We entered the devastated area at Wilkins Street. The pavement had been severely undermined by ocean over wash. The truck detoured around a 3-foot deep and 20-foot wide crater, formerly the intersection of Wilkins Street and Virginia Dare Trail. A beach access at this point had compromised the protective dune and allowed the ocean to break through and flood the land between State Route 158 and the ocean. The change of tide pulled much of the water back into the ocean and the suction had undermined Wilkins Street and beach homes adjacent to the access. A home north of the access point sat on the beach, the strong foundation reduced to splinters, the outdated, wooden septic tank exposed, and over half the cottage open to the sea. Nearly every oceanfront cottage left standing, listed at odd angles, foundations wrecked, septic tanks exposed, protective dunes pushed onto what was left of the Beach Road.

We viewed the area between Wilkins Street and the Kitty Hawk Pier. Rental cottages and private homes on both sides of the road were damaged or flooded as well as many places of business such as, The Run Down Café, Art’s Place, Ocean Front Boulevard, Old Fire House Grocery, Winks Store, and the Sea Dunes Hotel. Deep floodwaters, downed power lines, and large stretches of broken road, combined to make this area dangerous and inaccessible. Mayor Harris believed the damage surpassed anything he had ever seen in Kitty Hawk’s history. The famous Ash Wednesday Storm in the 60’s damaged many beach areas, but had not undermined the Beach Road as severely. He believed increased development of the area and recent erosion of the protective dunes are factors in the level of destruction.

Lindberg Avenue, the only other north-south road east of State Route 12, suffered severe flooding. The deepest flooding, over 3 feet, occurred between the Kitty Hawk Pier and Fonck Road. Residents were told the floodwaters would have to be pumped out. Mayor Harris stated the area had a long history of flooding and poor drainage, problems which were not addressed by previous town officials. He believed corrective measures to ensure proper drainage and a temporary moratorium on development of problem areas was long overdue. State and Federal officials have declared Dare County eligible for storm water monies to help repair the extensive damage to the infrastructure. Mayor Harris said the town of Kitty Hawk would apply for these funds.