Storms don't even have to be particularly close or strong to wreak havoc on the Outer Banks.
Hurricane Joaquin in 2015 tracked more than 500 miles east of Hatteras, N.C., but waves and surge from the storm still caused $2.3 million in damages. Hurricane Erin, at half that distance, caused waves and coastal flooding that closed Highway 12 for three days in mid-August.
Highway 12 has cost $43 million since 2012 to battle storm damage
It's a struggle to maintain Highway 12, the two-lane road that runs along the islands, which are at one point only 300 feet wide. WSOC-TV found that regular maintenance averages $1 million per year, but when storm damage is included, the state has spent more than $43 million since 2012 just to maintain the highway.
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