Harold Wright uses a chain saw to cut away a large tree blocking a main artery of Wilmington, N.C., Sept. 14, 2005, as Hurricane Ophelia threatened the North Carolina coast.
A kite surfer kicks up a spray while riding the wind and waves generated by Hurricane Ophelia in Nags Head, N.C., Sept. 14, 2005.
Testing to see if the tropical winds were enough to support his weight, Gary Jones, 25, of Atlantic Beach, stands on Atlantic Beach, N.C., Sept. 14, 2005, during the driving wind and rain from Hurricane Ophelia.
Duke, a yellow lab, flaps his ears in the wind Sept. 14, 2005, after taking a quick bath in the rain generated from Hurricane Ophelia in Holden Beach, N.C., with his owner, Ernest Buchanon.
A kite surfer kicks up a spray while riding the wind and waves generated by Hurricane Ophelia in Nags Head, N.C., Sept. 14, 2005.
Unidentified beachcombers brave the wind and rain of Hurricane Ophelia Sept. 14, 2005, in Cherry Grove, S.C. as the hurricane moves up the coast of South Carolina.
The sun rises over Atlantic Beach, N.C., Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005, as the area prepares for the arrival of Tropical Storm Ophelia.
Waves crash on shore near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton, N.C., as Tropical Storm Ophelia lurks off of the east coast on Monday, Sept. 12, 2005
A lone fisherman fishes among the high waves being generated by Tropical Storm Ophelia on Hatteras Island in Rodanthe, N.C., on Monday, Sept. 12, 2005. Ophelia kept up its teasing dance along the coast of the Carolinas on dropping slightly in strength from hurricane to tropical storm as it barely moved toward land.
Waves crash onto Atlantic Beach as the Sportsman Pier is without fishermen as Hurricane Ophelia sits 200 miles off the coast of the Carolinas Sept. 11, 2005, in Atlantic Beach, N.C.
Tammy Cassett visits Atlantic Beach, N.C., Sept. 11, 2005, as the coastal winds pick up from Hurricane Ophelia.
A surfer walks across the shore Sept. 11, 2005, in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. Hurricane Ophiela off the Atlantic Coast has stirred up gusting winds, rough seas, strong rip currents and large waves.
Beachgoers walk on the low side of a berm formed by waves from Hurricane Ophelia Sept. 11, 2005, in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
Donna Russ flies a kite in gusty weather caused by Hurricane Ophelia Sept. 11, 2005, in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
As Hurricane Ophelia hovers off the coast of the Carolinas, tourists leave the Cedar Island ferry after a voluntary evacuation of non-residents of Ocracoke Island Sept. 11, 2005, in Cedar Island, N.C.
Brandi Taylor, 8, stands on a walkway at North Topsail Beach, N.C., Sunday afternoon, Sept. 11, 2005, as heavy surf from Hurricane Ophelia hits the dunes.
Felisha Watson of Morehead City brought her children, Tatym, left, Aidan, second left, and Harry, right, to Atlantic Beach, N.C., to see the waves being churned up by the coastal warnings of Hurricane Ophelia Sept. 10, 2005.
A surfer takes advantage of the waves churned up by Hurricane Ophelia at Fort Macon State Park Sept. 10, 2005, in Atlantic Beach, N.C.
High surf associated with Ophelia swirls around a sign along Crescent Beach in Crescent Beach, Fla., Sept. 9, 2005.
People walk north along Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Sept. 8, 2005.