Irene Visits Oriental, NC

Back on Saturday, August 27th Hurricane Irene decided to make a visit to Oriental, North Carolina. Richard went down and moved Hale Kai to a safe spot and then rode out the storm while on-board. Here are some photos he took while the eye of the storm was passing over and then the next day.

In the center of this photo is poor Gertrude, Richard's pickup truck. We are very pleased to report that while the carpeting is now shot from water getting in she started up the first try after the storm and runs perfectly. Not bad for a 1992 truck with 500,000 miles on her.


This was taken from the bow of Hale Kai looking over at Deaton's Boat Yard. All those boats were sitting on dry land before the storm surge. Another 2 feet of water and they would all be floating away.


Those little white things in the water are the tops of pilings which are normally 10 feet above the water. There was a hefty storm surge in Oriental. Some places reported 9 1/2 feet, other spots reported 11 feet. Either way that was a lot of water.


The next day was a lovely day. Richard shot this photo of Hale Kai from the bow looking back. In the lower right hand there is a pine branch. At the back of the boat you can see our mangled American flag. Richard said he is not sure why he didn't think to take the flag down.


Here is a close up of the flag. Richard brought it home and asked me if I could fix it. I could not help laughing and said I don't think I can untangle the ends of it.
NOTE: Per proper flag etiquette we are going to burn the flag later on today.



This is a shot of the Oriental Harbor Marina. On "A" dock notice that all the finger piers which go out between the boats are gone. Several dock boxes are gone also including our two. The pedestals which provide the power and water connections are all destroyed.


Over on the "B" dock of Oriental Harbor Marina Richard found Robin's Nest. Story goes that during the storm surge the winds blew her over a finger pier and when the back of the storm came and the winds changed directions, as the water went down her propeller got snagged on the finger pier and she toppled into the water. She was raised the next day and sent for repairs.


Here is a shot from the other side of Robin's Nest.


Alas, here is another boat that sank. Supposedly Journey's dock lines snapped and she got swamped and sank in her slip.


And yet another boat. This one and the one above were at Whittaker Pointe Marina not far from where we keep Hale Kai.


In the end we are happy that Richard and Hale Kai both came through safely.