Wilmington District Commander Col. Steve Baker surveys damage to Highway 12 after Hurricane Irene hit coastal North Carolina in late August of 2011. When the highway breached at Rodanthe the only access to the town and other parts of the Outer Banks was by ferry. The dredge MERRITT helped ensure that ferries could get supplies and equipment to the hard hit areas by removing shoals from the federal channel. (USACE photo by Hank Heusinkveld)