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The Day After Hurricane Irene
The Immediate Aftermath
August 28, 2011

W
hile hurricane force winds and rain battered Oriental Saturday, Sunday dawned eerily calm. Soon after sun up, Oriental residents began surveying the damage. Some drove cars slowly through their neighborhood, taking in the destruction, checking on neighbors. Others pondered a more simple question – “where did my boat go?” Here is a photo tour of early storm damage.

Not the freshness we had in mind: a heavy displacement wood boat in Keith and Marianne Bruno’s front yard. The vessel was driven ashore during the storm. Keith, a commercial fisherman, suffered major damage to his home and business.
A tangled, twisted mess. Zach Bruno arrives by forklift to help father Keith start sorting through the damage. In addition to losing boats, crab traps and nets, Keith’s pier was destroyed and his walk- in cold store thrown off its foundation. As he walked among the wreckage, he said, “this has set me back 5 to 7 years.”
Down to the slab. This structure was ripped from its base by hurricane Irene….
and deposited against a neighboring home.
Pecan Grove dock boxes. Normally, these fiberglass boxes store lines, fenders and assorted boating gear. Post hurricane, many were dirt and water filled – though some escaped with their contents dry and intact.
The twisted entrance ramp and stairs to the Pecan Grove club house. The main structure escaped the water damage that affected so many buildings on low lying areas.

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Cast in the road: a fishing skiff that came to rest on the shoulder of Highway 55 in front of Pecan Grove Marina.
A dwelling at the foot of the Oriental bridge. This home faces the Neuse River. The surging waves and exceptionally high water levels were powerful enough to punch windows and doors – and bricks – from the structure’s foundation.
Floating objects were deposited in unlikely places. Here is how one powerboat came to rest at the top of Kershaw Creek. (Arther Greenwood photo)

Posted Sunday August 28, 2011 by Bernie Harberts


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