Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Irene ~ August 2011 (My journal)

August 28, 2011~
Some think I'm outta my mind for coming here to Outer banks but I don't believe any one truely understands my love for this island. I simply had to come, my son is with me and shares these feelings. On the way down from Richmond on we began to see signs of Irene with huge trees split right in half. Some were in/on the road, we dodged plywood on the highway and debris. Upon arriving in Norfolk it got alittle worse with giant trees (probably 80+ yrs. old) completely uprooted and moved. The fields with corn, tobacco and any thing else that some of these folks depend on to make a living gone, standing water replaces the once harvest. I've seen pictures of Hwy. 12 around Rodanthe no longer there due to an inlet that now has taken the road. My profile pic is a pic of my favorite fishing store which right where the inlet claimed the road. They are allowing us to get onto the island today at noon. i'll know more then, I'm checking on the house in which I'm staying in for a friend who lives in Richmond, va. I hope to find it still there for both of us. Will post again later on today or this evening depending on if I can get back on. It's been sketchy here & there with service. I will add that I've seen an army of Power trucks that are working as fast as the can to restore power to those that are out. Gas stations... forget it. I was smart enough to fill up before I got to where I thought I'd be in trouble and glad I did. As most are w/o power and the ones with power are w/o gas. I have never seen so many towns (from Richmond to Elizabeth city) so quiet... no one on the streets and literally no business' open, parking lots were empty. Life has changed for a minute for these folks and all is still.

August 29 ~
Upon arrival on the Island I noticed a strange mist/fog that seemed to be rolling in layers, it lasted for most of the day. The sky has been cloudy and still have a bit of wind in the air from Irene. I got to the house in which my friend had rented me also the house in which had I gotten a job here prior I would be living in. I loved it immediately.... it is small 2 bedroom and decorated as if I had done it myself. I accessed the damage as promised took pics and emailed the owner. Picked up what we could outside and realigned decking as it was askew from Irene. Made a call and within the hour the minor damages were fixed . The house is in a small neighborhood that is not rented out to visitors, I am surrounded by year round residents which is cool and a bit different from any other trip I've made here in the last 20 yrs. Kids were playing in the street, owners were cleanning up their yards from Irene, moms were unloading groceries for the work/school week. Life on the Banks was getting back to normal after a major Hurricane. I could totally see myself living here. We settled into the house unpacked, and went to the grocery store for the week as well. Round mid day there was a loud warning sound that came across the air ways of a tornado touch down in Dare co. Exactly where my son & I were, we had set out to do some exploring feeling good that we had done our small part in helping with the aftermath. Quickly decided to get back to the house and prepare for the "Whats next" for this Island hoping this tornado would bypass us. It did touch down some where NW of us, have not heard word on damages as yet. I thought to myself what in the hell can OBX or any of us "How much more can we take?" In less than 2 weeks we have seen Earthquakes, Hurricane and now a Tornado. Mother nature is seriously pissed and we are feeling her wrath!

August 30~
Woke up to still grey cloudy skies and a hint of chill in the wind. People around me are getting back to life as normal on the Island. They are accessing Hwy 12 today and trying to figure out what & how to fix the now inlet that once was a road in Rodanthe. That part of the Island is cut off to visitors, the people who stuck out the storm (a few in which I know) are stuck until a solution has been come up with.
On Tuesday, August 30, vehicles with a purple sticker and vehicles with a green sticker (residents) will be allowed on the Swan Quarter and Cedar Island ferries to Ocracoke, in that priority order. Residents with a current, valid drivers license are also allowed. This will allow infrastructure, utilities, and essential personnel to get in place and residents to get back to their homes. There is NO reentry to Ocracoke for non-resident property owners or visitors until further notice.
North Carolina’s electric co-ops have reconnected 118,000 households since Hurricane Irene knocked out power to 152,000 members in eastern North Carolina.
About 34,000 members have yet to be reconnected, mostly due a lack of access in some the more remote service territory areas
Posted a video's on my page for those that are interested & have love for this Island.
"The following items are needed by the residents in Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo: plastic totes, batteries, plastic ware, paper plates, trash bags, buckets, pitch forks, wheel barrows, large heavy duty trash bags and cans, gas, propane, shovels and heavy duty gloves. There will be a boat heading down to deliver the collected items later this week. Items can be dropped off at 208 W. Fresh Pond Dr. in KDH"

http://www.obxhurricaneirenehelp.com/

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.923403734648.2384127.29702149

http://www.everythingouterbanks.com/

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150298114764658.357894.673164657&type=1

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D71UwFbvRh24%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded&h=cAQBcFnfdAQDpeMaYOBuJ3VjEHsQdiqLQmiEb5tw5CKrXcA

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dz0n_WeK3aqc%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded&h=PAQBV4U_KAQBhyp32nLwUqXZBfbeS2vus5A5ejcRI0fsjWA

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2Fjctj9nQPL_k&h=eAQBP_1LpAQA67JvCn-TmFMlODEwNJpBDjSMru_AWJr5dRA

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150298114764658.357894.673164657&type=1

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150277739188198.338978.194729383197

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FqLi21j3gNf4&h=RAQCFRfZ8AQAISbE3KK6AQbIkMgyXvYwlaWY1ySrxZpj5KQ

http://www.facebook.com/notes/sam-walker-iii/dare-bulletin-15-visitor-re-entry-announced-for-portions-of-dare-county/252357694796740

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dhi-DH11XSnk%26feature%3Dshare&h=oAQBFrZBBAQDzJeIC8YMDbJ4y8baJJGQ3w5LKDxx1qmsUUA

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150282320646481.328791.275315266480

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msnbc.msn.com%2Fid%2F44271560%2F&h=rAQBCBkGuAQC7UkFcY8CjuLMua7jgIy9KY0WCnb464RzzxQ

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FCHCzSluZazE&h=9AQCETbOWAQA-hqJJXBfen2hlMtXvWjeyURwGSYuGUd_-sw

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fabclocal.go.com%2Fwtvd%2Fvideo%3Fid%3D8331978%26syndicate%3Dsyndicate%26section&h=WAQCxIWP8AQD5rWN54gL0bkrkJjdummw-dN8lI_ORgQneMw

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FshmOqrLBw2o&h=RAQCFRfZ8AQBLrJEeZytzCM3r38XRLrLZg2XGKfRTB0YGHQ

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.monstersandcritics.com%2Fnews%2Fusa%2Ffeatures%2Farticle_1659573.php&h=GAQAZ5WvcAQAE02PSn7gRSv5D90xU9Uy5Z7RmHk7fGcL8Dg


It was quiet last nite here at the house, had some neighbors getting kids ready for school today. This is cool to me because for the first time I'm staying in a lived in neighborhood... not a rental that's pimped out from week to week. These folks are real it is refreshing to be amongst them and hear their stories of the storm Irene and of storms past. To hear stories of life here on the Banks, to hear of never wanting to leave this island. When I asked "Where do you go on vacation?" Both neighbors living side by side and across the street from their front porches replied......No where, we stay home! Right then & there I felt my heart smile. I looked up into the sky and for the first time since I've been here I saw stars!


August 31, 2011~ The sun is out and it's a beautiful day here in Outer Banks.
I'm going to the store today to do my part...if your a visitor you should to~
"The following items are needed by the residents in Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo: plastic totes, batteries, plastic ware, paper plates, trash bags, buckets, pitch forks, wheel barrows, large heavy duty trash bags and cans, gas, propane, shovels and heavy duty gloves. There will be a boat heading down to deliver the collected items later this week. Items can be dropped off at 208 W. Fresh Pond Dr. in KDH" Afterwards I believe Zac & I will try to get in some beach/fishing time.