Hunker Down for the Hurricanes in Beaufort, NC

By Erika Pietrzak, October 24, 2023

Beaufort is located in Carteret County, North Carolina and boasts one of the highest biodiversity in the state. Beaufort is a “‘frontline community’ because of its position along the coast and extreme susceptibility to the impacts these hazards bring.”

Beaufort is located in Carteret County, North Carolina and boasts one of the highest biodiversity in the state. Beaufort is a “‘frontline community’ because of its position along the coast and extreme susceptibility to the impacts these hazards bring.” The town’s website claims that “every facet of day-to-day life can be interrupted or even halted” by extreme weather. These extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, constituting a major problem for the area. 

Between 1995 and 2004, 164 days of coastal floods occurred in Beaufort. Between 2005 and 2014, this skyrocketed to 308 days of coastal floods. Currently, Beaufort’s sea level rises at 3.1 millimeters per year.

Dr. Andrew Read at the Duke University Marine Lab (DUML) underscores that “[h]urricanes have always shaped life here on the coast.” Dr. Read traces this influence back to the 1890s when the San Ciríaco hurricane floated 500 residents’ houses in Diamond City across the sea to Hakers Island and Morehead City. As a result, long-time coast residents “have learned to live with cyclones.” However, now cyclones are increasing in frequency, becoming stronger, and bringing more rainfall, challenging the ability to thrive in this coastal community.

But why is this increase in frequency and severity happening? Dr. Read attributes this to the rising sea level that makes “low-lying areas, such as Front Street in Beaufort, or Down East where [he] live[s], particularly vulnerable.” Medium sea level rise predicted by Climate Central projects a grim future of an 82% chance of at least one flood exceeding four feet to occur before 2050 and a 100% likelihood before 2070 in Beaufort. Climate Central also anticipates a 4.2-foot sea level rise by 2100 at their medium sea level rise scenario. A 4-foot flood puts $49 million in property value at risk, rendering most storm drains in Beaufort obsolete. With a sea level rise of 3 feet, most of Beaufort’s underserved communities would be flooded (229 people from underserved communities and 144 people from non-underserved communities). Areas with the highest flood hazards closely coincide with regions of socially vulnerable populations. The resiliency of salt marshes in Beaufort is significantly associated with housing, with the high-income areas exhibiting the highest resiliency and the low-income areas the lowest.

Situated in Beaufort, North Carolina, the DUML rests on elevated ground with two barrier islands shielding it from the Atlantic Ocean. However, this geographic advantage does not render the DUML impervious to hurricane effects. This vulnerability was exhibited five years ago when Category 1 Hurricane Florence hit the island. Florence’s wind intensity was low, but moved very slowly, producing record amounts of rain (more than 25 inches in two days) and causing the worst storm damage to the DUML since the campus opened in 1938. Dr. Read reflected on this destruction saying that “twenty of twenty-three building structures were damaged due to compromised roofs and water intrusion. Fourteen roofs needed total replacement and ten buildings suffered major water intrusion.” Dr. Read stated that nearly “all damage was caused by wind and water intrusion.” 

Hurricane Florence also disproportionately impacted low-income and underserved communities. This calamity spurred the inception of the Resilient Coastal Communities Program from the Climate Risk Assessment & Resilience Plan by “leveraging federal and state funding…to develop strategies for dealing with coastal and climate hazards.” However, the implementation of these strategies faces challenges owing to the prevailing beliefs of the Beaufort populace. 

Commissioner Melvin Cooper articulated that Beaufort “citizens can see it themselves with increasing sunny-day floods,” but only two-thirds of Beaufort citizens believe climate change is happening, the 30th lowest rate in the state of North Carolina. Even more, less than half of Beaufort citizens believe that humans drive climate change. Despite being one of the most vulnerable parts of the state, merely 40% of the Beaufort population perceives personal harm from climate change. With 92% of the blocks in Beaufort at risk of coastal flooding, there is an urgent imperative to educate the citizens about extreme weather events and expedite recovery efforts.

The DUML seized the opportunity presented by Hurricane Florence as a valuable learning experience, diligently repairing or replacing nearly all of its infrastructure, with a particular focus on roof structures. The support of the University also played a pivotal role in facilitating a rapid recovery. However, not all infrastructure entities were as fortunate. 

Beaufort currently maintains an average to slightly above-average resiliency rating. Recognizing a need for improvement, Beaufort recently received a grant to join the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management’s North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP). To address these mounting challenges, the town is using “a triple-bottom-line approach that highlights the social, environmental, and economic impact of these increasing hazards.” The Resilient Coastal Communities Program endeavors to address social and economic disparities that hinder coastal resilience capacity, extend assistance to vulnerable communities, promote resilience initiatives, and allocate funding resources. In 2021, $90,000 was allocated in the American Recovery Act “for a stormwater flooding mitigation project on Front Street and creating a Harbor Management Advisory Committee,” creating long-term goals for the town’s waterfront.

Do you want to make a change in Carteret County and our environment across America? Sign this petition to finalize the strongest pollution standards by May.

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