OBX Today’s top stories of 2021: Big fish, big fire, big storm, tragic accidents, new records

A vehicle wades through the water flowing across N.C. 12 at the Cape Hatteras Motel in Buxton. [Orville Scarborough/Island Free Press photo]

Big fish, a big fire, a big storm, tragic accidents and new records were among the top stories of 2021 on the Outer Banks. As the year comes to an end, we’re looking back at the top news items and features we’ve run at OBXToday.com.

Today, we look back at more of our most read stories:

Early November nor’easter pounds the beaches, floods N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island

Overhead view of North Buxton on Nov. 8, 2021. [Matthew Coats/Island Free Press photo]

A nor’easter over the second weekend of November caused multiple periods of ocean overwash, especially along northern Hatteras Island. N.C. 12 was closed to traffic for almost three days. The peak tide from the storm was the fourth-highest ever recorded at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck. A total of 51 properties on Hatteras Island were affected by the storm, mostly exposed or damaged septic systems and minor surge related damage. The Rodanthe Pier had a section partially collapse about 2/3rds of the way out.


Ohio seven-year-old dies in elevator accident at Outer Banks rental house

The child died in an accident involving an elevator at a vacation rental home in Corolla in July. The U.S. Product Safety Commission issued a rare recommendation for rental companies and property owners to disable certain types of the elevators until changes could be made to the equipment.


 

Despite COVID, record visitation means booming business; Outer Banks people, patience stretched to limit

The Outer Banks had one of its busiest year ever, as already evidenced by a new record for visitation already set at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and new high marks for occupancy and food/beverage tax collections. But it also forced an already thin workforce to the breaking point at times. Even the N.C. Ferry Division had to deal with cancellations due to worker shortages. The lack of employees was compounded further at times by COVID-19 at nearly every type of business on the beach.


Fake news: No megatsunami headed for East Coast after Canary Islands volcano eruption

Fake and misleading social media posts about a megatsunami possibly hitting the East Coast popped up in September after a volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands.


VIDEO: Great white shark circles Outer Banks charter boat

A great white shark circles the Capt. Aaron Kelly’s Rock Solid on Dec. 1, 2021. [courtesy RockSolidFishing.com]

Yes, we know there are sharks in the ocean. Big ones. Really big ones! You’ve got a decent chance of seeing one when you’re fishing on an Outer Banks charter boat, and getting video is an added bonus. But one that’s “Jaws” proportions is not something you spot every day. That’s exactly what Capt. Aaron Kelly of Rock Solid Fishing did December 1 with a party fishing out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center on his 35-foot center console.

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About Sam Walker 1512 Articles
Sam Walker was news director for OBXToday.com, Beach 104, 99.1 The Sound, Big 94.5 WCMS and Z 92.3 from August 2011 to March 2022.