THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 17, 1995 TAG: 9508170521
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Lifelong residents of the Outer Banks wondered Wednesday whether the curious actions of Hurricane Felix would mean bad flooding on the sounds today.
Gathered with friends at the Courthouse Cafe - one of the few bustling spots in this Roanoke Island town - Sarah Owens talked of past storms, like Hurricane Donna in 1960.
That storm sent several feet of water surging over the waterfront on Shallowbag Bay.
``My grandfather, Moncie Daniels Sr., and his son Tommy owned the old Federated 5&10 Store on Sir Walter Raleigh Street,'' she said. ``When Donna hit, the water in the store was higher than the water outside on the street.
``After the storm passed, and they opened the doors, toys got swept out onto the street. A lot of kids on the island got new toys that day.''
Moncie Daniels, however, was lucky.
``Grandfather had Lloyd's of London insurance through the Federated chain,'' she said. ``A lot of folks didn't have insurance.''
Local insurance executive Malcolm Fearing, who has always lived on the Outer Banks, said he had already been on the phone to policyholders, readying for the coming storm.
Fearing spent most of the morning boarding up the windows of his offices.
``I've told my staff that if they want to leave, they can leave. But we're going to be available. A time like this is when people need us.''
Fearing said flooding was his biggest concern.
``I think we're going to get a lot of flooding,'' he said. ``If it comes into the sounds, we'll have some flooding. But you just can't be sure what it will do.''
Rising waters were also the concern at Manteo Booksellers. The store was closed, but staffers moved books from low shelves to higher ground.
``That's our biggest worry,'' said store manager Steve Brumfield.
``A huge storm can just cause water to be sucked in here like it did in the `storm of the century.' ''
The March 13, 1993, storm caused major flooding in Manteo. Brumfield said he is ready for Felix.
``I'm first on the list for the water extractors,'' he said. ``Once the storm has passed, and everything is safe, we're going to get them in here, get the water out, and we'll be open again.''
KEYWORDS: HURRICANE FELIX by CNB