May 1 2025


A new inlet was formed between Hatteras Village and Frisco along the Outer Banks as a result of Hurricane Isabel. 1998 image is courtesy NCDOT. Post-hurricane image was collected by NOAA.
Slideshow of Damage in Selected Areas.
(Or directly select slideshow images:
Hatteras Village -- Hatteras Village -- Frisco -- Frisco -- Buxton -- Ocracoke)

The National Geodetic Survey Remote Sensing Division in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Emergency Management Agency, Department of Natural Resources, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency flew an Emerge/Applanix Digital Sensor System along the outer banks of North Carolina in support of recovery efforts and coastline change evaluation following Hurricane Isabel. On September 19, 2003, within a day after the hurricane hit land, NGS flew a NOAA Twin Otter equipped with the digital camera to collect imagery that could be quickly supplied to agencies for rapid response within the disaster areas. Over 600 images were collected over a three day period.

The digital sensor system incorporates the camera with an inertial navigation system including a GPS unit and inertial measurement unit (IMU) to allow for rapid georeferencing of the images. The camera was flown at about 2500 meters collecting imagery from Topsail Island near Camp Lejeune, NC up to the NC/Virginia state line. Many areas of the outer banks were pummeled by the storm with winds up to 100 mph and overwash destroying homes and parts of the main highway, NC-12, along the Outer Banks corridor. Hurricane damage assessment was made quickly using the images to see where dunes were breached, the road washed away, and structures moved. Imagery collected by the NCDOT in 1998 offered a quick reference to pre-storm conditions.