FIRST PERSON | Just when we thought the hurricane was going to skate by beach towns to the south of Wilmington, N.C., new information has residents worrying more than ever about their children, property and pets. According to the latest models, Hurricane Irene will skim the North Carolina coast about 80 miles east of Wilmington, but schools are closing, shelters are preparing to open Friday afternoon and emergency services are on alert.
The slight westward movement could continue, and this resident is not willing to stick around to find out.
Storms in the Wilmington Area Love the Cape Fear River
Over the past 300 years, quite a few storms have settled on the Cape Fear River basin as the ideal place to make landfall, but most local residents remember Hurricane Hazel more than any other storm. The track of Hazel looks eerily similar to the track Irene is following. The only difference between the two is that Hazel's track was slightly to the east of Irene's track.
Hurricane Hazel left nothing on Oak Island, a small town 30 minutes south of Wilmington. Oak Island is where I live.
Hurricane Donna, another large storm, smashed directly into Florida before heading back out over the Atlantic Ocean and smacking landfall at the Outer Banks. That storm passed to the east of Oak Island and other beach towns on a similar path as the predictions for Hurricane Irene, but Wilmington reported 100 mile-an-hour winds. Carolina Beach was devastated.
Will Residents Wait Until It's Too Late
As WECT News started reporting potential changes in the local forecast; such as an upgrade from Tropical Storm Watch to Hurricane Watch, I was sure my neighbors would be hopping around like bunnies trying to tie everything down, secure belongings and pack vehicles, but nothing. There is no movement outside my door. Two of the 30 houses on two square blocks have boards on the windows, but residents are otherwise quiet. In a matter of minutes, I finalized my hotel plans two hours inland and made a last-minute checklist for the most important items we don't want to forget. My neighbors, nothing.
Hurricane Irene is a Laughing Matter for Some Residents
I spent last evening talking with my brother, also an Oak Island resident, about our evacuation plans. A longtime Oak Island resident strolled by walking his dog. As he passed he called out, "You getting ready for this storm?" We joked that we were waiting for his call on the matter. He replied, "I might get to it on Friday, maybe." That seems to be the overall feeling at the beaches south of Wilmington.
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