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December 4, 2009
Ocracoke Real Estate: Preparing and giving in to Mother Nature
By B.J. OELSCHLEGEL  It
always brings a smile to my face when a potential buyer, in discussing
the details of a purchase on the island, is adamant about securing
“hurricane” insurance. There are different insurances for different aspects of a storm, such as rising water and wind. Our mortgages require us to carry flood insurance and wind coverage. I think the smile comes from the thought that we could purchase the power to do anything during a storm except prepare and then give in to Mother Nature. During the mid-November northeaster, I was sitting at the bar in my kitchen, looking out on The Pamlico Sound making its way through the marsh behind my house. Water was everywhere. The car was parked on high ground, though I worried about whether I had chosen well. The water seemed to be rising more than I expected. The dog had to be carried to high ground for his periodic outing. It took me half of the first day of this northeaster to finally give in. I was carrying around an anxious feeling. I was worrying about work responsibilities, schedules, mail, bank deposits. “For what reason?” I asked myself. That was the turning point. I gave in. I relaxed into watching movies, eating, moving furniture around, reading, phone calls around the island, long e-mails and Internet surfing. (I know we were all thankful for the electricity remaining constant.) It was a forced respite. I’ve been hauling all of my office work to wherever I was working. So, all of my paper work is spread across the back of The Slushy Stand (one of two of my other jobs). It will be there when I get back. This is one of the things for which I am grateful. Ocracoke continues to teach me to “give in.” I cannot win when I face Mother Nature. She’s got the power. Just let go! We can build according to codes meant to protect by elevating and reinforcing the structures we call home. We can pull in everything that floats or can be lifted by the wind. But we reach a point where the only thing left to do is give in and wait for this to move on out to sea. This too shall pass, but not without some consequences. There will be clean up. Water meter lids will need to be retrieved, along with walkways and ramps that floated off. On a more serious note, the dunes and the road that provides the lifeline to our island will require major attention. And we will wait as the powers that be work their magic and restore our access. Doctor’s appointments and trips off will be reconfigured. We won’t be seeing new faces for awhile, which will translate into sluggish business numbers. But, as always, residents of The Outer Banks will persevere. (B.J. Oelschlegel has lived on Ocracoke Island for 32 years and has worked in the real estate business for 26 years. She is a broker with Ocracoke’s Lightship Realty and a real estate columnist for The Ocracoke Observer. You can reach her by e-mail at bj@ocracokelightshiprealty.com) |
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