Graphic description of life on Ocracoke from Island resident
The horror that Hurricane Dorian left in its wake as flood waters pushed into Ocracoke Village continues. Written by Kelley Shinn and appearing in the New York Times, this elegant and moving plea help for the Island and its residents is an extraordinary piece of writing and calls out to be read.
“I write this from a barrier island 26 miles off the mainland coast, accessible only by boat or plane. It has been about three weeks since Hurricane Dorian blew through, tore up and submerged the place that my 1,000 or so neighbors and I call home. While it might seem from a distance that the storm has passed, we are all as shellshocked as we were on Day 1.
I first came to Ocracoke as a 17-year-old who’d just lost her legs to meningitis and sepsis. The topography was overwhelmingly beautiful — and one night on the beach with a full moon, I found a reason to live again after tragedy. Nearly seven years ago, I came again for a 10-day vacation with my children, and never left. I didn’t stay because of the geographical beauty, I stayed because of the village.”
Click here to read the Kelley Shinn’s complete New York Times article.