the coastal storm this weekend the NCDOT Ferry Division announced Friday that
it has suspended the Swan Quarter-
Heavy rain and wind will result from a low pressure system moving off the North Carolina coast today. The low will move off the coast late Friday and into Saturday bringing high winds and the possibility of coastal flooding.
A wind advisory is in effect for the Outer Banks making ferry travel potentially unsafe. The suspended ferry routes will reopen once it is deemed safe to do so.
10/31/2011 61st Annual Nags Head Surf Fishing Club Invitational Tournament
Here are the result for the men:1st place: Slammin' Sammy's Hurricanes (Nags Head), 170 fish, 337 points. Team members are: Sam Stokes, Charlie Griffin, Zack Garcia, Wade Davis, John Smith and Wert Wright.
Women’s 1st place team was Showstoppers (Nags Head), 41 fish, 128 points. Team members were: Judy Mullen, Hazel Basnight, Virginia Perlot, Karen Graf, Annah Petty and Yvette Everette.
10/26/2011 Debris a big problem on Hatteras Island:
The remnants from all the destruction of homes, trailers, decks and everything else
as a result of Hurricane Irene is a big problem to the officials, owners and residents
of Hatteras Island. The large number of damaged trailers and campers sitting along
the roads are causing a dilemma-
10/20/2011 Meetings held for Highway 12 solutions:
Meetings are taking place between state and federal agencies and NCDOT staff regarding
a long-
10/17/2011 Amy Pieno dies in diving accident off NC coast:
A Hatteras village resident well known in the diving community died Sunday October
16 near Wrightsville Beach, N.C. while diving. The diving trip was 30 miles off
the coast off Wrightsville Beach, the group was diving for shark tooth fossils usually
found at depths of 100 feet or more. She and her husband own Outer Banks Diving located
in Hatteras village. There will be two memorial services for her-
10/14/2011 Strange glowing orange lights off coast of Avon:
Mysterious glowing orange lights spotted off coast at Avon. Several Avon residents report seeing multiple orange floating lights out over the ocean moving from south to northeast. Dare County Sheriff’s Office received 911 calls concerning the mystery lights. Apparently the Navy was conducting an exercise using flares dropped from aircraft. This time they were just more visible than normal. Nice to know because it was a little too spooky this close to Halloween!
10/13/2011 Pea Island National Refuge Open:
The Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island has reopened now that
Highway 12 has reopened. Thousands of birds stop over in the fall and winter during
migration season. Some damage occurred to the dike around the North Pond but the
east/west dike is open to the public. Repair on the breached dike is under way. Wings
of Water is scheduled for November 8-
10/12/2011 Ocracoke Ferry Service Returns to Normal:
The Ocracoke to Cedar Island and the Ocracoke to Swan Quarter ferry routes will resume there normal schedules now that Highway 12 is open again. The emergency ferry run from Stumpy Point to Rodanthe has been shut down. Check the website at www.ncferry.org for more detailed information.
10/10/2011 Highway 12 Opens:
Late Monday afternoon Highway 12 reopened in the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge south of Oregon Inlet. Eager people who had heard the highway would reopen waited in their vehicles at Oregon Inlet. They wanted to be the first to use the new but temporary bridge to regain access to Hatteras Island by road again. There is still some work to be completed and some delays may still occur. The speed limit on the 2 lane bridge is 25 mph. Hatteras Island businesses look forward to the return of visitors. Access to the island had been limited to just ferry access since late August when Hurricane Irene caused so much damage to Highway 12 in multiple locations.
10/8/2011 Expect delays when Highway 12 reopens:
Expect delays on Highway 12 when the road reopens this week. Lane closures and delays are needed to complete the work even though the road will be open. The speed limit on the bridge is 25 mph. The bridge is 2 lanes, 660 feet long and 24 inches wide. Visitors are anxious to return via by highway, and Hatteras Island residents need to leave to stock up on supplies and go to missed appointments off the island.The temporary bridge may be in use up to 5 years until a permanent bridge is planned, built and opened. The temporary bridge has a 10 year life span.
10/5/2011 Highway 12 to reopen:
The NCDOT plans to reopen Highway 12 no later than Tuesday October 11 and it may reopen even before that date. The road was damaged and even destroyed in several places by Hurricane Irene. The temporary bridge that is being placed at the worst of the highway’s breach will stay in use until a more permanent repair to the highway can be constructed.
Gary Wade Midgett, age 44, of Rodanthe died after the pickup truck he was riding
in was involved in an accident. The driver of the pickup truck Willard Blevins Smith
was charged with driving while intoxicated and his driver’s license had been revoked.
Smith hit a parked semi-
9/27/11 News from the Outer Banks:
The NCDOT hopes the repairs to Highway 12 will be complete by October 15 and traffic can start accessing Hatteras Island by land using the new temporary bridge on October 15th.
Due to all the standing water still present from Hurricane Irene there is a huge problem with mosquitoes in Nags Head. Mosquito spray is a very popular products on the island now.
There was a report of a woman being sexually assaulted while walking on a beach path near the Currituck Lighthouse area in Corolla. After running to a neighboring home 911 was called. She was taken to the hospital and released. The suspect is described as a black male weighing about 275 pounds and being about 5’11” in height. It happened in the late afternoon.
Construction engineer for the NCDOT states the Bonner Bridge is safe and no damage occurred from Hurricane Irene. Some rumors persist concerning the safety of the bridge but the bridge is still closed to the public due only to the work on Highway 12 south of the Bonner Bridge in the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.
9/26/2011 Progress being made:
The DOT is making progress on the repairs to Highway 12 on Hatteras Island. Bad weather is still a problem slowing down the work. Hopefully the work will be done the first of October and visitors can access the island.
9/23/2011 Federal Money to Replace Appliances:
A federal program with $1.4 million available has already been reserved by families
and businesses needing to replace almost 3,000 damaged energy-
9/22/2011 Body of Kiteboarder Found:
The body of a kiteboarder missing since Sunday evening was recovered on Wednesday 9/21 by Cape Lookout National Seashore staff. The body was recovered on Portsmouth Island some 35 miles away. The kiteboarder was identified as Charles Jackson, 44, of Rodanthe. He went missing while kiteboarding earlier on Sunday off Cape Point on Hatteras Island. He was last seen standing on a shoal calling out for help. Portsmouth Island is south of Ocracoke Island which is south of Hatteras Island. Jackson was the assistant manager of the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Rodanthe. He was an experienced kiteboarder.
9/22/11 Updates for Highway 12 Repairs in Dare County:
Highway 12 was damaged or destroyed in multiple locations along the Outer Banks. Work is progressing daily but there is alot of repairs needed. The highway is the main link to Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. It is a much traveled link and connection to the area bringing residents to and from their homes, jobs,family and friends, plus needed supplies for the businesses. Not to mention the power poles, electricity and cable and phone lines. For update information the NC Department of Transportation as set up a special site to keep everyone informed. Click here for link: http://www.ncdot.org/projects/NC12/
9/21/11 Visitors Returning a Problem:
The large number of visitors returning to south Hatteras Island via Ocracoke is a
problem. With limited space on the ferry the residents of Ocracoke are having a hard
time themselves coming and going from the island. The ferries from Cedar Island
and Swan Quarter have routes to Ocracoke Island. The delivery of essentials items
and mail takes priority. The Stumpy Point-
There are only four sound-
Go to http://www.ncdot.org/ferry/ for the latest information or to make reservations.
9/20/11 Tri-
While visitors are coming back to south Hatteras Island the residents and business
owners in the tri-
There are several groups helping the residents, Operation Blessing has opened a feeding
station at the Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo Community Center for those who that need meals.
The North Carolina Baptist Men's Disaster Relief organization has been assisting
with repairs and providing other needed help Volunteers wishing to help, both local
and from out of town, are needed Mondays through Saturdays to remove debris, repair
roofs, remove sheet rock, and other such jobs.Non-
More information is available at www.ob.org.
9/20/11 Hatteras Island Damage:
There was an estimated 520 buildings damaged on the island. Sixteen were listed as destroyed and 51 listed as being uninhabitable. The estimated property loss as of that date was $17.4 million.
The Colington community in Kill Devil Hills was reported as the next heaviest damaged
with 784 homes impacted for an estimated loss of $11.2 million. County-
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