RODANTHE, N.C. (WNCN) — The dunes along the North Carolina Outer Banks were blown away by high waves on Sunday afternoon. Water and sand covered the main highway at the coast.
The Dare County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened just after 1:30 p.m. on N.C. 12 near the Pea Island Visitor Center on Pea Island in the Rodanthe neighborhood.
In a news statement, deputies said, “There is ocean overwash coming across NC 12,” but the road could still be used.
After about two hours, the North Carolina Department of Transportation said the waves were no longer high enough to flood the road.
“Our crews closed the hole in the dune with a berm today,” the NCDOT said in a short news release. “Next week, they will start rebuilding the dune.”
Around 5:30 p.m., traffic cams at the coast showed that heavy machinery was working on the road. A number of cars were moving on the sandy road, which was close to the water.
Deputies asked people to be careful when they were driving in this area.