NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — One week has passed since a powerful storm struck the Cape Fear region, causing extensive damage across the area.
Carolina Beach and Kure Beach faced significant flooding, while the impact was also felt at Wrightsville Beach, where beach erosion has become a pressing concern. In Wrightsville Beach, substantial sections of the shore were washed away by the storm.
Johnnie Williams, an employee at Access 16 Beach Shop, detailed the erosion he witnessed. “I’ve seen some erosion on the beach. The tide is much higher than usual; it doesn’t come as close to the lifeguard stand as it used to. There’s approximately a 2-foot drop under the pier, and near the Holiday Inn on the North Side of the Island, there’s about a 5- to 6-foot drop where the storm washed it away,” Williams explained.
Robert Johnson, who works at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, expressed concern over the substantial loss of sand, particularly following a recent beach renourishment project. “We lost most of the beach out there. We just completed a major dredging operation in the spring, and then the first storm hit, resulting in significant loss. It seems we’ll be in a continuous cycle of dredging, only for hurricanes to come and wash it away,” Johnson noted.
Wrightsville Beach Mayor Pro-Tem Hank Miller commented on the situation, stating that while there are bad escarpment areas, the storm damage is not the worst the town has experienced. “We were fortunate not to be in the condition we were in last year before the sand was pumped,” Miller said.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the nourishment cycle for Wrightsville Beach occurs every four years, but they can request additional funding for more frequent maintenance if needed. A preliminary inspection indicated that emergency action is not necessary at this time.
Town Manager Tony Wilson mentioned that the Army Corps of Engineers plans to reassess the beach this week to determine the next steps.
