Riding Out Hanna in Wilmington, North Carolina

As reports of Hanna gaining strength and turning towards the Carolina coast were received, my wife and I decided to take one last opportunity to walk on Wrightsville beach the evening prior to the storm's predicted arrival.

Wrightsville beach is located on Wrightsville island, a narrow, half mile wide and 3 mile strip of sand perched just off the coast of Wilmington. It is accessed by one bridge over the inland waterway from Wilmington. As we crossed the bridge onto the island and over Bank's Chanel we noticed the red flag with the black rectangle being whipped by increasingly stronger winds. This is the flag used to warn residents of an approaching hurricane.

As expected, the little island was a beehive of activity with homeowners working feverishly to board up windows, stow outside furniture and take down summer awnings. The few boat ramps on the island were lined with queues of trucks and trailers patiently waiting their respective turn to remove their boats from the water prior to the storm's arrival. To our surprise those waiting in line were exchanging good natured greetings and helping each other rather than impatiently nudging their way forward in line. These long time residents gave the impression this was an old drill and one in which they had participated many, many times.

On reaching the parking area nearest the beach we found much of the parking area was dominated with the trucks and equipment of local and national Television networks busily at work setting up satellite dishes and cameras. The weather Chanel was there as were representatives of local stations which would feed the national networks. These crews also appeared to be veteran storm chasers and had no fear of the approaching storm.

Once on the beach we saw work crews from the town of Wrightsville beach working to remove the lifeguard stands that were positioned every 200 yards down the beach. Hurricane warning flags here also warned of the pending storm.