Oblique aerial photograph from Rodanthe, NC, with enlarged details

Upper image: Oblique aerial photograph near Rodanthe, NC, looking south along the coast on August 30, 2011, three days after landfall of Hurricane Irene. Center: Oblique aerial photograph of central part of upper image from May 6, 2008, pre-storm; and August 31, 2011, post-storm. The yellow arrow in each image points to the same cottage. A breach was carved through the barrier island, severing NC Highway 12. The storm surge was approximately 2 m high on the sound-side and was less on the ocean-side. Flow from the sound to the ocean may have played a role in cutting the breaches between Oregon Inlet and Cape Hatteras.