When they bought their oceanfront house in 2002, one couple didn't consider the risk of extreme weather and beach erosion.

A RED FLAG DAY with HIGH rip current risk north of Cape Hatteras to include the beaches at Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Pea Island, Rodanthe, Waves, ...

Despite all of our collective science-based methods to stave off erosion and other hurricane-wrought “damage” to our coastlines, nature’s methods proved the soundest during the Category 5 storm.

At 7:54 p.m. on Saturday, the NWS Newport/Morehead City NC released a beach hazards statement valid for Sunday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for Northern Outer Banks and Hatteras Island.