The 14th Anniversary of Hurricane Isabel

Fourteen years after Hurricane Isabel, one of the largest storms to rock Hatteras Island in decades, locals and visitors alike came together to celebrate our watermen at Hatteras Village’s Annual Day at the Docks. Making landfall at a Category 2 storm after brewing in the Atlantic as a Category 5 for a significant time, Hurricane Isabel left her mark on the island, breaching Highway 12 and cutting off Hatteras Village from the rest of the seashore. It was during this time of devastation that the watermen stepped up as the village’s lifeline, carting supplies, providing transportation, even taking action as the village school bus. To that, we honor and celebrate them.

On Saturday, September 16th, the docks were dotted with tents as the air was filled with melodies of old and swirled with the smell of delicious island treats. Some kids lined up to have their faces painted and receive free scoops of ice cream from Happy Belly, while others painted t-shirts among the Albatross Fleet and entered the crab races under Oden’s Dock, stopping only to take a questionable dip in the creek. Adults gathered in droves under the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation tent to get in on the action provided by the infamous “Chowder Cook-off”, first prize taken home by Hatteras Sol Waterside Grill, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Others walked around the pop-up shops along the docks, listened to the stories of old timers scattered about, watched various cooking demonstrations, and overall, took home a taste of Hatteras Island that you don’t find on a regular trip to the beach. Closing the day in solemnity, islanders jumped aboard the various boats that line these docks and formed a quiet line out into the inlet, circling in prayer led by Pastor Toni Wood of Hatteras UMC, as she prayed blessings over the upcoming season, and families and friends paid their respects to those who have crossed over in the years past.