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.

To our surprise the beach was relatively crowded with beach walkers. We had been told that swimming was not allowed as fierce rip currents were being created by the storm and only a week earlier life guards at Wrightsville beach reported helping over 40 swimmers who had been carried out to sea by these currents. In spite of this we did see one surfer who in spite of the warnings and official prohibitions could not resist riding unprecedented waves for the Wrightsville area. This young daredevil was quickly whistled to shore and given a citation.

Approaching the south end of the island we observed a flurry of activity at the island coast guard station as crews here prepared for search and rescue operations, should these be necessary.

Leaving the island we stopped in the largest grocery store only to find all milk, bread and flashlight batteries sold out. In North Carolina this is the best indicator of an approaching storm.

Heavy rains began to fall as we approached home. Projections were we would receive from 10-12 inches of rain.

Winds began to increase significantly around midnight and as we would learn later we were among the 17,000 residents in New Hanover county to lose power the result of trees falling on power lines.

Throughout the night high winds and rain pounded our house giving us second thoughts about evacuation as we sat in the dark.

Daybreak found scattered limbs and debris all around us, but no major damage to our home or those nearby.

Still without power we decided to drive around the immediate area hoping to find a nearby business with power and hot coffee and soon found a crowded McDonald's meeting the needs of hungry neighbors.

As we settled down with hot coffee and egg McMuffins we watched a local newscast which reported moderate flooding in downtown Wilmington. Wilmington's Front street which parallels the Cape Fear river was 3-4 inches deep in water. Local damage seemed to be limited to numerous trees down and one report of a collapsed roof at a gasoline station.

There were no reports of deaths or injuries.

Wilmington, it appears had 'weathered' one more hurricane.

Now we await the track of Hurricane Ike.