Hazard mitigation in the Outer Banks

The goal of the plans is to identify the policies and tools that are needed in order to reduce or eliminate the risk of life and property loss from any event that may occur in the Outer Banks.

[1][2] Offshore deposits of sand and other sediments that parallel the coast line collected over thousands of years, forming the long, narrow barrier islands.

The long, thin strip of land separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico sounds.

The formation protects the coastline from severe storm damage and harbors the many different habitats surrounded by the islands, providing refuge for wildlife.

Several islands are separated from each other by tidal inlets which provide a regular exchange between the water of the ocean to bays and estuaries.

Plants naturally found on dunes help to stabilize them by preventing potential damage caused by water and wind with their roots.

Salt marshes fall behind barrier flats in low-lying areas that border the sound side of the island, and are flooded regularly by tides.

Hurricanes are classified into five different categories measured by the Saffir–Simpson scale, which categorizes them based on their wind speeds, barometric pressure, and storm surge.