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Coastwatch Features a Mystery Shipwreck, Alligators Battling PFAS, and New Ricky Moore Videos

Beach Safety

Hurricane Florence.

Sep 2, 2025

Hurricane Season Is Here

Guidance from NOAA advises people not to focus on a specific storm category. A storm's “scale” only reflects the strongest winds near the center of the storm — not potentially life-threatening flooding from storm surge or rain. 
Aerial view of flooding.

Aug 25, 2023

Safety Matters: Tropical Systems, King Tides and Warm Waters

Residents and visitors to coastal North Carolina should pay attention to safety notices from the local officials and the National Weather Service as the region is already seeing a combination of factors.

This rip current sign provides guidance on swimming safety. It advises swimmers caught in rip currents to 1) relax, because rip currents don’t pull you under; 2) not swim against the current; 3) swim out of the current, then to shore; 4) float or tread water if they can’t escape; 5) yell or wave for assistance if they need help.

Jun 29, 2023

Beach Safety is Key to Summer Fun

If your summer plans include a trip to the NC coast -- or anywhere with a surf zone, including the Great Lakes -- be sure to remember key safety messages from NC Sea Grant and local beach communities, along with the National Weather Service, National Ocean Service and the US Lifesaving Association. Even if you know how to recognize, avoid and if necessary escape a rip current, check these links to help you share messages with friends and family.  
Image of Mariko in the field holding a sediment core

Jun 8, 2023

Mariko Polk Joins NC Sea Grant as Coastal Processes Specialist

Mariko Polk has joined North Carolina Sea Grant this week as an extension specialist focusing on coastal processes. Based in Wilmington, she will work with communities, agencies and researchers throughout…

Apr 3, 2023

Coastwatch Features a Mystery Shipwreck, Alligators Battling PFAS, and New Ricky Moore Videos

In "The Mystery Ship Off Pappy Lane," India Mackinson's cover story looks at how science and sleuthing uncovered the history of a 58-year-old shipwreck. Weeks of diving and mapping revealed a ship that had found its way from the turbulence of the Pacific Ocean to its final resting place at the bottom of the shallow, murky Pamlico Sound. Just one of many great stories in the Spring issue.