Tuesday, March 06, 2018

Ash Wednesday Storm

The Ash Wednesday Storm of March 6-8, 1962, did considerable damage along the Outer Banks. Interestingly, just a few days ago another winter storm (dubbed "Riley" by the Weather Channel*) battered the Northeast, including the Outer Banks. Although Manteo and Hatteras Island experienced coastal flooding, Ocracoke was spared rising tide water, but sustained gale force winds. This sailboat in Silver Lake was blown onto the shore near where Ride the Wind stores their kayaks.











Two months after the 1962 Ash Wednesday Storm, The Chicago Tribune ran this short notice about the effect this storm had on traveling to the Outer Banks:  

"Cape Hatteras Storm Damage [1962]

"A spring storm has washed out some of the roads and has damaged Cape Hatteras national seashore park on North Carolina's fabled Outer banks, described in an article in the April I Travelers' Guide. But increased ferry service to Hatteras and Ocracoke islands and a temporary bridge spanning the new inlet cut thru Hatteras island by the storm are facilitating travel to the Outer banks as the prime salt water fishing season begins. Accelerated summer schedules for the free state automobile ferries operating across Oregon and Hatteras inlets are effective thru Sept. 7. A toll ferry, Sea Level, links Ocracoke and Atlantic on the mainland."

* The National Weather Service does not recognize The Weather Channel’s names for winter storms.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter, a newspaper article published in 1923 titled "Quaintest Town in America," provides a fascinating glimpse of Ocracoke Island life a century ago. You can read it here:
https://www.villagecraftsmen.com/quaintest-town-america-n-c-island/ .

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:26 PM

    Quaintest Town in America...oh if were only true. I love coming to Ocracoke BUT to be honest we think there are more dumpsters, garbage cans and signs on the short what goes through the 'town' portion than any other place we have ever been. it's like the dumpsters are on display. they are clearly in everyone's sight and smell. taking a picture without getting a dumpster or a sign in the shot is next to impossible. be proud of your town. hide those dumpsters ad garbage cane. cut back on the circus of signs that greet visitors. picture driving through your main street with NO signs. it would be beautiful! does a 8'x8'x8' dumpster have to be in sight? put a lattice screen around then at least....I know this comment will go nowhere but MAYBE someone will say -yeah this lady is right! there are way too many dumpsters and garbage cans on display!...that is all I have to say..(anyway it's still a nice place especially in the winter when it seems to be cleaner and more garbage can free)

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:28 AM

      Totally 100% agree with anonymous 5:26PM

      Delete