The radar image taken at 11:15 shows the eye of Arthur directly on Cape Lookout, zeroing in toward Pamlico Sound. By 2AM we began to feel the increasing power of the storm. By 4 AM, we were in a full blown hurricane.
The morning after Arthur came through, I went outside and felt as if I had been spun around and around. There was an air of confusion and destruction. The conditions were not quite on par with Hurricane Irene in 2011, but there was more wind damage this time.
I video surveyed my property briefly, then got out to venture about town.
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They were telling us this was going to be a slow hurricane season, and that’s a little hard to take right now. So far we’re one for one and counting. Tropical systems usually don’t affect us this time of year, but cleaning up after a flood isn’t good anytime.
My place had fairly little damage considering the event. Like many other residents, I do need to make some minor roof repairs. During the height of the storm, the house was getting pelted by branches and pine cones. There was little rainfall, and it was a good thing it moved in and out quickly.
Several weeks ago a couple of young feral kittens began hanging around. On June 24th we caught them and took them to a TNR clinic sponsored by Friends of Felines. They were fixed, got shots, microchipped and left ear clipped. The release part didn’t quite work out, as they got comfortable here. With the hurricane heading right at us, I put them in an enclosure under the house.
At 4 in the morning, the water poured in and they had the sense to climb through an opening to another room where they remained high and dry for the duration. There they stayed all through the following day, and were clearly traumatized but okay.
With the salt water intrusion, my petunias didn’t fare so well.
Waterfront property for sale. Sorry, Spinnaker Realty. No buyers today.
A runaway dumpster blocked Sea Vista Drive.
Parking on high ground was at a premium. These vehicles survived.
These vehicles at the post office did not… that WAS a nice Mustang.
Highway 12 Waterway.
Kayak ecotours took on a new meaning.
My friend Tom gave me a lift to see other parts of town.
Roof damage was common.
Trees were downed at Mac’s garage.
A rack line got caught up in a chain link fence near Kitty Hawk Kites.
Andy Fox from WAVY News was on the scene making interviews.
As the daunting clean up began, Scott Caldwell squeegeed the parking lot at Island Convenience.
Scott’s daughter Myra, also had a big job and tried to make the most of it.
Thousands of fish were washed in with the storm surge, and left stranded.
Meanwhile the clean up at home continues to progress.
Meet Hurricane Barbie, a new concept doll.
Leaving no stone unturned, Arthur toppled the headstones at the Midgett Cemetery in Rodanthe.
Flowers from the graves are still strewn across the landscape.
Just like Hurricane Irene, it’ll take a while to regain some sense of normalcy.
A series of storms took its toll on the Rodanthe Pier. Last week I could see that the end of the pier would soon collapse into the sea.
An hour after I made this shot, the pier became 75 feet shorter. The next day, the owners retrieved some of the timbers washed in on the beach and are resolved to rebuild it.
In the meantime, temperatures have plummeted and the Pamlico Sound froze overnight. The ice sculpted on the shoreline was a sight to behold. There were icicles on the marsh of all different shapes and sizes.
The sound was solid ice for hundreds of yards off shore.
When the waters freeze, the ducks come in wherever they can find open water. At a pond near my house, I found a variety including this Ring-Necked Duck.
A Pie-Billed Grebe was among the group.
There were about 50 Ruddy Ducks.
I was excited to see this Canvasback. It’s a sure sign that winter is far from over, and that it’ll only get colder.
