Nature struck another blow to Hatteras. As this storm cleared out, I gathered my thoughts. This beautiful island is created by powerful natural elements. That’s the allure that brought me and so many others here. Only a couple weeks ago, we were still in the routines of summer. There were plenty of visitors, the ocean was calm, no storms. With the arrival of Fall, things changed almost overnight.

Weather forecasting predicted an event that many didn’t seem prepared for. The low pressure arrived with a bang, throwing tremendous waves at us. It happens often, but tourism remained in place despite the threat of over-wash across vulnerable roadways. This latest storm has made its unique signature added to a list of many in the past.

A vegetated dune is the first line of defense.

Dunes bow to the power of rushing water. At the KOA, a walkway spanning a once high dune, is sheared.

Sandbags are a futile attempt to save infrastructure.

In Rodanthe, Ocean Drive sits behind a row of oceanfront cottages. They’ve been digging this out for years. Storms past have claimed at least two houses here.

I thought about people happily congregating around these picnic tables at Camp Hatteras just days ago.

Over-washed sand covers half the campground now.

Debris and broken asphalt litter the ground, as a camper surveys the scene.

I was drawn to a lone shapely pine seemly awaiting its fate.

Each event we can learn how to live better within these elements. Nature is deemed destructive when man defies it, and highway 12 is a good example.

Now what?