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Hurricane Florence & Oriental's Creeks
Anchors dragged, lines broke, a few sinkingsOctober 2, 2018
Boats on docks, in and out of lifts, among the trees, or half underwater. Florence floated boats into the trees, sometimes setting them down between undamaged saplings. The storm dragged and snapped vessels from their moorings.TownDock.net took a tour of the major (and some minor) creeks in and around Oriental: Smith, Morris, Camp, Greens, Kershaw, and Whittaker. Creeks inside the bridge appear to have been harder hit. Whittaker Creek, where the boatyards and deep water marinas are located, look to have fared better.
Green Bay Marina in Greens Creek.Bow to Stern’s storm prep was unique – they wanted some boats to sink. The FJ fleet was tied together and the drain plugs all pulled, allowed them to sink on the lawn during the storm. It worked – boats stayed put.Storm prep that didn’t work: this boat was the only one not removed from Ray’s Creekside Marina.Boats hidden in the brush in Greens Creek. Eifel Kruetz (top photo) located these in Kershaw Creek. They are listed in the Hurricane Lost & Found.The trees around this power boat were undisturbed. High waters may have carried it onto shore and set the boat down as they receded.Two boats grounded next to each other in Smith Creek.The vessel Nocturne at Green Bay Marina.It was difficult to get to some boats. This one lay in shallow water off Greens Creek with lines tangled in the brush.[page]
Some boats did well – like this lifted boat in Smith Creek that escaped the high waters.Not all boat lifts were successful.Dock damage, ranging from missing boards to realigned walkways.More boats ended up on high ground than sank. But there were sinkings.The first view of Rabid Rabbit after Hurricane Florence.Alternate views of the stranded Rabid Rabbit, in Oriental Harbor Marina.A few of the boatyards and marinas on Whittaker Creek.Karma rests next to Amazing Grace at the Oriental Yacht Club.