Outer Banks Ferry Ride Becomes 'Nightmare' Amidst Violent Coastal Storm

A routine ferry trip to Ocracoke Island in North Carolina transformed into a harrowing ordeal Saturday morning as a powerful coastal storm battered the Outer Banks. Megan Lawing, a visitor who has frequented the island for 18 years, described the experience as "nightmarish" after violent waves lashed the ferry.

Lawing reported that her family waited for the ferry for several hours, eventually boarding around 12:30 p.m. During the crossing, waves crashed onto the ferry deck with such intensity that they struck vehicles. One car parked on the deck sustained a cracked windshield from the force of the water, and water began to enter the vehicle.

"The car beside of us had been hit so hard that the windshield cracked," Lawing told 10 On Your Side. "The woman started honking her horn to get the ferry people to come down. They came down and helped escort her out, but water was starting to get into her car and that's when I started getting scared."

Lawing captured footage of the water surging over the ferry's bow and onto the deck, describing the scene as "pretty nuts" and unlike anything she had experienced in her many years visiting the island. She noted that the full realization of the danger only hit her once the ferry reached land.

The storm prompted Dare County officials to issue warnings for residents and visitors to avoid roads due to hazardous conditions, with winds reaching up to 50 mph. A mandatory evacuation order for visitors on Hatteras Island had been issued the previous day as a precautionary measure against potential flooding.

Drew Pearson, Dare County's emergency management director, advised residents to stay away from the sound and oceanfront areas and to protect their property. He cautioned against driving through flooded roads, emphasizing the risk of prolonged flooding due to the storm's persistent nature.

The storm, identified as a nor'easter forming off the U.S. East Coast, has led to flood warnings from Florida to Massachusetts. Coastal impacts are anticipated to be most severe along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, southeastern Virginia, and the beach communities of Maryland and Delaware. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph are possible in coastal areas from North Carolina to southern New Jersey.

The National Weather Service has issued Coastal Flood Advisories for multiple states, affecting millions of people. High Surf Advisories warn of dangerous swimming conditions and strong rip currents with waves potentially reaching seven to 14 feet. Forecasters anticipate that the storm will linger, causing prolonged coastal flooding, particularly during high tide, and potentially delaying drainage between tide cycles.

AccuWeather experts predict the nor'easter may become nearly stationary, extending coastal flooding through Wednesday and Thursday. Coastal flooding and beach erosion are also expected to affect the New Jersey coast, Long Island, and southern New England.