Tropical
Storm Ernesto Brings
Major Flooding to the Outer Banks
Major Flooding to the Outer Banks
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Tropical
Storm Ernesto made landfall on Thursday, August 31 near Long Beach, NC
with winds near 70 mph. The system moved north-northeast at 15 M.P.H.
approximately 120 miles west of the Outer Banks.
It was estimated the Storm dumped 8 inches of rain on Dare County as it passed through the area on Sept. 1 , causing traffic delays and flooding. Over 6 inches of water collected in several areas of Route 12 between the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge and Rodanthe slowing traffic.
In the towns of Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk there was some minor flooding of the beach road. Flood water also collected in yards over septic systems, creating dangerous health conditions for anyone wading through the flood waters.
More than 4 feet of water pooled on Route 12 just south of Duck near the Tuckahoe subdivision. Police Officials set up roadblocks to warn drivers of the flooded road conditions. Officials were letting one lane pass through the flood waters and several small vehicles flooded out, causing more delays. Road crews were pumping water from the road all day Friday.
Further north in Corolla and the nearby Whalehead community residents and vacationers experienced waist high water in yards and along some roadways. Weeks after Tropical Storm Ernesto passed through the Outer Banks, Corolla is still suffering from the effects of the storm. Standing water remains in many areas of the vacation community, covering septic fields and walkways with a smelly brown soup. Almost 100 homes in the area suffered flood damage. During the peak of the storm, people could be seen walking with their children through waist-high water contaminated with sewage.
As the floodwater slowly disappears, residents and vacationers alike are asking why such a developed area would lack a plan to deal with storm water. The answer appears to be that the county politicians didn't plan or control the development of the area. They just let it develop on its own.
It was estimated the Storm dumped 8 inches of rain on Dare County as it passed through the area on Sept. 1 , causing traffic delays and flooding. Over 6 inches of water collected in several areas of Route 12 between the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge and Rodanthe slowing traffic.
In the towns of Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk there was some minor flooding of the beach road. Flood water also collected in yards over septic systems, creating dangerous health conditions for anyone wading through the flood waters.
More than 4 feet of water pooled on Route 12 just south of Duck near the Tuckahoe subdivision. Police Officials set up roadblocks to warn drivers of the flooded road conditions. Officials were letting one lane pass through the flood waters and several small vehicles flooded out, causing more delays. Road crews were pumping water from the road all day Friday.
Further north in Corolla and the nearby Whalehead community residents and vacationers experienced waist high water in yards and along some roadways. Weeks after Tropical Storm Ernesto passed through the Outer Banks, Corolla is still suffering from the effects of the storm. Standing water remains in many areas of the vacation community, covering septic fields and walkways with a smelly brown soup. Almost 100 homes in the area suffered flood damage. During the peak of the storm, people could be seen walking with their children through waist-high water contaminated with sewage.
As the floodwater slowly disappears, residents and vacationers alike are asking why such a developed area would lack a plan to deal with storm water. The answer appears to be that the county politicians didn't plan or control the development of the area. They just let it develop on its own.
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