THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606130208
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 40 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
SOURCE: Ronald L. Speer
LENGTH: 71 lines
Folks in these parts, particularly those who make a living off our seasonal visitors, don't like the sound of the ``H'' word.
They never use the ``H'' word themselves. And they don't care much for people who do.
Friends of mine who have heard and used all the earthy words in our language go for months - particularly the summer months - without ever saying ``H - - - - .''
And I have to admit that I'm watching my own language more carefully.
No longer do I glibly toss out the ``H'' word, unconcerned about the sensitivities of other year-round residents.
I've joined the crowd of people who don't see anything witty or wise about Hurricanes.
Major Hurricanes threaten our lives. Minor Hurricanes threaten our homes. The mere mention of a Hurricane threatens the livelihood of many in the Outer Banks business community, because it scares off would-be visitors.
So why, you may ask, am I writing about Hurricanes?
The reason, my friends, is because I agree with the 50 people who gathered Wednesday in Manteo to talk about Hurricanes:
Survival may well depend on our preparedness if a big one slams into the coast.
Not since Donna trashed the full stretch of the Outer Banks 40 years ago has a major Hurricane hammered our coast, although storms like Emily in '93 took a heavy toll on Hatteras Island.
The Outer Banks is much more vulnerable now than it was in Donna's day in '56. And an estimated 250,000 people - visitors and residents alike - headed for inland shelter last year when Felix danced offshore for days before harmlessly moving on.
Convincing that many people to leave - and helping them get safely away - takes a lot of planning. And the work is just beginning if a storm comes ashore.
Preparing for all possibilities was what emergency and highway and political and military and utility officials were doing during a 5-hour meeting Wednesday organized by headed by Sandy Sanderson, Dare County's man on the hot seat during the storm season.
The training exercise called for an intense category three Hurricane packing 125 mph winds to hit the southeastern corner of North Carolina and race across the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds before carving its way across Currituck County to the sea. That's about what Donna did, before the Outer Banks became a favorite vacation spot, when most of the residents were still watermen.
The picture painted by the experts of what such a storm would do to the Banks today was not pretty.
Dozens dead. Hundreds homeless. Most homes damaged, perhaps half destroyed. No power. No phones. Highways blocked by fallen trees and flooding. All bridges out to the Outer Banks.
And not much outside help for perhaps 72 hours.
``This is serious business,'' said Dare County Commissioner Clarence Skinner in an understatement at the start of the session.
By the end, most of the people counted on to keep us out of harm's way had outlined their plans.
They sounded as ready as anyone can be in the face of one of Nature's hardest punches.
And the biggest concern if such a storm comes?
``Complacency,'' said H. Douglas Hoell, northeast coordinator of Emergency Management, who fears that as time passes without a deadly storm, people will scoff at the danger and ride it out.
Not many people who sat through the training exercise would stay if duty didn't call.
As I said, it's not a pretty sight that the experts paint.
I'm swearing off the ``H'' word for the season. And I hope we're still waiting for ``Arthur'' when the season ends. by CNB