Evacuation

Hurricane Alex is the most destructive storm to hit Ocracoke in 60 years. There were no serious injuries or major damage. However the village has been declared a disaster area. More than 200 homes had tidewater inside, and several hundred automobiles were flooded beyond repair. The tide on Howard Street was 9" higher than in Hurricane Isabel.

All visitors are being evacuated today. Reliable electric power, and phone & internet service has only recently been restored.

Although not as many trees went down as last year, chain saws are heard throughout the village. I was just told that a house burned down in Oyster Creek. Apparently someone started a car that had been flooded. A short in the electrical circuit caused an explosion which set the vehicle on fire, and then it spread to the house. We're told that no one was hurt.

We have been helping neighbors and friends deal with significant water damage, but hope to be able to process internet orders no later than tomorrow.

We expect the island to be open to visitors early next week.

Here are a few photos taken August 3, 2004:

To view a larger image, click here.

To view a larger image, click here.

To view a larger image, click here.

To view a larger image, click here.

Message from Hyde County Officials

OCRACOKE: Hurricane Alex brushed the shores of Ocracoke on August 3 and while it did not make direct landfall on the island, it has left behind a wake of damage and misery. With wind gusts recorded at 120 mph and sustained wind of 80 mph, an excess of 4 feet of water swept over the island, leaving residents and visitors vehicles flooded along with some homes and businesses.

No loss of life or serious injury has been reported. Tideland Electric Membership Cooperative reports over 20 utility poles down, but help is already on the way with equipment and manpower leaving Mainland Hyde County by ferry early on the morning of August 4. Meanwhile, the island is getting its temporary power from a generator on a rotating basis. Due to the electrical demand, the generator is not sufficient to power the entire island at one time, or continuously, but Tideland officials report that they hope to have repairs made quickly.

Ferry service, which was discontinued as the storm approached, will resume on August 3, after the U. S. Coast Guard has determined that the channels are free of debris and safe for passage. A state of emergency has been declared on the island which means that only emergency vehicles and personnel will be allowed to travel to the island until further notice. Residents who can produce a valid NC driver’s license will be allowed to re-enter on a space available basis.

The Salvation Army from Washington, NC will also be arriving on the island on August 3 with hot meals from their canteens. Late Tuesday evening Maj. Kenneth Clewis of the Salvation Army was scrabbling to get supplies and ready the equipment for the trip. The organization played an essential role on Mainland Hyde County following Hurricane Isabel, less than eleven months ago.

County officials have released the following information regarding persons desiring to evacuate the island via the Swan Quarter ferry: “Parties wishing to evacuate Ocracoke Island via the Swan Quarter ferry must walk on the ferry with their luggage and possessions.”

“Transportation for all parties and their possessions will be provided from the Swan Quarter ferry site on the Mainland to the Mattamuskeet School Gymnasium, located at 20370 US Highway 264, {east of Swan Quarter} which will serve as a temporary staging area and shelter for all persons evacuating to Hyde County Mainland.”

“Enterprise Rental Car will arrange for vans to pick up persons needing services of a rental vehicle. The party will be taken to the nearest Enterprise Rental Car Franchise.”

“For those arranging their own transportation from Hyde County Mainland, the designated pickup point is Mattamuskeet School Gymnasium, 20370 US Highway 264, Swan Quarter, NC.”

Jeffrey Stotesberry, Swan Quarter Volunteer Fire Chief, will be setting up the county’s American Red Cross shelter, which consists of cots and blankets for the evacuees at the school gymnasium. The Salvation Army will provide hot meals at the site beginning mid-afternoon on August 3.

Travelers who were planning to visit the island in the upcoming days should check with officials before beginning their trip. The NC Ferry Division can be reached at 800-BY-FERRY. The Hyde County Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 888-493-3826. Dean Burbage, Emergency Manager can be reached at the county offices at 252-926-4372.

Persons wishing to help island residents may make donations to the Hyde County Disaster Relief Fund at any branch of the East Carolina Bank, or by mail: c/o Hyde County CDC, PO Box 295, Swan Quarter, NC 27885.

Cleanup

Just a quick note this morning.

Everyone is safe and there is no major damage on the island. However, everything is a mess. Wood, branches, propane tanks, etc. are scattered all over the village. Water is still standing in low places. Boardwalks and some docks have floated across lawns and roads. At least one vehicle was totaled when a tree fell on it. Two cars burned up when the owners tried to start them after the flood.

I don't have any word yet about Hatteras or the mainland.

I have a few photos, but I don't have time to transfer them and manipulate them for the web. We'll all be busy today cleaning up. Neighbors have had water in their homes and there is much cleanup work to do. Look for photos at a later date.

Hurricane Alex Aftermath

Gusts at the Ocracoke ferry office were reported to be as high as 120 mph. Sustained winds were probably 80-100 mph. But the biggest surprise was the tide. After noon today the wind shifted and brought some of the highest tides Ocracoke has ever experienced. Older residents report that only in the 1944 storm was the tide up so high. Numerous homes had water in them, some as deep as several feet. Residents of the Jackson Dunes area reported water as deep as 6-7 feet. On Howard Street the tide came in 6 inches higher than hurricane Gloria in 1995.

All sorts of debris is scattered throughout the village and on the streets. Several trees are down, at least one dock has been destroyed, a small skiff was sunk, hundreds of automobiles have been lost to the tide, and some homes have lost shingles and/or ductwork, but no major damage has been reported, and as far as I know, there has been no injury or loss of life.

I have heard no news about surrounding islands and villages, nor have I heard about the condition of Highway 12.

Electric power is still out, and the island is full of visitors, as well as residents, who were caught by surprise by this powerful storm.

Power's Out

Just a quick note on battery power. Everything is OK, but winds are howling!

Will write later.

Photos

Don't have many photos, but thought you would like to see this one of the harbor about 9 am this morning:

Click here for a larger image.

Also, here's a photo of Lochlan Wesley, just a few hours old:

Click here for a larger image.

Hurricane Alex, 11:15 a.m.

Winds are definitely increasing, and the rain is torrential. Most recent information suggests that the intensity of the storm is increasing and that the western eye wall (with winds near 100 mph) will reach us in about an hour. Even on Howard Street trees are swaying wildly and the wind is howling. Even so, nothing seems dangerous, at least for now. No evidence of flood tides in the village yet.

I may or may not get photos to publish. Internet connections are slow, and we anticipate the power going off sometime later today. Also, we're staying inside!!

Hurricane Alex, 10:00 a.m.

It was calm but cloudy through most of the night. Rain began falling early in the morning. Wind has been picking up since then. We just came back from a quick visit to the beach. The wind is howling out there, blowing about 45 mph, maybe more, pelting bare legs with stinging sand. The surf is raging, but the tide is not even up to the dunes yet. No flooding at all in the village.

Check back periodically. I'll post more updates and photos as the storm progresses (as long as we have power and internet access).

In other news -- new baby Lochlan Wesley is healthy and strong. Mama & Papa (Amy & David) are very happy, and resting in the hospital in Elizabeth City. We expect them home after the storm passes. Look for photos in the journal later today.

A New Baby Boy!

What a day! My fourth grandchild was born today -- Lochlan Wesley Tweedie Howard. He is the 10th generation of the Howard family to live on Ocracoke. And....today is also my 60th birthday! What a wonderful birthday present.

Look for photos tomorrow (unless Tropical Storm Alex wreaks havoc on the island power and/or internet connections).

Strong Currents

It's a beautiful first day of August. Blue sky, puffy clouds, and a light breeze. We're off to the beach, but will stay out of the water. An early tropical depression off the coast of South Carolina is contributing to rip currents along the Outer Banks.

Late last week a visitor was caught in a rip current and drowned. We join with all islanders in expressing our deepest sympathy for this tragedy.

When you come to the island, please enjoy our beach, but be extremely careful, especially when strong currents are present.

Green Gravel

Last night we spent a delightful evening across Howard Street with cousin Blanche. Talk turned to traditional childhood games on the island. One rhyming game that Blanche shared with us was "Green Gravel."

In this game all the children join hands in a circle and begin to move slowly as they sing these verses:

"Green gravel, green gravel
Your dress is so green.
As pretty, as pretty as ever did seem."

[At this point one child is chosen.]

"Miss [Mary], Miss [Mary]
Your sweetheart is dead.
He wrote you a letter so turn back your head."

[At this point the chosen child turns around and faces outwards. The song continues until all the children are facing outwards.]

A search of the internet uncovered several variations of this rhyming game, including this verse:

"I washed her, I dressed her
I clothed her in silk,
And I wrote down her name
With a glass pen and ink."

This is apparently an old Irish folk song for children that has been described as a "funeral game." The original opening line may have been "Green grave, O, green grave, O," and most versions have the second line as "Your grass is so green."

It has been suggested that "turn back your head" refers to an old funeral custom where visitors walk backwards into the death chamber when approaching a corpse that has been laid out for viewing.

I am compiling a list of as many island children's games, rhymes, songs, and hand-made toys as I can document. If you have any information about old-time Ocracoke games please drop me a line (pip@beachlink.com). I'd really appreciate it.

An Historical Note

On this date in 1759 (that's 245 years ago!) my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, William Howard, purchased Ocracoke Island for £105.

Sometime in the next week or two my 4th grandchild (the 10th generation of our family to live on the island) will be born. Look for the birth announcement here!

 

Opry Stars

Last night's Ocrafolk Opry, as usual, included stellar performances by Martin Garrish; Jule Garrish; "Coyote" (Marcie & Lou); "Speedy" of the Diamond Shoals band; Sudae, Rob, & Caroline; Aaron Caswell (budding young island guitarist); and Roy Parsons.  Ocracoke's award-winning band, Molasses Creek, is off-island this week so I helped out by emceeing and telling a short island story. 

A highlight of the second set was the debut Ocracoke performance by storyteller (and recent island resident) Lou Ann Homan.  She kept the audience spellbound with a traditional Scotish ghost tale.  Phyllis & Dick, I'm sure you're very proud of your multi-talented daughter!

Be sure to attend a Wednesday evening Opry show if you're planning a summertime visit to the island.

 

More Rain

Skies are gray and rain is falling steadily this morning.  Not the best day to go to the beach -- especially because there is a threat of rip currents.  But it is a great day to stay home and read or play cards....or shop.  So I suppose I'll be working all day! 

 

Off-Island

We left yesterday morning at 8:30 am, bound for Elizabeth City and eye exams.  We caught the 8:00 pm ferry and arrived home 12 1/2 hours after we left!  So, no journal entry yesterday.  But it was nice to get away for a day.  We both had great news from the eye doctor, bought fresh sweet corn and blueberries (neither of which is available on the island),  purchased shoes, had a new battery installed in my watch, and enjoyed a breezy day in eastern North Carolina. 

But the best part of it all was the sunset ferry ride home.  Like on a cruise (but free!) we spread out our sandwiches and cold drinks, watched the clouds roll across the sky as the sun sank into the horizon, followed the gulls as they whirled and floated above the deck, and held hands as the boat rocked gently from side to side when we crossed the inlet. 

It was good to be away for a day, but even better to come back home again.

 

A Day of Clamming

Bare feet on a rusty old beach bike with the rear fender falling off; five long, gangly clam rakes; and bumpy, sandy Howard Street. Lou Ann managed with the old wire clam basket wrapped with a life ring sitting precariously on her bike basket.

We got to the dock and Capt. Rob & Sundae, and the kids, as well as Frank, were there ready to cast off. The sky was full of white billowy clouds against the bluest of backgrounds. Springer's Point's canopy of cedars and live oaks was a deep rich green. The breeze was gentle. Fish jumped out of the water and skimmed across the surface, bouncing time and again. "How do they do that?" we wondered.

Back home with 150 clams, we're getting ready for "clams casino" before marching off to hear Martin Garrish dazzle us with his guitar. So what if we didn't vacuum the living room!

Pilots & Rascals

In 1718 the North Carolina colonial assembly passed an act for "settling and maintaining Pilots at ....Ocacock Inlett."  However, it wasn't until the 1730's that pilots actually began to settle on Ocracoke.  In 1783 an act made it the duty of commissioners of navigation to regulate the pilots.  They were examined and licensed only after they provided a bond for good behavior.  Clearly, there had been problems with earlier, unregulated pilots.  In fact, during the American Revolution some of the pilots at Ocrcoke had been accused of "rascality."  Oh my!

 

Rain

Although we've had a few thunderstorms and some heavy rain this summer, it's been widespread and generally during the night.  Today a light rain has been falling most of the day.  Even though it's not a good day for the beach, it's perfect weather for reading, baking cookies, playing board games, and especially for napping.

 

Happy Birthday Lou Ann!

If you've shopped at the Community Store on Ocracoke (the old general store on the harbor) you might have noticed the chalk board on the porch.  Locals use it to post messages about civic meetings, births, and other happenings in the village.  It's also where the store employees list all the local birthdays. 

Lou Ann has been staying on the island all summer, and she's learned to know lots of folks, and become a part of our community.  So it was nice to see her name right up there with the rest of the islanders.  Having your birthday listed at the Community Store is a sure sign that you've really become a member of this wonderful community.

So, Happy Birthday Lou Ann! Here's hoping it's full of every kind of happiness and extraordinary good cheer!

 

Lighthouse Trivia

The historic Ocracoke Lighthouse, built in 1823, stands 77 feet, 5 inches tall, and has 86 steps.  The lighthouse employs a fourth-order Fresnel lens to magnify the small 100 watt incandescent bulb.  In 1999 ownership was transferred from the US Coast Guard to the National Park Service. 

In a few weeks look for a more detailed history of the light in our August Ocracoke Newsletter.