Report from Cape
Lookout
September 16, 2005
Seashore to Re-open Saturday,
September 17, 2005 with Certain Restrictions
Harkers Island, NC. Superintendent Bob
Vogel announces that the seashore
will re-open in the wake of Hurricane Ophelia on Saturday,
September 17,
2005, with certain exceptions.
The following areas will be open starting
Saturday: Harkers Island Visitor
Center, Shackleford Banks (no dock access), South Core
Banks including the
Cape Lookout Keeper's Quarters Visitor Center, North
Core Banks including
Portsmouth Village. The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
and Heritage Center
also announces that they will reopen.
The following areas remain closed: The
dock at the Rock Jetty on
Shackleford Banks, vehicle ferries and concession cabin
areas at Long Point
and Great Island, all roads and vehicle routes, and
part of the Haulover
Dock at Portsmouth Village
Park Superintendent, Bob Vogel and other
management staff conducted an
aerial flyover and land based damage assessment on Friday.
"We are
fortunate that the damage was not as extensive as with
Hurricane Isabel, but
there are numerous docks throughout the park that have
been damaged and will
need repairs prior to ferry services becoming operational
again," stated
Vogel. "Park maintenance staff will be working
this weekend to make the
necessary repairs to reopen those facilities as soon
as possible."
"Ophelia took a long time getting
here and spent way too long in the area.
The staff of Cape Lookout National Seashore hopes that
folks living in the
region suffered minimal or no damage from this category
one hurricane," said
Superintendent Vogel.
We request that visitors assist park staff
by complying with the
restrictions that are listed above and posted within
the park. We
appreciate your patience and hope to have all ferry
services operating
within the next week.
Individuals that have vehicles parked
on the island may visit their vehicle,
ensure that the vehicles will operate, and maneuver
the vehicles around
within the parking areas. The vehicles are not allowed
outside of the
parking areas until further notice. We want to ensure
that the roads are
safe.
For further information on the park, you
may visit our website at
www.nps.gov/CALO
or contact us at 252-728-2250.
Sunday,
September 21, 2003 8:00 p.m. Three days after Hurricane
Isabel....
information about
ongoing
Hurricane Isabel Recovery at Cape Lookout
Dear Friends of Cape
Lookout National Seashore,
It has been a week that most of us in
Down East Carteret County won't
forget for a long time! We are physically and emotionally
tired. Last
Thursday, people from around the country learned that
our Drum Inlet was
the place with the dubious honor of having a direct hit
from the center
of Isabel's eyewall. The storm subsided and today the
Core and Pamlico
Sounds are as still as glass. It is hard to imagine Isabel's
wrath of
only a few days ago.
Cape Lookout National Seashore
is very different today. Miles and miles of dunes
have been replaced by a wide swath of beach. Forty miles
of the back road are gone. The seashore lost almost every
dock, picnic shelter, and dumpstation. We suffered major
damage to water systems, restrooms and septic systems.
The National Park Service lost two trucks along with generators,
ATV's and several gators. At least 40 park users lost
their vehicles that were left on the banks. Algier Willis
Camps and Morris Kabin Kamps have major losses. Five septic
tanks lie in the marsh next to Morris Kamps. The Coal
Shed next to the lighthouse was destroyed. There is damage
to numerous historic structures throughout the park. During
the Friday aerial survey of the park, we were pleased
to note that Portsmouth was still there--every structure.
On Saturday, we were disheartened to hear of the significant
damage caused by storm surge to so much of Portsmouth.
We continue to be disheartened to hear of family and friends
in our Down East communities that have suffered so much
from flooding.
It has been a painful few days!
Yet, there is good news!
The power is back on and the lighthouse is back to flashing
its beam across Core Sound. The horses on Shackleford
are thriving and seem to have taken little notice of the
biggest storm to hit the Banks since 1933. The church
at Portsmouth still stands with no real damage. The Harkers
Island Visitor Center and Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
were relatively untouched.
The new look to the landscape
is different, but still just as beautiful in
its own way. And-the people of the Core Sound, Carteret
County, North Carolina and beyond are reaching out to
express their concern and their willingness to help the
park. In just a few minutes, the first members of the
National Park Service Emergency Response Team are arriving
to help us with our tasks. In the next few days and upcoming
weeks, we will have historic architects, structural and
sanitary engineers, carpenters, laborers and park rangers
coming to assist. The only question that my superiors
and co-workers around the country have asked is, "How
can we help?" and "What do you need?" We
have good friends in so many places! Every time we have
felt too tired to keep on going, a word of encouragement
has kept us going. Every time we have felt sad over our
losses, we remember those who have lost so much more.
It will take time to repair, restore,
and replace all that has been lost. Please be
patient with us during the struggle in the next few days
and weeks as we gradually re-open the park. Yesterday,
the Harkers Island Visitor Center opened. Today, Shackleford
opened. Tomorrow, the Cape and the Keepers' Quarters will
open to walking traffic only. We will gradually open the
remainder of the park except the most seriously damaged
areas. As we get further along in our emergency response,
we will gladly accept the many generous offers of volunteer
labor support.
Sometimes,
it takes hardship and heartache to appreciate the many
blessings we have. Cape Lookout National Seashore is truly
a blessing that we should never take for granted!
Best regards,
Bob
Robert A. Vogel Superintendent
Cape Lookout National Seashore
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