Portsmouth Island Suffers Minor Damage from Hurricane Florence

Portsmouth Village suffered no major damage from the passage of Hurricane Florence Sept. 13.

Cape Lookout National Seashore Superintendent Jeff West visited the village last week after the storm to assess the historic site. “We lost three structures–the Armtech (a modern building), a modern fishing shed and one of Henry  Pigott’s out buildings,” West, said. Additionally there was shingle, siding and window damage throughout the village, but all relatively minor. The water level only came up to the floor level of the post office, he said, and the haulover dock was undamaged.

The Portsmouth Methodist Church and the U.S. Life Saving Station, no strangers to many hurricanes, fared well.

The village is closed to visitors. Portsmouth Island Boat tours that runs from Ocracoke will resume once a clearance is made by the National Park Service.

“We are thankful the damage wasn’t worse and that we look forward to the village reopening when the Park deems it safe,” said Rosanne Sims Penley, president of the Friends of Portsmouth Island.

The Friends membership meeting, scheduled for Sept. 15 in Morehead City, was canceled and will be rescheduled.