Hurricane Dorian: 'Hundreds trapped' on N Carolina island

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Hurricane Dorian: 'Hundreds trapped' on N Carolina island

6 September 2019

Hundreds of people may be trapped on a North Carolina island amid rising floodwater after Hurricane Dorian made landfall, the state governor has warned.

The storm struck the islands popular with holidaymakers days after causing at least 30 deaths in the Bahamas.

Roy Cooper warned of storm surges on the island of Ocracoke, where 800 people were said to have stayed behind.

In the Bahamas, officials say hundreds, possibly thousands, are still missing.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49611118


A storm surge caused severe flooding in Ocracoke (Reuters)

[snowybirdie]

1. We hope they are ok

However, they've had several days to evacuate safely. Why do people ignore reality? I'll never understand it.

[jpak]

2. They were thinking "Alabama"

[triron]

12. +1000

They got confused.

[questionseverything]

5. maybe they didnt have the money to go somewhere for days on end in case it hit there?

[snowybirdie]

6. Shelters are free

And medical care and food available there. It's a tourist based economy and the end of season. Not a depressed area at all. Hope all are fine, but listen to those who know next time

[questionseverything]

11. if they were rich jerks that decided to stay behind thats one thing

but usually rich jerks have poor people to take care of their needs, tourists or not, they are the ones I was thinking of

[yortsed snacilbuper]

3. Roy Cooper warned of storm surges on the island of Ocracoke,

where 800 people were said to have stayed behind.

[wishstar]

7. Mandatory evacuation of Ocracoke was ordered by Wednesday, but they failed to leave

Visitors were supposed to have left by last Tuesday and residents by last Wednesday before ferries were suspended

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. here's a 5th recommendation

good photo and OP!

[cbdo2007]

8. It is an island...they aren't any more "trapped" than they always are.

[mcar]

9. I'm sorry they didn't evacuate

and hope they are OK.

[PJMcK]

10. Ocracoke is a remarkable island

Like many barrier islands, Ocracoke is not much more than a big sand bar. It's only about 4 square miles of land. The only inhabited part is the area in the southern area near the harbor. The rest of the island is owned by the federal government and most of it is beach and dunes.

Less than 1,000 people live there year-round but during the Spring, Summer and early Fall there are lots of tourists. My wife owns a beach box that she built there and she has a nice little business renting her property, mostly on a weekly basis. She's obviously concerned about the house and the community and she plans to go there on Sunday or Monday to assess the damage and plan repairs.

Ocracoke is only accessible by boat/ferry or small airplane. You can bring your car on the ferry, which is run by the state of North Carolina and it's free. The island has a rich nautical history and it was the hideout of the pirate Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard. There's a small cemetery where four British sailors who died in WWII are buried and the locals lease the land to the British government so that the deceased are buried on "home" soil.

It's a wonderful, off-beat place with some terrific and eccentric people. There are some delicious seafood restaurants; interestingly, there are no fast food joints as the locals don't want those businesses there. Many locals ride bikes to get around while others use golf carts.

Ocracoke Island is a special destination but it's vulnerable to hurricanes and other storms.

This quote from the article is kind of humorous:

Mr. Cooper said there was "significant concern" for those reportedly trapped on Ocracoke and urged them to get to high ground.

The highest ground on Ocracoke is a parking lot with a couple of boat ramps. It's 12 feet above sea level!