Good Riddance to Hurricane Matthew

Published:October 10, 2016
Views:2,844

"When you dream of creating something you don't think that one day it may be underwater and in complete ruin," says Outer Banks icon/ Surfin’ Spoon owner Jesse Hines, who found himself and his business waist-deep in a world of… well, you know what. "Especially when your building hasn't had water inside of it since the Ash Wednesday storm 55 years ago; that's a lot of hurricanes it's been unscathed in. But now it's a reality, and all you can do is be thankful for what you do have." Photo: Matt Lusk
To sum up Matthew’s scourge along the East Coast -- some places fared better than others. The previous slide shows what "others" looked like, while this was what “some” looked like. Unidentified, South Florida. Photo: Lugo
“At its lightest the wind was whipping at 35 and real sideshore,” says Maryland shredder Brad Flora, who found… well, created a surf window between weather bands at this Delmarva shorey. “It was super jumbled up, but fun for jumps, and if you got tubed, well, you got really, really tubed.” Photo: Matt McQueeney
At this point, for every East Coast institution, the show must go on. Ben Graeff's Nub.tv web series is no different. Photo/Video: Ryan Mack
Unfortunately, this day in South Beach Miami would not be a sign of things to come up the coast in the week that followed. Photo: Annie Tworoger
“Pretty crazy seeing photos from Nags Head and the flooding they experienced,” says Hatteras photographer Daniel Pullen. “Can’t wrap my head around all of the damage. From Haiti to Virginia, it’s just incredible.” Photo: Matt Lusk
Ever since Hurricane Sandy, Rob Kelly doesn’t take chances with storms like Matthew. Southern New Jersey was spared this time, but Rob had his defense strategy dialed nonetheless. To not have to engage was just a bonus -- and a blessing. Photo: David Nilsen
Matthew's path.
Sadly, beauty like this often comes at a price. In this case, over 1,000 human lives. Photo: Brian Adamkiewicz
The new normal. Highway 12, Kitty Hawk, NC. Photo: Jon Carter
“This hurricane has been an emotional rollercoaster for us,” says New York pro Balaram Stack. “From thinking it’s going to be 20-feet and perfect to hearing about friends with flooded homes and no waves to be found anywhere. We got some fun scraps up north, but not quite what we were hoping for.” Photo: Ben Currie
Rob Kelly, mixed emotions and out of sight from Matthew's dark eye. Photo/Video: Ryan Mack
“The folks here on the Outer Banks are resilient,” Pullen continued. “We will rebuild.” Photo: Matt Lusk
“All that we saw in Maryland was some fun storm surf with hard north winds,” says Maryland ripper Simon Hetrick. “Prayers go out to all of the victims in Florida and beyond. I’m very glad it wasn’t worse, and thankful to see all of my friends are safe.” Photo: Stephen Hetrick
“We got super lucky with this storm and didn’t experience much damage,” says Crystal Coast photographer Graham Hunt. “At first they had us getting really hard, but somehow we dodged a bullet on this one.” Photo: Graham Hunt
Kitty Hawk, NC, casting illusions of benevolence. On this morning, surfing was the last thing on any local’s mind. Photo: Jon Carter
Another pier bites the dust. Photo: AJ Kammerer
As Matthew roared north, Wrightsville Beach, NC, was perhaps the last place to get really lucky. An hour inland, the stranded residents of Lumberton aren’t so fortunate. Shane Burn. Photo: Jordan Nason
“This next storm Nicole looks a bit more promising,” Balaram Stack finishes. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed.” As are we, in more ways than one. Photo: Ben Currie
A look at Matthew's destruction through the eye of the Surfline Cam Rewinds

Two weeks old, since its September 25th birth in the Cape Verde Islands as Invest 97L, Matthew’s temper tantrum through the Caribbean and Southeastern United States has finally come to an end, as it’s now entered the remnant-low phase of its lifespan.

In its wake, the storm leaves over 1,000 people dead (mostly in Haiti) — 20 of whom were U.S. residents, 10 in North Carolina alone. That death toll will likely increase as more tragedies are revealed every day.

In terms of American casualties and biblical devastation, Matthew wasn’t Hurricane Sandy. Matthew wasn’t Katrina. But it wasn’t nothing. In fact, CNN says Matthew is the longest-lasting Category 4 or 5 hurricane to occur during the month of October since record-keeping began.

At press time 1,500 people are still stranded in historically flooded Lumberton, NC, just west of Wilmington, just west of surf-stoked Wrightsville Beach. Unfortunately, that’s not the only heartbreaking record-breaker Matthew’s laid claim to.

Record-breaking flooding (previously held by 1999’s Hurricane Floyd) in parts of eastern North Carolina. Record-breaking water levels (previously held by 1954’s Hurricane Hazel) on the Cape Fear River. Record-breaking tide levels (previously held by 1989’s Hurricane Hugo) in Charleston, SC. Record-breaking storm surge (previously held by 1979’s Hurricane David) in Tybee Island, GA. Record-setting water levels for the St. Johns River, which at one point began flowing backwards.

Not to mention, substantial destruction to at least three piers: Springmaid Pier in Myrtle Beach, SC; Oak Island Pier, in Oak Island, NC; and Jacksonville Beach Pier, in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Bomb squads unearthing Civil War-era cannonballs in Folly Beach, SC. A new inlet gutted between Marineland and Matanzas Inlet in St. Augustine, FL. Chunks of A1A taken out in Flagler Beach, FL. Chunks of real estate kicked off the Outer Banks…

Suffice to say, between evacuations, power outages and a long, hard, drawn-out beat-down to homes, businesses, vehicles and crops — millions of citizens along the Eastern Seaboard were, in one way or another, forced to pay the piper this time around.

Surfing? Sure, naturally some of that went down: Inside New Smyrna Inlet, FL, had some moments. Long Beach, NY, and Cape May, NJ, got good. A few novelty waves turned on between Ocracoke and Wrightsville Beach, NC. A couple Delmarva shorebreaks came to life. But any resulting scores from Matthew’s tantrum paled in comparison to the heartbreak it evoked.

In hindsight, getting skunked would’ve been so much better.

Wanna aid your Eastern brothers and sisters in their recovery from Matthew? Of course, you do. Here are but two quick and easy ways to lend a helping hand:

Waves For Water
Red Cross

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Justin Enjo 10/11/2016 05:03 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

Thank you for this editorial, Matt. The people that think they can score good waves from a direct hit by a Hurricane should not be considered surfers. Anytime you prioritize catching storm surf over the safety and wellbeing of your family and others, you're a kook and you always will be a kook.

Bdaddy 10/11/2016 03:55 PM

Pic 2. - Identified: Chris Davis at location X. packing a foamy brown one!

JB 10/11/2016 03:41 PM

In 2010 I was driving thru Texas and I randomly cam across this place. I took a tour, did more research, and know for a fact now that if people who lived in disaster prone regions inhabited these affordable structures they'd be able to laugh off hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods (among other things). These should be standard construction in such areas: http://www.monolithic.org/

eric 10/11/2016 02:48 PM

Its a natural phenomenon surfline. have you all gone mad? thats like getting mad at trees because they are made of wood and burn when set on fire.

q chiapperino 10/11/2016 01:44 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

Maybe on the u.s. east coast you wish it never happened. down here in our corner of the carib, we couldn't have asked for more. we're going to get our third dose of swell from this storm later today and into the next three days. sad for all the lives lost, but it's been firing here.

andrew LEE 10/11/2016 11:50 AM

the surf in atlantic city was good.

Andrew Parmelee 10/11/2016 10:25 AM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

Let's not forget about our Saint Simons Island, GA friends who will be lucky to get back on the island today after flooding, hundreds of downed trees, and all types of water and sewer issues have kept the causeway closed since Saturday. We got lucky here in Charleston despite the downtown area being underwater. After seeing pictures of Haiti, I think we all got lucky here in the US...

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Good Riddance to Hurricane Matthew

Human casualties and prolonged devastation outweigh surf action from a storm we wish had never happened.

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