For those of you interested in JUST HOW FUCKING SELF CENTERED I AM THAT MY ONLY CONCERN REGARDING THIS HURRICANE IS HOW IT IMPACTS MY VACATION, it appears that the Outer Banks were mostly spared, and the northern OBX tomorrow for residents and guests on Sunday. They’re currently assessing and clearing the roads on Hatteras Island, so I will probably know more later.
In all seriousness, of course I care about the rest of the people impacted by the hurricane, but there is literally nothing I can do. I’m not an emergency fire and rescue worker, a utility worker, or a member of the cajun navy, so, like y’all are kind of on your own down there. I can only take care of me, and barely at that. But that’s why I support paying taxes, so there are people there to fix shit when the weather breaks it.
DCrefugee
Gonna be awful wet there for a while…
Elizabelle
Maybe you can rescue yet more pets on your way in and out.
So are you doing a week once you get there?
geg6
You go and enjoy yourself, Cole. Send a donation to one of the local rescues and have some fun. You deserve it and, I have to say, I’m kinda jealous. I love me a storm and none more than a storm while I’m at the beach. And I think you’ll be seeing some stormy weather. Have fun!
Tenar Arha
Yay. No really. You’re going to do your part to keep the end of season rental market going. There’s probably gonna be great beach-combing, and lots of mud for your pack of critters to play in ;)
Have a great trip.
eclare
@Tenar Arha: Agree, if places are open/safe, going and being a tourist is the best thing to do right now. Enjoy!
rikyrah
You be safe, Cole.
Safe travels.
JoeG
Enjoy!!
No guilt necessary esp since Paul Ryan reminded everyone bad things “just happen”.
FlyingToaster
Go as soon as it’s safe (I’m assuming OBX didn’t lose power), and spend some money. All of those small businesses will need customers; groceries, restaurants, gas stations.
Be sure to check your route; you do not want to depend upon buying gas somewhere that still has the power out.
stinger
Glad you can take that vacation after all. And spending a little tourist money there is something the region could really use, I’ll bet.
stinger
@stinger: FlyingToaster said it first, and better.
Aleta
Putting cash into locally owned places is always good. ++ After so many cancellations.
+Local owners know how to turn cash around to the best immediate need. (Jeez I’m talking myself into donating to your trip…)
But I bet this is already one of your reasons.
I don’t buy the ‘self-centered bit,’ you big ol’ WV perjurer.
shelley
Its great that youre able to go. Have a great time and watch out for rip tides.
eemom
Go and have a great time!! Also give the place a big kissy from me and tell it I’ll be there Thxgiving week.
IIRC, the place you’re staying is in the northern part of Hatteras Island…..you should definitely drive south and check out the other towns….maybe take the ferry to Ocracoke. I think you’ll like it there.
TaMara (HFG)
@Tenar Arha: Agreed. We actually took a trip to New Orleans to help support the recovery effort. Mind you, I really wanted to go, but it wasn’t on the top 10 list yet. It felt like the very least we could do beyond charitable donations.
So go have fun, John!
shelley
An interesting looking maritime museum on Hatteras- Graveyard of the Atlantic.
JWL
MSNBC interviewed the commanding general of the N. Carolina National Guard, and he put the fear of god in my heart for those people. Still, it was refreshing to hear a government official who knew the score, and spoke in comprehensible terms about it. Beat the hell out of Trump telling us water is wet.
The Midnight Lurker
I have this mental imagine of Cole, driving into a hurricane, all the dogs with their heads out the windows, and he’s singing at the top of his voice, “Nearer my God to thee!”. Godspeed, Mr. Cole.
Vote Beto!
Major Major Major Major
Don’t worry, I can hold down the fort if anything happens! ?
David Anderson
Cole — if you are coming down 79-77-85/40 , stop in Durham and lets get some barbecue
Gretchen
I’m glad you’ll get some vanadium I’m sure local businesses are glad too.
Barbara
It’s never nice when no one else is there and the locals REALLY appreciate your patronage at those times in particular. Still, it’s going to be wet and messy with possible flooding and road closures so I would definitely use caution.
satby
Have a good trip John. Looking forward to the Hatteras Chronicles.
Bobby Thomson
Lower Hatteras (Frisco) had baby pompano on Route 12 not long ago.
The section near Rodanthe often has ocean in the highway just after heavy rains. It’s possible streets and parking areas will be flooded for a while.
And the Herbert C Bonner bridge generally sucks (a 4 rating out of 100), but that’s nothing new.
Barbara
Sigh, where is our editing function — it’s never NICER than when no one else is around but things are still open.
Felanius Kootea
Have a wonderful trip and stay out of the way of mops, mustard and your own feet.
Tim C.
I was about to say, this involves naked mopping of mustard in a subaru, doesn’t it?
zhena gogolia
Have a great time if you can!
NotMax
Pack pants.
Juju/Julie
The information I have from neighbors in Avon, the ones who stayed, is that the power never went out but there was a lot of overwash up and down the whole island and that by this evening or early tomorrow we should know if any of Highway 12 was damaged, but at this point it looks like there was nothing but overwash. The friends who evacuated and are staying with us inland, are checking hourly because they want to get back to their island feral cats and sleep in their own beds. As far as I know, the island is not open to visitors or residents, but should be perhaps by tomorrow.
Juju/Julie
What the hell with the moderation?
Juju
@Bobby Thomson: there was some work done a few years ago and it’s up to 34.
TenguPhule
@NotMax:
he can get by on suspenders.
raven
They are fishin on the Avalon Pier.
raven
Go out on the Miss Hatteras, Spurgeon is a fucking gas, damn near a pirate!
Michael G
We all know you’re just trying to make Trump look bad by getting killed and upping the death count.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
Been seeing photos of road damage from out there, and I think I heard that the bridges are closed. We lost power again about a half hour ago, so I’m not able to hunt the reports up.
You’re talking about going through an area that will still be getting a lot of rain over the next 24 hours. Check flood reports before going south of the Virginia line.
CarolDuhart2
Take extra essentials if you can. Even in places where there’s no flooding, a lot of places would still be closed unless they are 7-11s or such. It helps to have extra toilet paper, soap, cash, and pet food in case of delivery delays or shortages due to people buying up the stores. Also, as others have said, a lot of credit card readers are down, ATMs empty, what not.
While I’m worried about you, if all goes well, you will have the rare privilege of being able to walk along the beach and in others practically alone and at your own place. Taking long looks at the scenery, stroll through the open stores with no line, dining at whatever table is closest to the picture windows is truly wonderful.
cleek
you’re not alone, JC. we have a week booked on Emerald Isle (just south of Morehead CIty) in a couple of weeks. we’ve all been covertly whispering “will our beach house still be there? do we need to go to FL instead?” to each other.