Hurricane Erin’s road rage

In the third week of August, Ocracoke had a scare when Hurricane Erin swept past.

Though the storm stayed well out to sea, its immense energy was forecasted to unleash several days of heavy surf battering the Outer Banks and causing overwash in several spots along NC Highway 12.

Had this large, powerful cyclone wobbled slightly more to the west, it could have been devastating.

Thanks to the National Weather Service for their accurate forecasts. Government officials, residents and visitors were forewarned and had time to prepare for what was to come.

The dire predictions prompted Dare and Hyde County officials to issue mandatory evacuation orders for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands on Aug. 17. These declarations are crucial for several reasons. They allow residents and visitors to leave the islands in an orderly manner before roads become impassable, sometimes for several days. During the event, emergency services may not be available.

Visitors who have trip insurance might even recoup some of their expenses.

As the storm approached, Tideland Electric Membership Cooperative took proactive steps by deploying personnel and resources to the island. Fortunately, the power remained uninterrupted, as Erin delivered only minimal wind and rain. However, predictions proved accurate in terms of overwash, with areas on Pea Island, Buxton, Sandy Bay and the north end of Ocracoke inundated and sand piled onto NC12.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) worked diligently between high tides to clear sand from the roads, only to have it washed back with each new tide. A significant stretch of land south of the sandbag area on Ocracoke was notably flattened by waves. We commend NCDOT for bringing in heavy equipment and additional staff to bolster the efforts of Shanon Eiben, their steadfast worker on Ocracoke. Their efforts allowed NC12 on Hatteras to reopen in short order though it took an extra day or so of lower tides during to clear Ocracoke’s road.

This storm hit during the peak visitor season for the Outer Banks, causing businesses to lose vital income. This was the first mandatory evacuation due to a named storm since Hurricane Dorian struck on Sept. 6, 2019.

But NC12 has faced overwash multiple times, particularly during winter nor’easters, causing shutdowns of the ferry service and the temporary closing of it to allow NCDOT to repair any buckling, clear off sand and restore the sandbag barriers.

There was plenty of dramatic video footage on social media that showed the powerful force of the ocean flowing under and around homes in Buxton, but fortunately none of NC12 buckled on either island, which would have caused even more delays in reopening.

Storm systems like Erin often ignite debates on how to address inevitable erosion, particularly on Ocracoke at the north end where the South Dock ferry terminal area is.

Back in 2015, about 500 feet of sandbags fortified the north end of Ocracoke. As of February 2024, that number has increased to 7,000 feet, according to Cape Hatteras National Park Superintendent David Hallac.

In January 2022, an NC12 Task Force identified five critical areas: Ocracoke, Sandy Bay between Frisco and Hatteras Village, Buxton, Avon, and the Canal Zone that starts at the southern base of the Basnight Bridge on Hatteras Island and extends to the Pea Island Visitors Center.

The report said Ocracoke and the Canal Zone should be top priorities.

The question remains: what can be done? Despite asking this question in February 2024, no definitive answers or decisions have emerged.

A search online reveals that from 2005 to 2025, NCDOT spent $24.7 million on NC 12 repairs on Ocracoke and $80.5 million on Hatteras. The combined islands averaged $5.25 million annually.

By comparison, snow removal across the state from 2005 to 2025 cost $900 million, averaging $45 million annually.

Someone once quipped that on the Outer Banks, there are no snowplows, just sand plows.

But how long can NC12 endure continuous overwash? Could a temporary bridge over the vulnerable area of Ocracoke be a viable solution?  

After Hurricane Irene in 2011 cut a new inlet on Pea Island, a temporary metal bridge that cost $14.3 million was quickly installed. A $79.7 million contract was later awarded for a permanent bridge there, according to the Island Free Press.

While a fixed-span bridge would require a significant investment, it may be the better alternative to a major breach that could make the Hatteras Inlet ferry terminal inoperable which would be an economic catastrophe with its wide-ranging impact on the Ocracoke community.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been evaluating transportation adaptation strategies and will present their findings on NC12 at 1 p.m. on Wednesday (Sept.) 10, in the Community Center. We strongly encourage everyone to attend and engage in this crucial conversation.