32 miles from Bald Head Island, Frying Pan Tower is a decommissioned lighthouse off the southeast coast of North Carolina. Only accessible by helicopter or boat, Frying Pan Tower is also host to three live cameras that are currently broadcasting the coming storm.

Bearing a close resemblance to an oil drilling platform, Frying Pan’s “Texas tower” was originally constructed to serve as a navigational aid and Coast Guard station. The tower marks Frying Pan shoals and the confluence of the Cape Fear River — and when the navigational tower light was replaced by a buoy in 2003, the site was sold at private auction.

The tower currently functions as “a bed and breakfast for the adventurous,” but no reservations are required to check out the three cameras that are still streaming live in the path of Hurricane Florence.

One sits on top of the tower.

Another camera is facing the ocean from the middle level.

The third camera is placed underwater, in view of the artificial reef created by the presence of the tower. 

BONUS: A fourth, very popular on social media right now, shows a pier in Atlantic Beach taking a beating!

Each camera offers a different perspective as Hurricane Florence prepares to make landfall, giving a glimpse into the incredible power of the storm that is barreling toward the Carolina coast.

Related Stories
‹
North Carolina Official Overseeing Hurricane Rebuilding Efforts Is No Longer in Role
The top North Carolina official for rebuilding efforts after natural disasters is no longer working in the position, the AP reports.
Yellen Warns Inaction on Climate Could Cause Economic Crisis
Written by HANNAH SCHOENBAUM Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Tuesday of economic calamity if climate change is not addressed with immediate government intervention. Joined by local business owners and prominent Democrats in North Carolina, Yellen said the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters could create devastating short-term supply reductions of everyday goods that could […]
Bill Seeking to Shore up Flood-Prone NC Areas Gets Hearing
A top North Carolina House Republican says legislation that would spend $220 million in part to shore up highways, rivers and coastal areas prone to flooding will make the state more resilient when the next big storm arrives. The House Environment Committee scheduled debate Tuesday on the proposed “Disaster Relief and Mitigation Act,” pushed in […]
Audit: NC Department of Transportation Overspent by $740M
The North Carolina Department of Transportation spent $740 million beyond what it planned to last year, state auditors said Tuesday as they urged stronger oversight of how DOT and its regional offices handle finances. The performance review by State Auditor Beth Wood’s office found DOT had spent $6.68 billion on road construction and repairs and other transportation […]
Construction, Renovation of Bolin Creek Trail Resumes After Delays
A 550-foot gap has sat in the Bolin Creek Trail for months. Those using the trail have had to cross busy Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to return to the trail instead of crossing under the bridge on the path. Now, after delays from Hurricanes Florence and Dorian and the coal ash remediation project along […]
Gov. Cooper to Create State Program for Hurricane Dorian Relief
Governor Roy Cooper announced plans on Friday to create a state-funded program to help residents in four coastal counties recover from Hurricane Dorian after the federal government declined a request for assistance targeting them. The Federal Emergency Management Agency this week told Cooper there was not enough damage from the September storm to individuals and […]
Hurricane Dorian Provides First Test for Artificial Turf at Kenan Stadium
The rain from Hurricane Dorian will provide the first stress test for the new artificial turf at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Earlier this year, Carolina announced it would switch from natural grass to artificial turf in the football stadium. With natural grass, the field was often rain-soaked and sloppy on game day if it […]
Cooper Seeks Even More Funds for Post-Florence Recovery
Federal housing authorities awarded more than $336 million to North Carolina to address damaged housing, businesses and infrastructure brought on by Hurricane Florence, but the governor said Tuesday that wasn’t enough. Gov. Roy Cooper said the funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development falls short of the state’s needs and he called […]
More Money Heading to NC Fishermen Harmed by Florence
More money is heading to North Carolina commercial fishermen whose landings were harmed by Hurricane Florence. The state Division of Marine Fisheries is sending out 1,000 checks totaling $7.2 million to compensate fishermen whose harvests fell in October and November due to the storm’s aftermath. Another 680 checks valued at $3.2 million already were distributed […]
Right as Rain: Weathering Storms with American Red Cross
Saturday night, Maya and I got all dressed up for the American Red Cross Ball in Raleigh. I was premiering a short documentary that would serve as the motivational piece to urge local companies and individuals to donate to the Red Cross mission. This is a very typical job for me – creating impact videos […]
›