Chicamacomico suffers storm damage
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THE CHICAMACOMICO VISITOR is shown before it was lifted after Huiricane Irene moved it Aug. 27. It is not resting on several of the pilings shown here. It was resting against the next building.
THE THREE CHICAMACOMICO Life-Saving Station out-buildings are shown here with the visitor center on the far left. The center was the first to flood. Notte that all three are missing their ramps.
The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Complex has weathered many a storm in its 137 years. It was there for the Great Storms of 1899, 1933, 1944, the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, the Halloween Storm and the “Storm of the Century” of 1993 and, what was the most recent, Hurricane Isabel in 2003 . The latest, Hurricane Irene, delivered another hurtful punch to the gut, but it was far from a knock-out punch.
The following is the initial damage report filed Aug. 30 and updated Sept. 12:
Overall: Seven of the eight historic buildings remain on foundations and appear to have no major structural damage. However, one is a major disaster. The site grounds had no remaining flooding or standing water. Immediately after this storm, however, considerable flooding has occurred since then with a breach in the dunes at the campgrounds to the south of the site. There is a lot of general clean up and repairs and carpentry repairs and replacements needed.
Visitors’ Center:Should it collapse, it will conceivably damage the two adjacent historic buildings; even worse, it may not be able to be lifted up again at all. Yet another rare piece of our nation’s history would be lost.
The center has provided an invaluable service by orienting potential site visitors and inviting them to continue into the site, purchase an admission ticket, and take the self-guided tour and/or to patronize the museum gift shop.These are the site’s primary funding sources (as well as donations and memberships). On the advice from the National Park Service personnel, Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum (CLSS) Site Manager James Charlet contacted Worth Hare House Movers from Edenton.They recently moved the two Bodie Island Life-Saving Stations. They have been very flexible and easy to deal with, and gave CLSS some advice and options.They would (1) raise the VC, (2) replace the current pilings with the proper size pilings, place them at the proper depth and position, and (3) then lower the VC building back into place and strap it down with hurricane ties. CLSS was told by Hare (moving company owner) that this job would be done in one day or two. Cost has been quoted at $15,000.
Tractor shed, stable, 1911 Station, 1911 cookhouse, 1874 station, 1892 Cookhouse, 1907 Midgett House: other apparent damage. Complete cleaning will be necessary before re-opening. There was considerable loss of roof and the entry door lock was broken. Water reached floor and created a buckle near the boatroom doors. The bBoiler room, laundry room, and gift shop all took lots of water resulting in heavy damage.The boiler room door was ripped completely off its hinges. Ruined are water cooler, mini-fridge, microwave, lots of tools, and a considerable inventory of retail merchandise. The laundry room was completely flooded with four feet of water. Everything stored there is ruined. The gift shop took water, but not as much. List of ruined merchandise to be compiled later. Heavy damage. Both ramps floated off and wer damaged. South-facing bay doors broken, missing boards. East-facing bay doors also broken but are shut. The single entry door was so seriously damaged that it may fall apart on next opening. There was no apparent interior damage other than the donated full-size refrigerator that was ruined with flood waterMiscellaneous:Linda Molloy, site operations and gift shop manager, Linda Molloy saved more than 10 dozen site tee shirts by taking quick action. She had them washed with the generous help of the North Carolina Baptist Men, who were serving the entire community throughout the disaster.
Two ground floor rooms of the 1911 station took lots of water and received heavy damage. Volunteers from the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Cape Hatteras Flotilla 1604 have cleaned them both out. They also got the door back on its hinges. There remain many losses to be replaced.
Volunteers from United States Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat Station Hatteras Inlet spent a day on site hauling debris and other trash to the highway for pick up.
The most serious damage most urgently needing to be corrected was the condition of the visitor center, formerly the 1897 Sound Rescue Boat Boathouse. Of the three adjacent out-buildings in the front, the visitor center (VC) is the one closest to the highway. This building had been knocked almost completely off its foundation. It rested precariously on only four of its 15 pilings and, worse, was leaning dangerously on the building next to it. Conceivably, the VC could have toppled all three buildings like dominoes. Since all of Chicamacomico’s buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, the only solution was to hire a professional house mover, an expensive but proper solution. Chicamacomico put the word out to potential funders. In only two days, the total project was fully funded. Stepping up to the plate, once again, was the Outer Banks Community Foundation and the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society with requested funding.
Worth Hare & Sons House Movers raised the VC eight feet Sept. 20. Constant rain delayed the next step, but on Sept. 22, Top Dollar Construction, from Hatteras Island, set all new pilings. These were 8×8 by 8 feet long. Hare returned in more rain to lower the VC back on its pilings, and then secure it with hurricane straps.
That was one major victory for Chicamacomico. But that is one building of an eight-building- seven acre complex. There are still many repairs and lots of work. Chicamacomico is soliciting both monetary donations as well as donations of labor and expertise. For the latter, email to clss@embarqmail.com.
Visit www.chicamacomico.net for new photos of the damages.
The professional evaluatio of damage costs has yet to be completed, but it will be in the many thousands of dollars. Anyone willing to make donations can send a chedk to The Chicamacomico Historical Association, P.O. Box 5, Rodanthe, N.C. 27968.
Many decorative pilings floated away. Several signs are missing, including one “Entrance.” light. Sections of roofare missing from the two water tanks by the 1911 cookhouse. The parking lot in terrible shape from constant flooding and from heavy use by large trucks, tractors, bulldozers, etc. It will need to be regraded and possibly have more ABC (gravel) added. The biggest task remaining, however, is that all buildings will need to be cleaned thoroughly before re-opening.. The bay doors lock broke off and the ramp ripped off. There was considerable movement and jumbling of contents inside. A lot of items were uined, such as a donated push mower. A lot of tedious clean up is needed.
Many decorative pilings floated away. Several signs are missing, including one “Entrance.” light. Sections of roofare missing from the two water tanks by the 1911 cookhouse. The parking lot in terrible shape from constant flooding and from heavy use by large trucks, tractors, bulldozers, etc. It will need to be regraded and possibly have more ABC (gravel) added. The biggest task remaining, however, is that all buildings will need to be cleaned thoroughly before re-opening.
. The bay doors lock broke off and the ramp ripped off. There was considerable movement and jumbling of contents inside. A lot of items were uined, such as a donated push mower. A lot of tedious clean up is needed.
. The bay doors lock broke off and the ramp ripped off. There was considerable movement and jumbling of contents inside. A lot of items were uined, such as a donated push mower. A lot of tedious clean up is needed.
The soundside boathouse was knocked almost completely off its foundation. It is resting precariously on only four of its 15 pilings and is additionally being barely supported by leaning on the smaller 1932 tractor shed building next to it.It is a hazard and must be addressed as soon as possible. It took a lot of water. The ramp floated up and away. (Note: ALL four ramps of these three buildings floated away, but all remain on the property close to where they belong. The floor bucked in several places. Most all brochures, guides, rack cards were ruined. The display boat floated to one side. The drill cart seems OK.