In the wake of one of the largest hurricanes in modern history, we’re simply amazed by all of the support and encouragement that has been extended to us. For those who don’t know, our beloved restaurant began taking on flood water from hurricane Sandy on Monday, October 29, 2012. We moved a few things to higher ground but were otherwise defenseless against the rising water. It was disheartening to know that there was absolutely nothing we could do as we headed home to ride out the storm.

We stopped by the restaurant again on Tuesday morning armed with extra helpers in hopes that the water had receded enough to begin cleanup. Unfortunately, we discovered that the flooding had only worsened. It set in then that we would lose much of our product long before we were operational again. Instead of discarding it immediately or letting it spoil, we decided to share the feast with our helpers and other passersby. We moved one of our picnic tables to a shallow area and began to chow down. What started out as lunch among friends, quickly spiraled into something we never could have imagined.

I Got Your Crabs feast post hurricane Sandy

We posted this picture to our Facebook page hoping to bring some humor to an otherwise disastrous situation. In a very short time, the photo went viral. It received a shocking amount of attention on Facebook and other websites, like Imgur and The Chive, as well as from local news channels. People have reached out to us from all over the country. Our spontaneous meal seemed to be the just kind of lighthearted aftermath that so many sought amid thousands of heartbreaking photos.

Along with the attention came numerous offers of  help from local businesses and friendly patrons alike. It’s obvious to us now that we’re not in this alone. We know that over the next few weeks, there will be plenty of helping hands to get us back on our feet. For that, we are grateful beyond words. We’re truly in awe of the resilient community spirit that defines the Outer Banks.

As you begin to pick up the pieces in your own neck of the woods, you’ll undoubtedly grow hungry. Save that big appetite for our grand re-opening because it will be an event that you don’t want to miss. We’ll be back in business as soon as possible, and we have more motivation than ever to feed our community.