Come Hell and High Water: Dealing with Heat and Water during the Crystal Coast’s Tourist Season

Whether venturing to the Outer or Inner Banks*, tourists are drawn to the breathtaking natural beauty, pleasant temperatures, and welcoming culture of North Carolina’s coast.

With its unique authenticity and laid-back environment, Carteret County (a.k.a. the Crystal Coast) is among the “best in state” for tourism spending.  Some guests want a quiet, relaxing weekend.

Others come for high-energy/high-attendance events like the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament and the NC Seafood Festival. Whatever their reason for coming, visitors love the Crystal Coast.

Residents and returning guests to the area know that summer is typically a time of hot temperatures and storms. 

“It’s always hot.”

“We’re used to storms.”

Without question, some summers have been “scorchers” and some have been stormy…

But times are changing, and summers, as we’ve known them, are changing, too.

Spanning from 01 May through 30 November, the heat and hurricane seasons overlap with summer’s tourist season. Globally, it’s hot, and it’s getting hotter.

The National Weather Service now broadcasts heat watches and warnings for temperatures that can (or should) restrict participation in outdoor activities.

In coastal areas, the subtle, but accelerating changes resulting from sea level rise (SLR) continue to amplify events such as King Tides** and intense weather events. Hot air holds more moisture, and more moisture means more intense storms.

The increased amplification of natural disasters and hazards, from heat waves to hurricanes, may threaten the visitor experience during tourist season and the coastal towns that rely on tourist revenue.

When these factors are added to the existing hazards of our coast, it exacerbates the stress of an already complex issue.

Climate-related stressors (think water and heat) can harm the ecological and economic health of coastal communities.

How can these communities create an environment that assures the health and safety of tourists and the blue economy businesses they support without frightening tourists and business owners away?  

Physical Vulnerabilities

Coastal communities in Eastern North Carolina face heightened vulnerability to natural hazards, especially those associated with compound flooding events, due to their unique geographical features.

Barrier islands, along with sounds and estuaries, form a complex coastal landscape that exacerbates the risk of flooding. Additionally, the low elevation and flat topography of the region leave coastal businesses susceptible to inundation from storm surges and rising tides.

The constant shifting of shorelines further increases these challenges, while outdated infrastructure, such as unelevated buildings, adds another layer of risk, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive resilience planning in these coastal areas.

Economic Vulnerabilities

Heat and water can cause coastal businesses economic loss in multiple ways.

Rising temperatures not only will require more use of cooling systems, driving up costs and adding stress to these systems, but employee retention rates drop.

Extreme heat conditions can deter workers, especially those working in outside conditions that support the tourism industry. Hot work environments can make it hard for businesses to keep adequately staffed in busy tourist season. 

In addition to workers, tourists whose dollars support blue economy businesses may be reluctant customers if a business (or event!) is not cool. This potentially impacts revenue streams for many businesses such as restaurants, resorts, and even recreational activities.

There is also a risk of fines if employees or customers are being exposed to unsafe environments due to heat exposure in our businesses. Businesses are no longer able to brush off heat as just a part of the job, as our temperatures continue to rise to dangerous levels.

As compound flooding events become frequent, it is important to understand the economic impacts it can have when looking at blue economy businesses.

Rising tides and flooding may prevent visitors and employees from accessing a business. Even businesses without a physical location, e.g. ecommerce, may be challenged by water and heat issues.

Stress on the power grid from heat or outages (internet and power) due to extreme weather is likely to occur. When there is a lack of access to necessary infrastructure, there can be major delays in getting the grid back up and running. 

Businesses are not just facing potential economic loss from lack of access. Extreme flooding drives up insurance premiums. Heat and flooding can cause physical damage to inventory and equipment. 

Blue economy businesses tied to the tourism sector may have substantial losses unless they prepare adequately for these occurrences.

Intentionally addressing these challenges requires adaptation measures and sustainable development strategies to protect tourists and to safeguard our coastal businesses from increasing climate risks.

3 Ways Blue Economy Businesses Can Take Action Now

Be Protective of Customers and Employees

Outdoor businesses and events can offer cooling stations, shaded (out of the sun) places with:
– Adequate tables and chairs
– Washcloths or quick-drying cooling towels
– Plenty of chilled water
– Basic First-Aid supplies
– Fans to increase ventilation

Participate in Blue Economy Business Forums

Since 2023, Visual Teaching Technologies (VTT) has worked with local businesses to increase awareness of the impacts of heat and water (climate change) along the Southern Outer Banks and Crystal Coast. 

The purpose of the Blue Economy Business Forum is to provide actionable support for local blue economy businesses.

This is a venue where (1) business owners can provide insight on heat and water conditions facing them, (2) experts can offer updates on heat and water, and (3) adaptive, resilience strategies can be shared.

The goal is to help blue economy businesses be resilient now and be ready for a climate-altered future. 

Information gathered is used to educate and influence local and state agencies and to find funding for adaptive management programs that apply to the challenges the communities face.

To hear more about the Blue Economy Business Forum, check out our news feed article covering VTT’s radio interview!

Programs like the BEBF emphasize collaboration within the business community to help bring awareness to the challenges to tourism-related businesses and the people they serve.

Participate in Data collection

Organizations such as Wetlands Watch and the initiative Catch the King utilize community engagement to tackle issues of amplified King Tides and flooding throughout coastal Virginia and North Carolina. 

Wetlands Watch 🐟

Wetlands Watch is an organization based out of Virginia dedicated to preserving the health of wetlands.

This organization utilizes both a top-down approach, through state and federal policy, and a bottoms up approach (grassroots advocacy), collaborating with the local communities and organizations, to push for land use and regulations that help to protect the existing wetlands.

Their Catch the King initiative, which has recently expanded from being solely Virginia-based to our very own coastal counties of North Carolina, is an excellent example of how they utilize their model.

This program utilizes NOAA grants for funding and collaboration from local community members to collect data on flooding (See section below).

Catch the King 🌊

Catch the King is a community science mapping event that uses an app and community members to map out annual flooding from the King Tides.

Residents are able to use the app to drop GPS pins on the perimeter of flooding allowing data to be gathered on where flooding is happening and how far it is going. This community gathered information that is then utilized by the organization and Virginia Institute of Marine Science to validate flooding prediction models.

VTT is exploring a Catch the King cohort of downtown Morehead City business owners.

Addressing climate impact issues in tourist-oriented coastal communities demands an approach that combines grassroots initiatives with top-down strategies.

While grassroots efforts empower local communities to mobilize and implement tailored solutions, top-down approaches provide the necessary support, resources, and policy frameworks to enact meaningful change at scale. 

Blue economy businesses along the Crystal Coast can start today by developing and implementing hazard mitigation plans for the tourist sector.

Blue economy businesses can utilize resources such as ReBuild NC’s Heat Action Tool Kit to prepare for extreme heat during the tourist season. Preparing ahead of time for extreme weather can help to ensure the health and safety of businesses, employees, and customers.  

It’s time to be climate compatible now and ready for the climate-altered future.

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