Norvells head back home

By Shelley Smith

ssmith@salisburypost.com

A Salisbury couple changed their mind about riding out Hurricane Earl on Ocracoke Island when the storm increased in intensity from a Category 3 to a Category 4.

And this time, they made sure their cat didn’t hold them back.

Ed and Susan Norvell had been packed and ready to leave as authorities issued a mandatory evacuation notice Wednesday. But they decided to stay on Ocracoke through the storm after their cat Harley went missing for hours. But Wednesday night’s update convinced them to leave the barrier island on the Outer Banks.

“It was a Category 4, 140 mph winds, and was going to hit off the Ocracoke coastline less than 50 miles away,” Susan Norvell said. “With it being that close, we were in the stronger part of that storm, and we didn’t feel comfortable staying. ... It’s just not worth staying down there.”

So the Norvells packed up their car again and — along with Harley, their other two cats and their daughter’s two ferrets — took the 6:30 a.m. ferry to Swan Quarter Thursday morning. They took the first of only two trips the ferries made Thursday.

The Norvells said the ride was choppy at first, but got smoother as they headed west.

“You could see a band of clouds,” Susan said.

The Norvells said their goodbyes to their friends Wednesday night, telling them they didn’t feel safe staying on the island. Their friends said Earl wouldn’t be as bad as everyone thought.

“When we got on the ferry this morning, they were all on there,” Susan said. “They didn’t leave anyone there.”

The Norvells were glad to get off the island, especially after discovering the only paramedics and nurses had boarded the same two-hour ferry ride to Swan Quarter.

“When we saw them on the ferry, we thought, ‘Yep, it’s probably a good idea to leave,’ ” Susan said.

Some they know, though, stayed on the island.

“They have lived there for many years,” Susan said. “Some have been there for generations. They’re used to these storms. If there is such a thing as getting used to it.”

Contact Shelley Smith at 704-797-4246.