Old Timers Stories

Now that the immediate threat of storms has died away, I wanted to share an experience with you. Last week, while we were under hurricane warning from Ophelia, we went to my in-laws to check on them in Kitty Hawk village. We spent the morning sitting around the kitchen table listening to the old folks tell stories of hurricanes past. I love hearing all these old stories, and wish I could record them all before they pass on. Their memories are valuable.

My mom in law related her memories of one of the hurricanes of 1933. She was ten years old at the time and the family was living in the residence located at the Kitty Hawk Coast Guard Station. Her father was a chief boatswain mate at the time in the Coast Guard. Being so isolated from the rest of the world out here on the Outer Banks at the time, they had no knowledge that a hurricane was even brewing, much less aimed directly at them. Usually the older members of the family "read" the sky, the water, and relied on the "glass" to tell them when the weather was declining. The "glass" was a barometer. On this day in the fall of 1933, the glass was dropping rapidly and the father began to prepare his family for storm conditions. It seemed to be a particularly bad storm headed toward them.

In reviewing the historical data available on the internet today, I see that two hurricanes made direct hits on the Outer Banks, both with 105-110 mph winds. My mom in law couldn't remember exactly if this was the August storm or the September storm, but it makes little difference. She said when the waves began to break on top of the dunes, then they departed for a safer location further west in Kitty Hawk Village. At the time this residence and station were quite a good ways back from the ocean, so the waves must have been very big. The workshop of this residence still stands today in its original location near the Kitty Hawk intersection. The year of 1933 was a very bad year for hurricane prone areas. I believe to date it is the only year which comes close in numbers of storms to the one we are currently experiencing.

By the year of 1936, the family had saved up their pennies and had invested in a new fangled RCA radio. They could receive a few AM stations. Everyday at noon, they gathered around the dinner table to listen to the weather broadcast. On this summer day in 1936, they learned that a hurricane of great proportions was headed toward them as reported by ships at sea. This time they had time to prepare and leave well before the storm.

My father in law asked me if we were on information overload. I thought about this a minute and agreed that yes, we sure do have the best and finest resources at our disposal today in this age of instant information. And maybe, sometimes we do receive TOO much information, but I believe everyone agreed their lives are much improved with advanced warnings. After all, they now call me to find out "What does the internet say about the storm now?"

Beautiful sunset

It was one of those really colorful hurricane skies tonight near sunset. I've always remarked about the sky turning yellow in a hurricane, and tonight it was spectacular. There has been no tide water in Manteo, thank goodness. The wind has died down so hopefully the water will just trickle back instead of rush back. It seems for the most part the Outer Banks dodged this one.

5pm Thursday update

So far this one has not been too bad at all. We have had Nor'easter's worse than this many, many times. I did find a few scenes out and about today.


The angry ocean at Jeanette's Pier in Nags Head, NC.


The sound is very dry as the east winds have pushed all the water onto the west shores away from the Outer Banks. These geese were standing in the mud of Sugar Creek at RV's in Nags Head, where they usually swim.


The HurricaneTrack.com hurricane intercept team was stationed in Kill Devil Hills, as were many news crews.


The Dominion Power company crew trucks were lined up at the Clarion hotel in Kill Devil Hills, NC.


The Avalon Pier in the angry ocean.


Darrell's Rest. in Manteo closed to patrons and sandbagged their parking lot to keep out the tide water.

Thursday morn update

While I can't say that it's beautiful day in the neighbor this morning, it really is not too bad. Some rain, but really not too heavy. Some wind, but the highest gust recorded at the Manteo airport overnight was about 33 knots. Power is still up, thank goodness. The brunt of the storm stayed offshore and south of us. The heaviest rain shield is still offshore and looks like it will remain there. Headed over to the beach in a little bit on errands, so I'll take a look around with my camera. More later.

A few more signs of preparation

Went on a quick reconnaisance run about 2pm today. Found a few signs of those who would rather be safe than scramble. The Manteo Furniture store was emptying its lower level of furniture and appliances and hauling it to higher safety. The Elizabeth Two ship had a few more storm lines attached.



And what do you do with your bulldozers that are clearing your new soundside site for new condos when a tide water storm is approaching? Well, you drive them on higher ground!



And we hope this is not too prophetic.....



All of the auto dealers in Manteo have moved their cars to higher locations. The Manteo Marine store has drug a Carolina skiff inside and is loading it with all the items normally stocked on its low lying shelves.

But other places it seemed very much business as usual. The Pirates Cove Marina was normal- it seems not many boats have vacated. Darrells Restaurant in Manteo was still open and serving and not out sandbagging their doors and parking lot yet. And of course the grocery stores and especially the liquor store were very busy.

Over on the beach, a couple of highway patrol cars are stationed at Whalebone junction presumably to stop anyone without credentials from heading down to Hatteras. The ocean is a bit more choppy today but not too churned up. The wind is persistant southeast.

This is just south of Whalebone junction in Nags Head.



And what flies as well as the red "no swimming" flags? An orange OBX flag!



A bit tattered, but fly on, baby!

Just beginning to cloud up

It is just beginning to cloud up and getting just a little breezy here on Roanoke Island. Still no rain here (well, except for maybe literally three drops). It seems to be pretty much business as usual here on the Island. I did see a couple more businesses boarding up. The hurricane warning has now been extended up to the Virginia line. Just still more wait and see. Like watching paint dry.

It's gonna fish!

It is still calm and dry here in Manteo and on the northern Outer Banks this evening. There is just a thin layer of high clouds moving in at present. The 5 pm track takes the storm still further to the right and curves it sooner than before. So it is my prediction that this one will fish-- go out to sea without touching land. That's a big ya-hoo from me!
The potential for sound side flooding could have been very great had the storm stayed on that track taking it slowly up the Pamlico sound. In history books, I had read about storms of the olden days which produced storm surges from the INSIDE of the banks, pushing water over the banks into the ocean as the eye passed.
I personally have survived one particular "storm surge" hurricane which put quite a few feet of water into the town of Manteo in a big hurry, actually washing cars off the highways!!!! I was not anxious to see that again.
But today, I saw only one store on the entire length of the beach boarded up. The locals, in my opinion, are not taking this one seriously at all, and by that I mean, most of us believe that we have seen far worse many times and this one is a wimp! I personally did a little prep but not much. Mainly just stuff I needed to do anyway before winter.
I like the excitement of storms. I have always been fascinated by the weather, and its power. But this one just didn't do it for me. I'm glad it is fishing!

11 am track looks better

The 11 am track now takes the storm a little more east and south, and FASTER! That's looking better and better for less flooding rains and winds for less time.

Super quiet over here in Manteo this morn

Hardly a breath of wind this morning here in Manteo, but from all indications that will begin to change today. This looks to be a very slow moving event and WHEN it finally gets here, there will be rain and wind for two days. Right now the NHC is projecting the path to be right over the Outer Banks most of the Thursday so we will see some flooding from the rainfall. More later as conditions develop.

Weather Channel in town

I did a little photogging along the upper Nags Head beaches today to see what was happening. Of course the biggest news is not really the hurricane; it's the fact that the Weather Channel is in town. Jim Cantore is set up already on the Nags Head Pier doing broadcasts every half hour. It seems kinda ironic since today is such a beautiful beach day, just a bit windy. The surf is not even that bad today compared to the weekend.



The broad cast always brings out its share of people seeking to be on TV. It was interesting just standing back in the dunes watching those parading out onto the beach to wave at the camera hoping for a chance to be seen.





And down the beach a few miles further south at the Jeannette's Pier the surf was just a little churny. High tide was just past about 2 hours at the time this pic was taken.







And of course THIS is what most should be paying attention to:

Headed over to the pier in a little bit

I am headed over to the beach area and the Nags Head Pier in a little while to get a few pix and do an update on the surf conditions. Check back with me this evening.

Opehlia being felt

Already the outer bands of Opehlia's energy and clouds are being felt along the Outer Banks. The ocean was a rolling, churning mass today. The sea birds were stocking up on food at the water's edge. Only a few tourists braved the blasting sand on the beaches. No rain yet, but it's on the way, so they say. Already the beach erosion is an issue. The winds were due mostly to the strong pressure gradient between the hurricane and the high building to the north. Supposedly that high is what will drive the system into South Carolina and not up on the Outer Banks. But who's to say... tomorrow it will be different!

$3.27-3.45 at least right now

There are a couple of cars in line at each pump here in Manteo at every gas station. I've seen one station with "out" signs on the regular so far. Prices at 2:30 pm today were $3.27 regular up to $3.45 premium. Also saw a couple of people filling up gas cans too. I think everyone is just a little scared right now with the unknown. I have heard one station manager say they would not receive any more gas until Monday. That could be significant for visitors coming to the OBX for Labor Day weekend vacations.
Update from tonite: The "high priced leader", Nags Head Jockey's Ridge Shell was at $3.39 for regular and $3.62!!!! for premium. Yikes! Texaco Red Apple in Manteo is OUT OF GAS!