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One of the first places to flood is Hodges Street, typically near the Town Dock. Water was covering the road almost all the way to South Water, at the corner where the High Water Sign sits..

Water in the middle of Hodges at 9a was almost knee high. Another gauge is the water level along the railings on the wharf.

On Broad Street, the streets were dry, but the Oriental Village Veterinary Hospital was not taking any chances. A long sand bag graced the front door.

Another part of Oriental storm prep is finding a place to park the car out of the way of rising waters. This was the scene at the First Citizens bank around 8:30. Not a run on the bank but a hope of keeping the car high and dry in what has traditionally been one of the highest spots in Oriental.

Here’s hoping that the actual Neuse waters do not reach the drive-thru lane and the license plate bearing the Neuse River’s name.

The front of the bank allowed for some parking too.

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Water from the Duck Pond, harbor and the newly formed lake on Hodges Street spilled around buildings and lawns there, such as the Garland Fulcher Seafood Market .

In the Buccaneer Bay neighborhood up Smith Creek, the Neuse River waters were surging up the creek. Phyllis Chaplik who sent in this photo noted that with the flooded yards, she lived not on Smith Creek but in Smith Creek.

Water seemingly everywhere on and over Smith Creek. (Phyllis Chaplik photo.)

More of Hodges Street, looking past the seafood plant toward South Water and, beyond that, Broad.

What is a flood event without a photo of the Wits End on Hodges Street, next to the Duck Pond?

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Late mid-morning tour around Oriental:

Off of the dinghy dock at the end of South Water Street. High waters flowed over the top, leaving only some of the dock showing. Meanwhile, the water totally covered the breakwater that usually separates the anchorage from the river.

Gusts bend a tree near the Station 19 fire station on Straight Road, where many area residents use the high ground as a harbor for their vehicles.

Meanwhile, at a home on Factory Street, care was taken to put a Barbie car on higher ground. Nearby, the upper Duck Pond was overflowing its banks.

For good reason, the Town of Oriental has more than one High Water sign in its collection. This one was deployed on Factory Street alongside the upper Duck Pond. In the distance, the flood waters covered the area around the intersection of Factory and Main.

Along the South Avenue waterfront, with the Lou Mac Park pier in the background. The waters were high, sometimes splashing over on to the road, but considering it was part of a hurricane, the waters were not furiously churning.

Looking in the other direction on the South Avenue waterfront.

Near the Oriental bridge, the Red Rickshaw prepped for the storm by lowering its awning. Those planters don’t look as though they’d be moving.

Oriental’s Town Hall, higher and drier than it was in 2011’s Hurricane Irene. The then-flooded building on Broad Street is currently under renovation — and under blue tarps to keep the drenching rains at bay.

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Small craft advisory: don’t try to launch your boat today. This was the scene midmorning at the Wildlife Resources boatramp at the end of Midyette Street..

The floating docks at the Wildlife ramp live up to their labeling.

Meanwhile, the stationary pier at Lou Mac Park had water levels just underneath, sending the occasional splish-splash up through its slats.

The Provision Company was open despite being on Hodges, with arguably the deepest floodwaters in town. Out front, there were kayaks at the ready if you wanted to paddle around and take depth soundings.

Another floating kayak. This one had been tied to a tree in a yard, as a precaution that the waters in the low-lying Duck Pond area would set it afloat.

Back at TownDock’s basement around 11a, the Boots In The Water gauge shows how high the water had risen. (Alternate caption: “Do these boots make my feet look big?”)

Posted Sunday October 28, 2012 by Melinda Penkava