Oh No ... Not Floyd Too!
Floyd Update
September 15, 1999
Staff Report
UPDATE
HATTERAS AND OCRACOKE ISLANDS, NC

Dare County Emergency Management released the following bulletin this afternoon:

-BULLETIN
Date: 9/15/99 12:07:42 PM
Bulletin Number: 5

All of Dare County remains under a mandatory evacuation effective at 7:00 AM today. There will not be ferry service after 11:00 AM today. People evacuating via highway 158 are encouraged to stay on highway 158 rather than using side streets or highway 12 (beach road). This improves the traffic flow and reduces the wait times for everyone.
-End of Bulletin-

Ocracoke Island was placed under a mandatory evacuation order effective at 6:00 AM on September 14th (yesterday) in order to allow for the additional time it takes to evacuate the island (all traffic must use ferry service).

Lighthouse Conditions
Thursday,
September 2, 1999
Cheryl Roberts
UPDATE
HATTERAS ISLAND, NC

The breach of Highway 12 is significant south of Avon towards the village of Buxton. The narrow neck of land just north of Buxton has over washed and has cut accessibility for now. State DOT workers have already been at work getting sand off the road in places and negotiating the channel of water holding back restoration of normal conditions.

International Chimney Corp, Inc. project manager, Joe Jakubik, states the lighthouse is in excellent shape. Other than the anchorage for the weather station being bent over and a missing windowpane, the National Historic Landmark is acting every bit the part of a strong soldier. Even the scaffolding at the upper level is still intact. The lighthouse foundation is sitting in its natural element: about three feet of water. The water actually helps the brick mortar to cure and strengthen to some degree. After the site is dewatered, final bricking will be completed. When dewatering is no longer needed, earth will cover the foundation and the natural water table will restore itself to about four-five feet, putting the foundation back in water for preservation.

Storm surf has breached the dune near the old site and is washing within only feet of it. The plinth stones, placed in a circle around the original site, are in place at this writing. The Keepers Quarters are on higher ground at the relocation site, and very little water is pooled in that part of the light station. Their foundations are strong and keeping them safe.

"We had a couple of our work trailers blown off their bases, but that's just an inconvenience, no big deal," says Skellie Hunt, site manager for the relocation process for ICC, and who is now on Hatteras Island. "And the lighthouse and Keepers Quarters are in great shape." Skellie was enjoying a chicken stew, an "MRE," (meal ready to eat) that had been brought compliments of the National Guard. "The only thing is," he chuckles, "there are about three pages of instructions on how to eat it!"

It is reported that several NC DOT loaders are continuing an attempt to keep sand off Highway 12 while 40-50 knot winds push across the barrier islands. The delay in getting stone to the broken road area is lengthened because of persistent waves and winds driven by the tropical storm, still lingering off the northern Carolina coast. Reports from Rodanthe state the dune line has been severely damaged with extensive over wash. The National Guard is bringing in MREs to as many stranded residents and visitors as possible. The National Park Service also has staff on Hatteras Island to help in any way possible.

Lighthouse Update
September 15, 1999
Cheryl Roberts
UPDATE
HATTERAS, NC

Well, here we go again. Hurricane Floyd has everyone along the East Coast guessing where to go and when. International Chimney, Inc., contractor for the relocation process is assuming there will be a "good blow" at Cape Hatteras and are making preparations.

Though damage at the lighthouse was minimal from Hurricane Dennis, the opened spaces left by damaged windows can allow the elements to enter the tower. ICC is boarding up the window areas to prevent wind-driven rain from entering.

Meanwhile, on the ground, bricklayers are finishing the brick infill to complete the foundation. To give added protection to the new foundation, soil is being filled in around the base within a foot of the lower edge of the lighthouse's underside. Support walls are being put in place where the entrance steps will soon be reset to save workers time of digging out sand that may be overwashed in a strong storm.

We hope for a safe journey for everyone and everything through this storm.

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Feb 1, 1999
Staff Report

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