Nor’easter Pounds Park Beaches

During the four-day period from May 5th through May 8th, the park was pounded by a severe nor’easter that caused washover all along its beaches. When the storm abated, park staff conducted condition assessments of beaches and facilities and found possible storm damage in several locations. Large quantities of Styrofoam were found on the beach from Cape Lookout to Ocracoke Inlet. The Coast Guard was contacted and it was determined that a container ship had lost nine containers that had gone overboard during the storm. Reports were also received of Styrofoam on the beaches at Cape Hatteras. A meeting will be held with the Coast Guard this morning to set up ICS and began a possible 46-mile plus cleanup operation.