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Buxton residents and county press Army Corps and federal officials for faster cleanup after Hurricane Aaron; county funds debris removal
Summary
Public commenters and commissioners described severe erosion and submerged infrastructure at Buxton after Hurricane Aaron; commissioners authorized county-funded debris removal and said they will press federal partners for fuller remediation of the formerly used defense site.
Buxton residents told the Dare County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 3 that damage from Hurricane Aaron has accelerated an ongoing erosion emergency and exposed buried infrastructure at the formerly used defense site (FUDS) near Buxton.
At public comment, Carol Dillon said a hole in the jetty is “acting like a massive fire hose” and urged the county to press state and federal partners for shoreline stabilization and a permanent fix. Brett Harley, representing the Buxton Civic Association, thanked the county for providing dumpsters and visiting the site and said “pictures don't do justice” to how far storm water moved inland.
Commissioners described multiple county efforts since the storm: outreach to the US Army Corps of Engineers, letters to federal lawmakers, coordination with the National Park Service and volunteers, and staged dumpsters and containers for collected debris. County leaders said they met with Corps officials and that the Corps dispatched environmental staff to evaluate the site.
The board authorized county staff to contract a debris-hauling firm and to use the county’s storm-response fund to cover costs. County staff reported contract terms with a debris contractor that include a minimum charge of $55,995 and a not-to-exceed amount of $72,975; commissioners voted to proceed and fund the work from the storm fund. Commissioners said the contractor will remove debris that volunteers and park-service crews could not consolidate or remove themselves; if private-property debris remains after a county pickup date, owners will be responsible for removal.
Commissioners said they will continue pressing the U.S. Army Corps and elected federal officials for a full evaluation and permanent remediation of the FUDS site in Buxton. Senator and congressional outreach were discussed in the meeting; commissioners said a recent letter to U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy prompted a Corps visit and a pledge from Corps leadership to pursue more comprehensive mitigation.
The board did not adopt new shoreline policy at the meeting; residents asked the board to pursue a range of fixes, including hardened breakwaters and other engineering options, but commissioners limited board action to debris removal authorization and continuing intergovernmental advocacy.
Ending: Commissioners said they will keep Buxton cleanup and the Corps response on the county’s agenda and will report back as work and federal reviews proceed.
