Washingtonpost.com Special Correspondent Tammy Kennon was LIVE from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, to take questions on current weather conditions in the Outer Banks. Kennon, a two-year resident of this region, offered a first-hand account of the latest on Hurricane Floyd.

Below is a transcript of today's discussion.

Tammy Kennon: Greetings from the cloudy Outer Banks! It's been a little rainy here all day, but it's a bit early for the real storms.

For reference, I live in Kill Devil Hills, which is 56 miles north of Hatteras and 60 miles south of Virginia Beach. I'm on a very small island called Colington on the Albemarle Sound.

Bethesda, MD: what is the condition of the beaches in Duck? Has the weather been bad enough to actually distroy beachfront cottages?

Tammy Kennon: So far Duck has been spared the worst of Dennis's wrath. There was a little beach erosion, but I'm unaware of any houses being destroyed. The homes up there (north of Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk) tend to be newer ones and more hurricane resistant.

Arlington, VA: How have people started preparing for the storm? Are you near Nags Head?

Tammy Kennon: Everybody has started or finished preparations for the storm. Locals have been keeping a wary eye on Floyd all along because of its size and the strength of the winds. Seasoned veterans who generally scoff and stock up on beer have been boarding up homes and businesses. When it was still a Category IV most locals talked about leaving (this is unusual). Most of us are planning to sit it out now that the winds are down to 120 mph.

I'm about six miles north of Nags Head.

Washington, D.C.: How much of a storm surge are they expecting on the Outer Banks with this type of huge hurricane?

Tammy Kennon: I've heard various predictions on storm surges. The last I heard was eight feet. It would probably be much worse if the storm hadn't been weakening on the approach.

Surf's up!

Washington, DC: What is the situation in
Cape Hatteras?

Tammy Kennon: Cape Hatteras took a beating from Dennis and is a bit vulnerable this time around. Friends down there tell me it's pretty deserted, which is good. When the surf is up, the only road to Hatteras gets either covered with sand or washed out completely.

The dunes -- our small defense against the ocean -- were flattened and not all the work has been done to rebuild them. If the ocean pounds like it did during Dennis, Hatteras Island will likely have heavy damage and the inlet they just filled last week will be reopened.

Let's hope not.

Topeka, Kansas: I have family that live in Nags Head, NC. I would like to know if the eye of the storm is expected to hit there?

Tammy Kennon: Nobody knows, although everybody has a prediction. They told us Dennis was going to hit everywhere between Florida and nowhere (not far from here).

The latest predictions call for it to come ashore between Wilmington, N.C., (about 170 miles south of your family) and the Outer Banks. Either way we are likely to get some strong storms and high water.

Don't worry. We coast-dwellers go to great pains to prepare for these storms. And if they look really scary, we leave!

bethesda,md : What is the weather report for this Saturday - I'm suppose to come down for a week

Tammy Kennon: Come on down! Just give us a little time to tidy up before you get here.

Seriously, these storms don't tend to hang around long (okay, okay, not Dennis). Once they pass over it clears up pretty quickly. If Floyd heads inland and north, you might be safer down here anyway.

Washington, D.C.: Does the waterfront at Manteo tend to suffer from big storms like Dennis and Floyd, or is it protected by the barrier islands?

Tammy Kennon: Well, it just depends on what exactly the storm does. Manteo is low and tends to flood easily, even with nor'easters. The worst scenario for islands between the barrier islands and the mainland -- such as Manteo's Roanoke Island and Colington, where I am -- is when the storms come up the Pamlico Sound like Bonnie did last year. That brings extremely high waters and puts us right in the path.

On the other hand, that spares our fragile beaches.

Vienna VA: Is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in danger of being damaged or destroyed?

Tammy Kennon: I guess Hatteras Lighthouse has been in danger of being damaged or destroyed since they built it! It sits on the outermost tip of this insanely narrow little spit of sand we call the Outer Banks.

They just spent an intimidating amount of money to move it a bit inland in hopes of making it a bit less vulnerable.

I'm no expert, but I'm guessing it'll be just fine.

Falls Church, VA: What is the current timeframe for the Mandatory Evacuation to be lifted-i.e. when can folks return to the Outer Banks?-

Tammy Kennon: The mandatory evacuation went into effect this morning at 7 o'clock. They don't give any info about how long it will last, because, well, they just don't know.

It's still unclear if the storm will hit us, hit way south of us or, better yet, head out to sea.

Salvo, NC: Have many people evacuated from the northern beaches of the Outer Banks? Are restaurants and stores open up there?

Tammy Kennon: Hi neighbors! (Salvo is south of Nags Head on Hatteras Island.)

The entire Outer Banks is under mandatory evacuation. Based on the traffic I saw on N.C. 12 earlier, I'd say most of the tourists are gone now.

Many restaurants and stores are still open. We're not having storms yet. It's not even raining right now!

Sydney, Australia: I'll be visiting Hatteras soon. Are the eating establishments still there?
Wally Wally

Tammy Kennon: Hey, come on over! Outer Bankers do love to eat. There's always SOMETHING open.

In fact, the local stations are reading lists of places open right now.

Dulles, Va.: How does this hurricane rank among the ones you've faced in Kill Devil Hills?

Tammy Kennon: I'm a newbie here. My only hurricanes are Bonnie last year and Dennis two weeks ago. Bonnie's eye passed right over my house and caused a good bit of flooding. Dennis was intense. We had strong wind and heavy surf for six days straight. Our beaches were ravaged.

That said, this is definitely the big one. If it had maintained its Category IV rating, we'd all be up there with you -- even our old-timers.

We're still likely in for some excitement. Ask me again this weekend!

Avon, NC: My husband cut his hand while boarding up our business. He may need stitches. Are there any doctor's offices are medical facilities open?

Tammy Kennon: According to the answering service, HealthEast in Nags Head is keeping the emergency center open until further notice.

I have some butterfly bandages back here in Colington if you get desperate!

Good luck!

Annandale, VA: How much beach erosion has taken place? Are some homes in trouble?

Tammy Kennon: Beach erosion from six days of Dennis is pretty severe. The homes that were standing by splinters already went in. I expect a few more will go if we have heavy surf.

That said, it's those houses that are already standing about 20 yards from the ocean that are in danger.

Why are we always so surprised when the sea claims them?

Corey - Germantown, MD: My father-in-law has a beach house that's right on the beach in Nags Head -milepost 16-. Do you think that this house is in danger of being damaged by Floyd?

Tammy Kennon: Hi Corey,

This answer is for you and all the others asking about their places in Duck, Avon, Nags Head and elsewhere.

We just don't know yet. Basically any house built on a hill of sand out in the ocean is in danger. However, we choose to build them, because we love to live -- and vacation -- on a hill of sand in the ocean. We deem it worth the risk. Sometimes Mother Nature just comes to collect the rent.

I know it's harder for those of you far away who don't know exactly what's going on. That's why we locals stay. We want to do what we can to protect our houses and boats.

Aside from the fact that they're playing "It's the End of the World as We Know It" on the radio as I type this, our fond hope is that Floyd will head out to sea, and everyone's property will be safe and unharmed.

Good luck to all of us!

Portland, OR: How is Ocracoke and are the blues -fish- running?

Tammy Kennon: I expect the bluefish are running like everyone else. :)

Ocracoke has long since been evacuated. I have no information on conditions there.

Arlington, VA: What is the current wind-gust speed?

Is it strong enough to knock an average sized person down?

Tammy Kennon: Sorry to disappoint, but we're having nothing but a breeze at the moment.

From my experience with wind here, I'd say 120 mph winds are more than enough to knock down your average bloke foolish enough to stand out there. More dangerous than the wind is the stuff being hurled around in it. Even a little sand in the air at that speed is painful.

At the tail end of Dennis when the winds were probably down around 40 mph I tried visiting the beach but couldn't stand the sandblasting.

Atlanta: My wife and children are leaving Duck but I have been unable to reach them. How bad is traffic backed up on the evacuation routes?

Tammy Kennon: I haven't been to that end of the beach lately. I'm guessing it's pretty backed up.

Don't worry. The storms haven't hit us yet. If they're already on the road, they'll be fine.

I just hope for your wife's sanity that the kids have something to occupy them during the bumper-to-bumper traffic.

ALex, Va: Did the clean-up crew get the tons of sand off of Rt 12??
How about the gas truck that was buried in the sand on 12?

Tammy Kennon: The clean-up crews have done a great job of clearing sand and sludge off the roads. I personally have not been down to Hatteras on N.C. 12 this week. Late last week I heard it was still down to one lane in some places.

Now where did you hear about a gas truck buried in the sand?

Richmond, VA: Hey Tammy! My folks are in Tidewater and say they have plenty of water standing and streets are already underwater in some parts. They're -we're- concerned about the house in KDH. How's the drainage?

Tammy Kennon: Well, Richmond, that's a real worry hear. We're still pretty waterlogged from Dennis and his aftermath. There is still standing water in some places.

Drainage isn't that good anywhere that's at sea level; we're no different. Especially since we built all those roads to pool it up.

Any water from sky or sound or ocean is going to be a problem. I'm glad they had the foresight to build our houses on pilings eight feet up.

arlington, va.: I am suppose to come down to Duck and the Southern Shores this Saturday for a week. Any chance Floyd will pass by then ? What about Gert ?

Tammy Kennon: For you and all the others asking me about your vacation plans: STAY TUNED.

This storm may hit south or may not hit at all.

If it's safe, we'd love to have you. These storms typically pass quickly. Like I said earlier, just give us a little time to tidy up and stock the fridge!

Reston,Va: I left my cooler at the Carolinian. Would you see if they still have it? It's blue.

Tammy Kennon: Sure. Can I use it 'til you get here?

I'll be easy to spot -- the one with the rare blue cooler.

(They're at 252.441.7171 if you want to check.)

Seattle, WA: Has there been any erosion on the Sound side of the Outer Banks? If the storm passes inland of you, where will the greatest threat of damage be?

Tammy Kennon: We haven't had any erosion on the soundside where I live. Most of the damage has been from wild surf on the ocean side.

If the storm passes inland we'll get heavy flooding. All the runoff from eastern North Carolina goes into the Albemarle Sound. Also, if the wind shifts around to the south, the ocean water gets blown up the Pamlico adding to the problem.

Annandale,Va: Hello Have you heard anything about Emerald Isle and Moorhead City and what they are expecing?

Best of luck!

Tammy Kennon: They're more in the projected landfall area than we are -- probably 80 miles south of us and facing south. They're pretty much standing eye-to-eye with Floyd right now.

I hope most people left. Good luck to them too!

Ashburn, VA: Are there structures built that help protect the Corolla wild horses during storms like these? What do they do??

Tammy Kennon: Now there's a good question. I wish I had an answer. There aren't too many of those little horses left, but I hope somebody thought of bringing them in!

And with that, it's time to sign off.

Thanks to all who threw a question or a good luck in the hopper.

Goodnight, Floyd. Hit the ocean -- and take Gert with you.

washingtonpost.com: Thanks to all for your participation. Stay tuned to http://www.washingtonpost.com/liveonline for more breaking hurricane coverage.

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