Ocracoke is already being evacuated

[taterguy]

Why?

Because there's no tunnel.

So it takes forever to get everyone off the island using ferries.

Can someone give me one good reason why there's no tunnel.

[villager]

1. I'm sure there'll only be a tunnel there when it can be privatized!

n/t

[taterguy]

3. Where will the tunnel's beginning and ending points be?

[villager]

7. I certainly don't know -- I was responding to your question about why there wasn't one

Perhaps, then, geography is the answer?

I just figured it was infrastructure expense that will never be gotten around to.

This puts aside the question about whether a tunnel is a good idea from an ecological perspective, however...

[dtexdem]

12. Perhaps it would be best if ...

one of those points were Ocracoke. ;-)

[taterguy]

14. Which part of Ocracoke smart-ass?

[Obamanaut]

42. The side closest to the other shore. nt

[taterguy]

46. The closest other shore is Portsmouth Island

Which has been uninhabited for years.

[Obamanaut]

51. Surely that would be better than starting a tunnel that goes seaward, wouldn't it? nt

[taterguy]

63. Your knowledge of Hyde County geography is deficient

Currently, there are three basic routes off Ocracoke:

You can take a ferry south to Cedar Island.

You can take a ferry west to Swan Quarter.

You can go north to Hatteras Island.

Conceivably, any of those routes would be appropriate for a tunnel. However, some feel that the ferry slip on the north side of the island isn't too keen because you're miles away from anywhere. There are folks that would like to replace it with passenger-only hydrofoils that went straight to the village, since everything in the village is within easy walking distance.

There are no roads on Portsmouth so it wouldn't be very sensible evac route.

[snooper2]

60. We don't build tunnels to nowhere

:rofl:

[Pab Sungenis]

2. Because no one wants to spend the money to build one.

"Lower taxes" and all that.

[taterguy]

4. As if the ferries don't cost money to build and operate

:eyes:

[David Sky]

19. Do you know the difference between a million and a dozen billion?

If not, why are you here posting?

[uppityperson]

45. Knowledge of mathematics is not a requirement for posting on DU.

[Confusious]

26. A ferry can run or not run

Depending on the season.

A tunnel would cost billions of dollars. For 770 people? How about a bridge? It'd be easier and only hundreds of millions. For 770 people.

[David Sky]

34. Yeah, but they are private enterprise, self-sustaining...revenue and jobs generating..who..

came up with the idea that a tunnel was needed anyway, and why?

Underwater tunnels demand annual maintenance, at the cost of a few million dollars each per year.

[taterguy]

35. How much 'revenue' is generated by the free ferries from Hatteras to Ocracoke?

[Lunabelle]

5. Dear North Carolina

Florida is sorry Irene is headed your way, but relieved at the same time. Good luck and I hope she weakens before she hits.

[cbayer]

6. I had to get off that island during a bad storm once, and I remember using a bridge.

I don't think I would want to be in a tunnel with a hurricane approaching.

[woodsprite]

9. You weren't on Ocracoke. Hatteras is an island with the bridge.

Ocracoke is only accessible by a 45 min. ferry ride. If you go down again, go all the way to the end of Hatteras Island and take the free ferry over to Ocracoke. If you like the beach, you love it there.

[taterguy]

15. The storm is a couple of days away.

Check out the webcam.

The word 'placid' comes to mind.

If there was a tunnel people could stay on the island longer.

And another thing, I'd much rather be in a tunnel than on a bridge during a raging storm. It's not like wind would be a factor in a tunnel. Also, ships can't take out the spans of a tunnel, which has happened with the Bonner Bridge.

http://www.ocracokeharborinn.com/webcam_teachs.html

[marions ghost]

56. Hatteras has the bridge.

Okracoke has nice small well-maintained ferries that visitors like to ride on, especially kids. Bridges are much more vulnerable.

[woodsprite]

8. Today they're getting the vacationers off.

If there is a mandatory evac order, most vacationers can recoup some of their rental money. From what I understand from my friends, most of the locals stay through these things. Maybe Howard's Pub will have a new drink called 'Inebriated Irene' when I go down there next year. If I remember right, Dizzy Izzy was pretty tasty, and so was Pink Floyd.

[eShirl]

10. Why would there be a tunnel?

[taterguy]

13. To quickly get people off the island

Comes in handy when a hurricane approaches.

[eShirl]

21. I think they have sufficient warning to swim for it if they start now.

[taterguy]

55. Great plan except . . .

* There's lots of fish in that area. Fish attract things that eat fish. Things with sharp pointy teeth.


* It's called the Graveyard of the Atlantic for a reason. The shoals man, the shoals. They create treacherous and unpredictable currents.


* Blackbeard's ghost. He was murdered in the waters off Ocracoke. He's still holding a grudge.

[David Sky]

22. How many billions of dollars to evacuate how many hundreds of

people?

Show me the math that makes this a reasonable public expenditure, when ample warning from weather satellites, etc, and ferries will do a reasonable job.

Break it down for me, why pay for this with public funds? Give me your best argument, and then review the cost of the 1.34 mile Boston "big dig" tunnel project, costing 14-18 billion.

[underpants]

27. Hampton Roads has lots of tunnels (near OBX) and they ain't cheap

they don't need a tunnel anymore than they needed that bridge in Alaska

[David Sky]

33. You bring up a good point, a few dozen military helicopters could..

evacuate the island within 12 hours of a hurricane....each and every resident..within a few hours once every few years....at MUCH LESS EXPENSE than a tunnel.

[NutmegYankee]

53. The Hampton Roads region also has over 1.5 Million people.

Huge cost for tunnels, but well worth it. OBX, not so much.

[malaise]

11. LOL

You're the best :rofl:

[taterguy]

62. And yet this thread didn't make the Greatest Page

:wtf:

[angstlessk]

16. build a tunnel for 770 population...WHO PAYS FOR IT...LEAVE IF YOU FEAR HURRICAINS

I am sorry, I truly do believe in socialism..but not for the few...but the many...I am sure most occupants of that island must be rich or at least self sufficient...build a tunnel if you wish.

[taterguy]

18. Most of the people on the island are tourists

And wealth is not a requirement on Ocracoke.

Who pays for the ferries?

ps: It's spelled 'hurricane.'

[angstlessk]

20. I lived most of my life in VA..excuse me from misspelling hurricane

but maybe there should be a TAX ON TOURISTS TO BUILD A TUNNEL?

[greymattermom]

17. tunnel to nowhere

They'd call it the tunnel to nowhere. What a waste of taxpayer dollars and all that.

[angstlessk]

23. I agree...with a population of 770...mostly rich I am sure..since very few workers can afford to

live on an island...they cater to tourists...LET THE TOURIST PAY A SPECIAL TAX FOR A TUNNEL!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

50. Mostly rich? No.

Granted, this is from Wiki, but it's a starting point:

"The economy of Ocracoke Island is based almost entirely on tourism. During the winter, the population shrinks and only a few businesses remain open. During the spring, summer, and early fall, an influx of tourists occupy hotels, campgrounds and weekly rental houses — and day visitors arrive by ferry from Hatteras Island. Several bars, dozens of restaurants, and many shops, stores and other tourist-based businesses open for the tourist season, and every business on the island is independently owned and operated by residents. There are no chains or franchises."

~~~~~

"The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,315, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $26,667 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,032. About 7.7% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocracoke,_North_Carolina

No way, no how to a tunnel -- it would RUIN Ocracoke.

[taterguy]

54. You either don't know much about rich people or Ocracoke

a) There are no golf courses on Ocracoke.

b) There's virtually no beach-front property available. Most of it is protected national seashore.

c) Mixed-drink sales in restaurants were banned until very recently.

d) Look at a fucking map. It takes forever to get to Ocracoke and time is money for rich people.

You want rich? Go to Corolla or resort areas in the vicinity of Wilmington.

[David Sky]

24. Because tunnels cost billions of dollars! That's MY guess... and for 770 people...

who pays for it?

[kenny blankenship]

25. Tunnel? There's *no rock* to dig one into. This isn't Weehawken NJ

There. I gave you a good reason and I kept it clean. Another reason or two: the islands move, plus which they are very narrow spits of sand. There just isn't room or enough solid ground. During a hurricane a tunnel would likely flood completely, making recovery of the use of the tunnel a disastrous expense in itself.

[angstlessk]

28. My best friend was in a tunnel in VA when she heard of the earthquake

and was scared as heck (well there were double hockey sticks in there) until she exited the tunnel...they are scary places during evacuations (one stalled vehicle can inhibit ALL traffic) or because the tunnel itself is subject to the disaster!

[Ruby the Liberal]

31. That would have been horrifying

It was weird enough feeling that in my house. I can't imagine how that must have been magnified in a tunnel.

Me no likes tunnels on a good day.

[angstlessk]

32. Living in Norfolk, tunnels are a normal drives..and I hated it every time

I entered one twice a day, at one time..the only other thing I hate is a high, or long bridges over water...I have regular nightmares about bridges or tunnels leading into the sea!

[taterguy]

37. Hadn't thought about the possibility of a flood. That's a good point

NT

[TBF]

29. Because Ocracoke is a small fishing village that should stay that way.

imho

[WorseBeforeBetter]

48. There's the answer.

A tunnel would ruin Ocracoke.

[cwydro]

52. No need for a tunnel

Most locals stay anyhow...how ridiculous.

I lived for years in the Keys...a tunnel???? LMAO.

Yeah we needed one from Key West to Miami...still loling here.

[Ruby the Liberal]

30. Because they have an airport?

:D

[taterguy]

38. It's more like an airstrip than an airport

I don't think it can accommodate many planes so it wouldn't be much faster than a ferry.

And most people on Ocracoke are tourists who drove there.

Do you expect them to just leave their cars behind when a hurricane is on the way?

I'm pretty sure the Ocracoke airstrip isn't large enough for a C-130 or any other other aircraft big enough to carry cars, and I don't think the Air Force would loan them out anyway.

[Ruby the Liberal]

39. I was joking.

:)

Didn't recall where on OBX Ocracoke was, so looked it up on Google maps. Seemed surprising to see an airport marked on that tiny island.

[taterguy]

40. In the not-too distant past you had to travel on hundreds of miles of 2 lane roads to get there

So I suspect the airport was built for impatient folks in Raleigh and other parts west.

[Ruby the Liberal]

43. Is there a wealth enclave there like Hilton Head?

[taterguy]

47. If there is, it's well hidden

[Obamanaut]

44. Is the airstrip as long and wide as an aircraft carrier? A Hercules landed

and took off from one.

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/history/q0097.shtml

[Marrah_G]

36. Because tunnels are expensive and its a tiny population..........

[mmonk]

41. Yep. Time to go since they can't wait. Bev wants to be safe rather than sorry.

[sofa king]

49. Breaking: Okra-flavored cocaine shortage causes market freefall

[taterguy]

65. Thanks for sharing

:eyes:

[marions ghost]

57. The road is the problem not the ferries

Okracoke has ferries, nice small well-maintained ferries that visitors like to ride on, especially kids. Bridges are much more vulnerable.

If you want to "fix" things, then figure out how to hold the sand under Route 12 that runs the length of the outer banks. Road wash outs are the biggest problem with access. If Irene hits according to the models, you won't need tunnels, you'll need a helicopter.

[taterguy]

59. They should elevate HWY 12 with stilts

It works for houses.

Why not roads?

[nc4bo]

58. Just watched interview on weather channel with (D) Gov. Bev Purdue. (D)?

She's doing exactly what any responsible governor would be expected to say and do when a hurricane threatens NC but was it really necessary for the The Weather Channel to note that our governor is a Democrat?

OT but it was a clear :wtf: moment on tv just now. Why was that even necessary? And when did The Weather Channel become so politically aware?

Edit to change subj line - not a phone interview.

[GreenPartyVoter]

61. That is definitely a weird thing to mention.

[taterguy]

64. Identifying party affiliation is standard operating procedure for news organizations

My :wtf: moment is that you've never noticed this.