Outer Banks Voice – Hurricane Isabel: Looking back 20 years later
By story submitted on September 18, 2023
Written by: Heather Eckstein | WTKR News 3
This story is brought to you through our newsgathering partnership with WTKR News 3.
On September 18, 2003, Hurricane Isabel barreled its way up the coast of North Carolina and Virginia, leaving 17 dead, hundreds of thousands without power, and destroying homes and businesses.
But this is just the beginning. Let us bring you back.
Isabel became the ninth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season on September 6, 2003. Isabel rapidly intensified, becoming a Category 5 storm by September 11. People closed their homes and watched the waves roll in as Isabel came off the coast. .
As the hurricane weakened, it made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane at Drum Inlet, just south of Cape Hatteras, on the North Carolina coast. Isabel pushed six- to eight-foot storm waves across the Outer Banks, flattening homes, destroying piers and flooding highways.
Now known as North Carolina Highway 12, people were stranded on Hatteras Island for weeks. It wasn’t until November when the island became open to the public again.
In the dark, more than 700,000 lost power in North Carolina. A federal disaster was declared in 36 North Carolina counties, with total economic losses reaching $5 billion.
Dare County saw the greatest impact as massive flooding and high winds damaged thousands of homes.
As Isabel moved up the coast with the advent of Hampton Roads, some evacuated while others chose to stay. As sand began to pile up and buildings on Virginia Oceanfront began to collapse, businesses closed and tried to maintain good spirits.
The Virginia coast saw waves rising up to six feet high as the oceanfront boardwalk disappeared under waves of waves as trees toppled over power lines, homes and cars.
During the height of the storm, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel recorded wind gusts of 87 mph. Harrison’s Fishing Pier, the original oceanfront fishing pier, was destroyed by hurricane waves and winds.
Isabel’s strength was felt as far north as Long Island where the storm’s path cut through the mid-Atlantic and into Ohio.
Seventeen people died during the storm due to drowning or falling trees and limbs. An estimated 35 others were killed indirectly by the storm.
The Washington Post called Isabel “one of the most destructive storms to affect the mid-Atlantic since Agnes in 1972 and Hazel in 1954.”
After the hurricane, the name Isabel was withdrawn from use.
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Notice to Contractors: Bidder Pre-Qualification Request:
Barnhill Contracting has been selected as Construction Manager in Risk Management by Dare County It seeks to pre-qualify building trade contractors to submit bids to furnish the labor, materials, equipment and tools needed for the project Manteo Youth Center located in Manteo, North Carolina. Please note: Only subcontractors pre-qualified by Barnhill Contracting Company will be able to bid. Project Description: The project scope includes approximately 4,300 square feet of new construction on a 72-acre site located in 101 Ferdinand Street, Manteo, NC 27954. The project is a single-storey structure with cold steel-framed bearing walls supporting a metal roof standing over timber trusses and beams containing administrative, assembly, kitchen and support spaces. Main trade contractors and specialists are solicited for the following tender packages: BP0100 – General Trade/Temporary Fencing; BP0105 – Final cleaning; BP0205 – Demolition and abatement; BP0390 – Ready mix concrete; BP0400 – Prefabricated Building Works; BP0500 – Structural Steel / Miscellaneous Steel / Ladders & Rails / Awnings / Canopy; BP0602 – Rough joinery / timber trusses / composite siding; BP0740 – Roofing; BP0790 – Caulking / Sealants / Waterproofing; BP0800 – Doors, Frames and Hardware; BP0840 – Glass and glazing / shop front / louvres / shutters; BP0925 – Drywall/Framing; BP960 – Resilient, carpet, base and epoxy flooring; BP0980 – Acoustic Ceilings; BP0990 – Painting and wall coverings; BP1005 – Disciplines/Mark Boards; BP1010 – Signage; BP1230 – Finishing carpentry and masonry work; BP1250 – Window Treatments; BP2100 – Fire Protection; BP2200 – Plumbing; BP2300 – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning; BP2600 – Prefabricated electrical appliances; BP3100 – Earthworks/Asphalt Paving/Site Utilities; BP3213 – Site Concrete; BP3231 – Fences and Gates; BP3290 – Landscape. Packages may be added and/or deleted at the discretion of the Construction Manager. Historically underutilized businesses are encouraged to complete engagement submissions. Interested contractors must submit their complete pre-qualification applications, by September 29, 2023to Meredith Terrell in mterrell@barnhillcontracting.com Or paper copies may be mailed to Barnhill Contracting Company, PO Box 31765 Raleigh, NC 27622 (4325 Pleasant Valley Road, NC 27612). Pre-qualification forms can be obtained from the Plans Room online, By clicking on “Dare County – Youth Center – CD Budget and Prehabilitation” Project under the “General Jobs” tab or by contacting Meredith Terrell via email or phone at 919-781-7210. Please note: Once tender documents are available, they will be published on the Plan Chamber website shown above, however, only subcontractors who have been pre-qualified by Barnhill Contracting Company will be able to submit a tender. Target offer period: from mid-October to mid-November.
Notice to Contractors: Bidder Pre-Qualification Request:
Barnhill Contracting has been selected as Construction Manager in Risk Management by Dare County It seeks to pre-qualify building trade contractors to submit bids to furnish the labor, materials, equipment and tools needed for the project EMS Station 8 located in Mance Harbor, North Carolina. Please note: Only subcontractors pre-qualified by Barnhill Contracting Company will be able to bid. Project Description: The project scope includes approximately 6,200 square feet of new construction on a 3.4-acre site located in 6677 Hwy 64/264, Mance Harbor, NC 27953. The project is a single-storey structure with load-bearing walls supporting a metal roof standing atop lightweight trusses containing administrative, living and support spaces as well as two equipment bays. Main trade contractors and specialists are solicited for the following tender packages: BP0100 – General Trade/Temporary Fencing; BP0105 – Final cleaning; BP0390 – Ready mix concrete; BP0400 – Prefabricated Building Works; BP0500 – Structural Steel / Miscellaneous Steel / Ladders and Rails / Awnings / Canopy; BP0505 – Lightweight metal supports; BP0740 – Roofing; BP0750 – Composite/Metal Wall Panels; BP0790 – Caulking / Sealants / Waterproofing; BP0800 – Doors, Frames and Hardware; BP0836 – Overhead doors; BP0840 – Glass and glazing / shop front / louvres / shutters; BP0925 – Drywall/Framing; BP960 – Resilient, carpet, base and epoxy flooring; BP0980 – Acoustic Ceilings; BP0990 – Painting and wall coverings; BP1005 – Disciplines/Mark Boards; BP1010 – Signage; BP1050 – Cabinets; BP1230 – Finishing carpentry and masonry work; BP1250 – Window Treatments; BP2100 – Fire Protection; BP2200 – Plumbing; BP2300 – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning; BP2600 – Prefabricated electrical appliances; BP3100 – Earthworks/Asphalt Paving/Site Utilities; BP3213 – Site Concrete; BP3231 – Fences and Gates; BP3290 – Landscape. Packages may be added and/or deleted at the discretion of the Construction Manager. Historically underutilized businesses are encouraged to complete engagement submissions. Interested contractors must submit their complete pre-qualification applications, by September 29, 2023 By Meredith Terrell in mterrell@barnhillcontracting.com Or paper copies may be mailed to Barnhill Contracting Company, PO Box 31765 Raleigh, NC 27622 (4325 Pleasant Valley Road, NC 27612). Pre-qualification forms can be obtained from the Plans Room online, by clicking on “Dare County – EMS 8 – CD Budget and Prequalification” Project under the “General Jobs” tab or by contacting Meredith Terrell via email or phone at 919-781-7210. Please note: Once tender documents are available, they will be published on the Plan Chamber website shown above, however, only subcontractors who have been pre-qualified by Barnhill Contracting Company will be able to submit a tender. Target offer period: from mid-October to mid-November.
Notice to Contractors: Bidder Pre-Qualification Request:
Barnhill Contracting has been selected as Construction Manager in Risk Management by Dare County It seeks to pre-qualify building trade contractors to submit bids to furnish the labor, materials, equipment and tools needed for the project EMS Station 9 located in Kitty Hawk, NC. Please note: Only subcontractors pre-qualified by Barnhill Contracting Company will be able to bid. Project Description: The project scope includes approximately 7,600 square feet of new construction on a 1.13-acre site located in 4907 Potter Lane, Kitty Hawk, NC27949. The project is a single-storey structure with load-bearing walls supporting a metal roof standing atop lightweight trusses containing administrative, living and support spaces along with 3 appliance bays. Main trade contractors and specialists are solicited for the following tender packages: BP0100 – General Trade/Temporary Fencing; BP0105 – Final cleaning; BP0390 – Ready mix concrete; BP0400 – Prefabricated Building Works; BP0500 – Structural Steel / Miscellaneous Steel / Ladders and Rails / Awnings / Canopy; BP0505 – Lightweight metal supports; BP0740 – Roofing; BP0750 – Composite/Metal Wall Panels; BP0790 – Caulking / Sealants / Waterproofing; BP0800 – Doors, Frames and Hardware; BP0836 – Overhead doors; BP0840 – Glass and glazing / shop front / louvres / shutters; BP0925 – Drywall/Framing; BP960 – Resilient, carpet, base and epoxy flooring; BP0980 – Acoustic Ceilings; BP0990 – Painting and wall coverings; BP1005 – Disciplines/Mark Boards; BP1010 – Signage; BP1050 – Cabinets; BP1230 – Finishing carpentry and masonry work; BP1250 – Window Treatments; BP2100 – Fire Protection; BP2200 – Plumbing; BP2300 – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning; BP2600 – Prefabricated electrical appliances; BP3100 – Earthworks/Asphalt Paving/Site Utilities; BP3213 – Site Concrete; BP3231 – Fences and Gates; BP3290 – Landscape. Packages may be added and/or deleted at the discretion of the Construction Manager. Historically underutilized businesses are encouraged to complete engagement submissions. Interested contractors must submit their complete pre-qualification applications, by September 29, 2023to Meredith Terrell in mterrell@barnhillcontracting.com Or paper copies may be mailed to Barnhill Contracting Company, PO Box 31765 Raleigh, NC 27622 (4325 Pleasant Valley Road, NC 27612). Pre-qualification forms can be obtained from the Plans Room online, by clicking on “Dare County – EMS 9 – CD Budget and Prequalification” Project under the “General Jobs” tab or by contacting Meredith Terrell via email or phone at 919-781-7210. Please note: Once tender documents are available, they will be published on the Plan Chamber website shown above, however, only subcontractors who have been pre-qualified by Barnhill Contracting Company will be able to submit a tender. Target offer period: from mid-October to mid-November.
