| Her Name Was Irene |
published on: September 6th, 2011
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Her Name Was Irene
By Dewey Parr
Over the years I have known a few nice ladies named Irene. Two that I am thinking of are Irene Young and Irene Nolan. Irene Young was the mother of my good buddy, Jack that I palled around with as a teenager. Jack and I had a lot of fun together. He is moved to California and made a fortune selling appliances. The other Irene is probably the one Irene that has enhanced my life more than any other. She introduced me to the joy of writing and expressing my thoughts on paper. The first time I met Irene she was the editor of the Island Breeze. Before that she was the managing editor of the Louisville Courier Journal. It was a lucky day for Hatteras Island when Irene brought her talent here. She is not a native of Hatteras, but she loves this Island, and the people who live here probably more than anyone has ever done. Over the years her editorial pen has been unsheathed many times in defense of the Island and the Islanders. She now edits the Island Free Press, an Internet newspaper. Because of her efforts, the Island is no longer without instant news of the events or changes that occur on a daily basis. Before new news was old news before we became aware of it. If you have not done so you need to check out her newspaper and blog. Click Here to go to www.islandfreepress.org
When we heard Irene was coming we made up our mind we were not leaving Hatteras Island unless it was absolutely necessary. This decision was prompted by the ordeal we experienced after Hurricane Earl, which I wrote about previously. Click Here to Read about Hurricane Earl. We decided it was safer to ride out a Hurricane than to sit on top of a shaking Bonner Bridge. I cannot figure out why the environmental groups are fighting so hard to stop the tourists and residents of Hatteras Island from having a safe access to the Island. Guess it is the same flawed reasoning they have for wanting to stop everyone from enjoying the beach.
It is not easy to leave the Island knowing that when you return all earthly treasures could be in rubble, exposed to the elements or ravaged over by others, before you can get back to tend to them. Mary and I know what it is like to be out of town and have your property destroyed. When our home of thirty-five years burned we were out of town and before we got back to tend it looters came and stole some of our possessions. Once you leave you may not be able to return for days or even weeks so it is a hard decision to make. When you listen to the news media they dramatize the approaching hurricane and pull up footage from previous hurricanes showing all the destruction and recount the number of deaths that occurred. The average person is traumatized long before the hurricanes arrive due to all of the media attention. Seems like poor little old Ocracoke and Hatteras become the blunt of most of the hurricane news casting due to the way the Islands extend out into the ocean.
It is no easy job getting ready for a Hurricane. Everything has to be removed from the yards and things inside have to be moved off of the walls and shelves to prevent the winds beating against the walls from causing them to come crashing down. There was so much talking about the extreme danger of water engulfing the Islands, Mary even took the time to take things off the floor and lower shelves. Can you imagine the efforts and time it took places like our neighbors Connors Supermarket, to raise all of their products up high. Connors and the Old Gray House were fortunate not to have water damage. Not every business and homeowner was that fortunate.
Hatteras Toy Store Located in Avon Was Flooded
When Irene finally arrived we were behind boarded up windows and unable to look out which gave us a very uneasy feeling. You had no idea what was going on outside your door. The howling wind and water seeping around the bottom of the door made you wonder if it was merely the driving rain or the floodwater was rising and if there was floodwater waiting you if you should open the door. Irene howled and rain battered our room all night long. At one point during the night as I watched Mary sleeping my thoughts went back to my experience while in Navy when I was aboard the old battleship Mississippi in Norfolk, Va. in 1954 during Hurricane Hazel.
Battle Ship Mississippi
http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/014130.jpg
When our ship came into hurricane anchorage we lost our anchor and they were unable to retrieve it in time so the ship was sent out to sea to ride out Hurricane Hazel. Hazel hit us broadside. I was a Hospital Corpsman in charge of the ship’s pharmacy. Sick bay was three decks below the water line. During the storm our compartment took on water due to a damaged air vent and we were sealed off. Every time the ship would list the water would wash us from side to side. We had a couple of patients in sick bay so we tied them to the upper bunks for their safety. To say the least it was night to remember especially for me. I tend to be a little claustrophobic when I am in a confined area. The lack of light makes it even more noticeable. I had that same feeling come on me during Hurricane Irene due to not being able to open the door and see outside. I overcame it by doing my exercise even though I did not have my weights. Friday night was a very restless night for me but Mary seemed to sleep much better. As I watched Mary sleeping I recalled during Hurricane Hazel we were living in Norfolk in a garage apartment. Now that was some apartment. I could sit on the coach which was along one wall and stretch out my feet and touch the other wall. To get to the kitchen and bathroom below you had to climb down a ladder. It was a small place that housed two happy people. When I got back home from the ship, after enduring the wrath of Hurricane Hazel I was surprised to learn that even though Hurricane Hazel raised havoc with Norfolk Mary had slept through her first Hurricane. Now this night was much different for we were witnessing this hurricane together and we no longer were newlyweds but hurricane veterans of fifty-eight years together. Now we both fully understood the devastation and loss of life that can occur with even a minor hurricane.
At last daylight arrived and the wind and rain began to diminish so that I could open the door and peep out. Much to my surprise there was no water outside just wind and rain. The first part of the Hurricane was over. Could it be we are in the eye and the second part will soon come I thought. I was soon to learn that was not the case thanks to radio station Beach 104. While they were able to stay on the air they provided information by making it possible for people to call in and share what was happening where they were located. It was a great comfort to hear an occasional voice of an Islander reporting what they were experiencing.
http://www.beach104.com/
We learned that the eye was not over Hatteras as predicted but had moved inland over the Swan Quarter area and that the water had all blown out of the sound and land was exposed. All Islanders knew what this meant. There would be a calm period and the wind would swing around and all that water that went inland would come rushing back towards the Islands. It also meant that it was time to head to the sound with feed sacks to collect as many clams as possible before the water came rolling back. In my memory I can hear my Uncle Ken, saying, “Sonny, lets go get them clams.” Off we would head for the sound, filling as many sacks as possible and run them back to shore before the water came rolling back. I also recall that there were a few times that we had some close calls. We stayed too long and had to run fast to get back to shore before the rolling water overtook us. Those days are no more on the Island. Our economy is different and we do not live off the land as we did back then. We are spoiled. Even during a hurricane we have creature comforts that our ancestors never dreamed existed.
The Electric Company Is In Front of the Old Gray House
Thanks to the Efforts of our Electric Company the majority of the island was only without electricity for three days and nights.
When the calm came I took the opportunity to venture out and chat with friends and neighbors as well as check on my property. Bill and I walked around the Cape Pines Motel, my home, and the Old Gray House to look at our roofs. Much to our relief our roofs were in better shape than anticipated. Bill lost a few shingles and the tin on the Old Gray House looked ok. Our next chore was to help our neighbor, and her dog Otis, get back into her trailer. A tree had come down across her porch blocking the door. With wind starting to pick up again, and Otis refusing to cross over the tree branches, we gave this up and Mary and Otis returned to their safe place to ride out the second half of the storm.
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Bill and I returned to our safe areas to ride out the second half of the hurricane. Mary asked how was the roof. I told her it looked pretty good but I had not gone inside to check it. I decided I would go to the Old Gray House to be sure the roof was not leaking. Told Mary I would be right back. My right back was a couple of hours later for once I got inside the Old Gray House the wind and rain came back. I knew better than to try to get back to Mary so I just stayed in the Old Gray House. The worst thing you can do during the high winds of a hurricane is go outside. That is why there are not even emergency vehicles on the road during high winds.
I watched the old tin roof hoping it would not rip off
I watched and listened to the rumbling of the tin roof as the wind gusts hit it. I thought for sure one gust was gong to take it off. A section actually rose up about two inches with a loud whap. Thanks be to God, the old tin roof held fast and the merchandise inside was not destroyed. Should the roof go the wind and driving rain would destroy everything inside in a heartbeat. Finally there was a lull in the wind and I made my way back to Mary, dodging flying debris and we rode out the storm together waking up the next morning to a beautiful day.
The weather after a hurricane seems to be a beautiful day. Now it is time to assess your damages and those of your friends and neighbors. It is time to rejoice if there is no loss of life on the Island. It is time to reach out to others that might not have been as fortunate as you were. One area of concern is always the loss of electricity. During a hurricane you learn just how much electricity has changed the way we live. Our ancestors did not have the luxury of refrigerators, TV’s, computers, and that precious air conditioning. I often wonder if our modern Americans could survive without electrical power.
Our losses were minimal in comparison to what many suffered. We lost the food in our freezer and refrigerator. Food was not an issue for the village of Buxton. Connors. Supermarket has a generator and was able to provide food. On Sunday the Connor family even provided Barbecue for everyone. Over my 80 years I have met a lot of generous people but I have never met anyone that cares more for the needs of others than the entire Connor family.
Inside the Old Gray House Mary was blessed with little or no damages to her merchandise. Her biggest job is replacing the merchandise that she had moved off of the walls and shelves. She says the hurricanes provide her with the opportunity to dust the shelves and give serious consideration as to how to rearrange her merchandise.
Mary Cheerfully Putting it Back together
The worst enemy to our personal property and the Old Gray house is the wind. It is amazing what wind can do during a Hurricane. It can tear the siding off your house, toss trees on your roof, even pick up boats and set them ashore. It literally strips the leaves off the trees and shears off the tops of all fragile vegetation such as flowers and shrubs. At the Old Gray House it removed fencing, and trimmed our treetops. Many of our annual visitors to the Old Gray House remark to me that I must spend a lot of time rearranging my garden as it looks different every year when they return. Now you know the secret. The Hurricanes change it for me. I must admit it does take a lot of time and effort to clean up the mess. There is a plaque I keep in my garden to remind me with every hurricane that comes there is hope it will not destroy all of my efforts and the gifts of plants given to the Old Gay House Garden.
All in all we are thankful for the fact that Irene did not do serious damage to the Old Gray House during her short visit. We attribute this to many prayers that were being offered for us by our faithful guest who visit us.
We are Sorry, however, that she was not so kind to many of neighbors and fellow businesses. After the storm passes then comes the heartache that lasts a long time after Hurricane Irene is no longer news worthy. This heartache entails loss of income for businesses and employees that become unemployed. Business owners are faced with the problem of how to keep going. Their expenses continue on even though they are closed. Mortgages, rents, insurances, taxes, and utilities must be paid regardless.
Put yourself in the shoes of a businessperson dependent on the tourist trade, who owns or rents business space on an Island, cut off from the mainland with a 6 PM to 9 AM curfew, and no one allowed to come to the Island.
Homeowners suffer the same experience dealing with the trauma of loosing their earthly possessions and seeing their dreams for the future washed out to sea. Take time to look at the slide show of the devastation that occurred in the communities of Rodanthe, Salvo, and Waves. It will be years before these communities are healed from human suffering that occurred there.
We thank all who took the time to contact us and let us know of your concern for us. We feel it was your prayers that helped us through the fury of Irene. The Old Gray House is requesting that you now join us in praying for those who were less fortunate that we were. God bless you and thank you for contacting us and praying for us.
Friends of The Old Gray House: If you have any comments you can contact us at OuterBanksShells.com
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