Beaufort County Awaits the Inevitable | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Beaufort County steels itself against the inevitable onslaught of Hurricane Irene. Mariners, who have such a large investment in their vessels that sail the waters of the Pamlico Estuary, must secure their vessels before the giant storm slams into their safe harbor.

    Generally that requires these sailors to anchor their ships away from the docks and bulkheads that will soon be awash from the mighty power of the seawater that will be push into the estuary, and far up the Pamlico River.
The first of the rain bands from Hurricane Irene are heading up the Pamlico River at 2:50 p.m., August 26, 2011. The water level along the waterfront in Washington, North Carolina, at this stage of the storm, which was 16 to 18 hours away offshore, was about one foot above normal at the time this picture was taken: Above. Sailors, boaters, and all manner of mariners consider the best path to protect their seaworthy vessels: Below.

Moving the ships out into the narrows of the Pamlico River, we see from this vantage point along Washington's waterfront, is the best practice to secure the safety of one's seaworthy property, as the first rain bands make their way up the river: Above and below.

The first of the forecasted 12 to 14 inches of rain hits Washington, N.C. At some point within 24 hours these docks will be covered by many feet of water: Above.