In September of 2018, cities along the coast of the Carolinas prepared for Hurricane Florence, feared to be a category 4 storm. Swan Quarter, N.C, with an elevation of two feet, prepared for storm surges of 3-6 feet. Ocracoke Island, part of the Outer Banks, prepared for surges of ten feet or more. Despite a mandatory evactuation order, many permanent residents chose to stay behind. After Hurricane Florence made landfall overnight, residents on Ocracoke and mainland Hyde County woke to find that they were spared the most severe effects of the storm.
A man who identified himself as Little Ron, has his gas jugs filled up at Ryan's Garage in Swan Quarter, N.C with Tony Brooks, and Ryan Marshall as he prepares for Hurricane Florence Tuesday, September 11, 2018. Residents of Ocracoke Island, part of the Outer Banks, and Mainland Hyde County are preparing for a storm with a surge of 3-6 feet, that could be worse than Hurricane Irene which hit the coast in August 2011.
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Marks on a wall at Ryan's Garage in Swan Quarter, N.C show the water levels of previous hurricanes, Tuesday, September 11, 2018. Residents of Ocracoke Island, part of the Outer Banks, and Mainland Hyde County are preparing for a storm with a surge of 3-6 feet, that could be worse than Hurricane Irene which hit the coast in August 2011.
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Dane Evans, a fisherman, 36, of Swan Quarter, N.C drives his 31-year-old boat, Captain Drew, named after his six-year-old son, around the Swanquarter Bay, in North Carolina, Wednesday, September 12, 2018. As Hurricane Florence moves in, a storm surge of about three to six feet is expected for Swan Quarter, and around six feet for Ocracoke Island with 12-20 inches of rainfall for the entire area. Hyde county as well as several surrounding counties are under mandatory evacuation. Evans will be traveling to Washington, N.C to stay with his girlfriend during the hurricane.
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Elizabeth Gurganus, of Swan Quarter, N.C, prepares to evacuate to Tyner, outside Elizabeth City, with her husband before Hurricane Florence makes landfall, Wednesday, September 12, 2018. A storm surge of about three to six feet is expected for Swan Quarter, and around six feet for Ocracoke Island with 12-20 inches of rainfall for the entire area. Hyde county as well as several surrounding counties are under mandatory evacuation.
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A motorist drives through a flooded area in the Swan Quarter harbor in Swan Quarter, N.C before Hurricane Florence makes landfall Thursday, September 13, 2018. Residents of Ocracoke Island, part of the Outer Banks, and Mainland Hyde County which is under mandatory evacuation, are preparing for a storm with a surge of 3-6 feet, that could be worse than Hurricane Irene which hit the coast in August 2011.
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Jessica Bianco takes photos of the flooded Swan Quarter N.C harbor in Swanquarter Bay with her dog Calypso after Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wilmington, N.C, Friday, September 14, 2018. While cities farther south including New Bern, Wilmington and Jacksonville were devastated with extensive flooding, a six-foot earthen dike around Swan Quarter protected the town from the storm's most significant effects.
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Deacon Etheridge, 14, skimboards on a large puddle on Main Street in Swan Quarter, N.C Friday, September 14, 2018, after Hurricane Florence made landfall. While cities farther south including New Bern, Wilmington and Jacksonville were devastated with extensive flooding, a six-foot earthen dike around Swan Quarter protected the town from the storm's most significant effects.
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Emma Spencer, 54, assists her husband, Dennis Spencer, 76, who is blind, with eye drops Saturday, September 15, 2018 in a shelter at the former O.A Peay school on Main Street in Swan Quarter N.C. They were rescued from their home in Engelhard, N.C Friday night as the water level rose around their home after Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday morning. While cities farther south including New Bern, Wilmington and Jacksonville were devastated with extensive flooding, a six-foot earthen dike around Swan Quarter protected the town from the storm's most significant effects.
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Passengers on the Swan Quarter ferry rest in their car on their way back to Ocracoke Island, Monday, September 17, 2018, the second day the island was reopened to residents after Hurricane Florence. Although Hatteras and Ocracoke were included in mandatory evacuations, the storm surge which was expected to reach 10 feet or more never reached near that level.
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Passengers on the Swan Quarter ferry to Ocracoke Island, Monday, September 17, 2018, the second day the island was reopened to residents after Hurricane Florence. Although Hatteras and Ocracoke were included in mandatory evacuations, the storm surge which was expected to reach 10 feet or more never reached near that level.
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Wayne Garrish, owner of the Bluff Shoal Motel on Ocracoke Island, cleans up debris from a live oak tree, Monday, September 17, 2018, the second day the island was reopened to residents after Hurricane Florence. Although Hatteras and Ocracoke were included in mandatory evacuations, the storm surge which was expected to reach 10 feet or more never reached near that level. Residents on the island were spared any power outages.
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The sun sets as seen from the Swan Quarter ferry as it travels back from Ocracoke Island, Monday, September 17, 2018, the second day the island was reopened to residents after Hurricane Florence. Although Hatteras and Ocracoke were included in mandatory evacuations, the storm surge which was expected to reach 10 feet or more never reached near that level. Residents on the island were spared any power outages.
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