Our partner, the Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium on Ocean Isle Beach has worked with their local mayor on many important coastal projects over the years. This year, that very special mayor is being recognized for her outstanding dedication as a protector of North Carolina’s coastline.
The Ocean Isle Museum Foundation (OIMF) will present the 2025 Louise Ingram Coastal Caretaker Award to Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith at its third annual Beach Ball, scheduled for April 3, at the Tides (formerly Seabreeze) at Bricklanding.
Debbie Sloane Smith was among the first residents in Ocean Isle Beach and has lived here since 1955, a year after Hurricane Hazel decimated the island. She first served on the board of commissioners in 1983 and was elected mayor in 2003. Tirelessly, Smith has led the town’s efforts to improve the island town’s resiliency against coastal threats and protect it from flooding and erosion. She has long been a supporter of educational efforts about these issues.
The Coastal Caretaker Award is given annually to a person who does notable work to preserve our coastal environment, heritage and culture through education, conservation and/or preservation. It is named for Louise Ingram who, with her husband Stuart, founded the Museum and the Planetarium.
“Being a lifelong resident of Ocean Isle Beach, I have witnessed coastal and shoreline changes that can come with hurricanes, northeastern winter storms, or just strong tides. While Mother Nature will do as she pleases, I have learned over the years that there are things we humans can do to protect, preserve, and work with her to protect our coastline. Storm Damage Mitigation Plans (beach nourishment) has proven to protect and regrow our shoreline when necessary. I have been involved with obtaining a plan of work for Ocean Isle Beach since 1989. We were successful in constructing the first project in 2000 and several successful replenishments since.
Inlet shorelines offer a different set of challenges with the higher currents and multiple forces as channels and shorelines modulate. The construction of a terminal groin has proven successful in stabilizing our eastern end of the island. Shallotte inlet has always been a volatile inlet where ocean front homes are now located on Third Street. Because of prohibition of hardened structures along the NC Coast since the 1970s it took a legislative and environmental challenge to have this law changed. Having spent many years watching homes being moved and occasionally lost I took it as a personal challenge and working with the Town of Ocean Isle Beach and other beach communities this became a reality.
I strive to stay abreast of new technologies and proven actions to preserve the coast we all love and especially my home, Ocean Isle Beach.”
Jim Hoffman, Director of the Museum of Coastal Carolina and the Ingram Planetarium has worked with Mayor Smith for many years. The museum’s focus on STEM education with a coastal focus places them in a unique position to participate in the town’s discussions involving Ocean Isle Beach’s need for advanced coastal planning.
“Since our organization is focused on STEM, we’re engaged in conversations about how engineering solutions can help solve challenges that coastal communities face. We’ve also been directly involved in the town’s resiliency planning that is exploring implementing additional engineering solutions that not only protect the town’s infrastructure but also its natural beauty.”
Congratulations to Coastal Caretaker Mayor Debbie Smith, and thank you for your many years of service to North Carolina’s beautiful and unique coastline.