Hurricane Dorian: Collaborative Science to Inform National Park Service Decison-Making at Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores

Hurricane Dorian impacted the National Park Service coastal units along the Outer Banks of North Carolina in September 2019. While the numerous ebb surge channels that formed along North Core Banks were interesting from geological and ecological perspectives, the impacts to cultural resources, historic structures, and visitor access will be lasting remnants of that storm. The National Park Service relied upon Incident Management Teams for the immediate response and emergency stabilization phase. Federal, state, local, and university partners were mobilized to survey and respond to the continued recovery needs at Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores. This unique partnership phase of recovery is a strategic, effective model for collaborative, science-informed decision-making.