BUXTON, N.C. (WNCN) — Despite a mandatory evacuation order in Hatteras Islands, some people are staying put, including the property managers and owners of two motels in Buxton.
As Hurricane Erin approaches, the guests at Outer Banks Motel are gone, but owner Billy Dillon is still there.
“The primary reason to not leave is you never know when you can get back on the island,” he said. ” If you leave and you cross the bridge, they can stop you. It could be is it could be a week or more before you get back. And there’s way too much to do to be gone that long.”
Dillon said he’s not too worried about the wind. He didn’t even board up the windows this time.
“It’s not going to be a wind event,” he said. “We put small sandbags and towels around under doors, things like that. But we did not board anything up.
The swells are growing bigger, and the sandbags are stacked. Dillon estimated the water levels were at 10 feet at 3 p.m., three hours before high tide.
“Our damage and sand damage to our steps and decks and things like that all come from water, not wind,” he said. “We might lose a shingle or two in a bad wind. But 99% of our damage is water related.”
The sandbags serve as a seawall, bearing the brunt of the waves.
“The sandbags build up sand around them and they also stop the force of water. The waves coming in, they stop it,” Dillon said.
Next door at Cape Hatteras Motel, it’s a similar story. Melinda Meadows is staying with her husband, who manages the property.
“I’m not leaving him behind,” she said. “We’re very anxious because it’s mostly within inches of us. “I don’t have any staff here. I don’t have any guests here. A lot of the locals have left, but a lot of have stayed as well.”
But they are prepared for whatever Erin brings. Meadows said they have enough supplies for at least a week.
“We have a lot of non-perishables,” she said. “We have things we could keep in a cooler where we could grill if possible. We’ve got everything in order that way. We have got flashlights, batteries, [and] lots of water. We have enough for about a week and a half right now.
Without any guests, Meadows said there is a financial impact too.
“We’ve had a lot of cancelations this week as well, even through [it’s] the weekend, because people just don’t know,” she said. “We depend on these four months to let us last the year. And when things like this happen and you have nothing coming, it could be detrimental.”
For those staying behind, it’s a risky choice. Dare County officials say N.C. Highway 12, the only road to and from the island, is expected to become impassable for days.
Shabnam Danesh
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