Locals reflect on TD Beryl's rain

RODANTHE, N.C. (WAVY) - Several tourists and residents kept a watchful eye on Beryl during a slightly windy, almost sunny, early morning before the storm Wednesday.

“Every day we're watching this thing, Jackson Burnette told WAVY.com in Buxton, N.C. “If it changes we want to know what we can expect during the day.” Jackson's wife Kristin adds, “The one thing from coming down here so much it seems storms blow out of here quickly.”

WAVY.com found Pennsylvania's Bob Marchiori on the beach casting a line and waiting for a little storm to churn up the east coast.

“I haven't been watching the storm,” Marchiori said. “I went in the bait shop, and the guy told me at 2 a.m. it was going to be out to sea, and then we will be in good shape. I'm not worried about this.”

Veteran Avon resident Mark Lemon has been through almost all storms on Hatteras Island since 1990.

“We aren't worried about flooding in this storm...Irene flooded my home, and that's never happened before, but we should be safe from sound side flooding in this storm,” Lemon told WAVY.com.

Hurricane Irene heavily damaged Lifeboat Community Church in Salvo. The church runs a Food Pantry that was very busy Wednesday. Melinda Baker who lost her home in Irene is the Associate Pastor of the church.

“More people have been coming out today,” Baker said. “They are getting extra things just in case they lose power. This is not a huge concern. After Irene we have become more cautious.”

"Just another rainy day," was the observation from driver Warren Williams in Elizabeth City. "This ain't too bad.  Those little cars catch some of these streets around here might have to get pushed out."

Light winds and rain, heavy at times, made for a messy day in the river city. Public Utilities Director Paul Fredette wasn't too concerned about flooding. "We have two fixed, storm water pumps that will automatically come on and pump the water over the dikes in the river."