THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606130251
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 32 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 49 lines
Islanders investigate
boats damaged or
destroyed when a
tornado made a direct
hit on Buxton Harbor
on March 31, 1987.
Striking at dawn,
the twister began
as a waterspout over
the Atlantic, but
quickly moved north
across Hatteras Island,
knocking homes off
their foundations and
tossing large commercial
and recreational boats
about like toys.
The tornado then rolled
into Pamlico Sound
and headed toward Avon,
where trees were uprooted
and structures were
damaged. Miraculously,
only minor injuries
were noted, though
one Buxton home
disintegrated around
a family of three
as they slept.
The storm prompted
local residents to
erect a street sign
in the storm's path.
``Tornado Way'' can be
seen across N.C. 12 from
Buxton Harbor today.
Photo by
DREW WILSON
Courtesy of the
OUTER BANKS HISTORY CENTER by CNB