Subtropical Storm Josephine has shut down North Carolina's only highway to the Outer Banks, leaving residents and visitors stranded.

The storm's impact is compounded by predicted king tide flooding that could bring some of the highest water levels seen in a decade across parts of the Southeast U.S. This combination of factors threatens both coastal infrastructure and local economies heavily reliant on tourism.

Highways are closed, and travel to the Outer Banks has been severely hampered as floodwaters rise.

Long-term vulnerability to such storms and tidal flooding is increasing due to rising sea levels, making future recovery efforts more challenging and costly.

Can local infrastructure withstand future compounding shocks?

The repeated battering from storms like Josephine and the associated tidal flooding highlights a growing risk of infrastructure failure. Coastal communities must invest in resilient structures to cope with rising seas and more frequent extreme weather events.

Investment is critical for sustaining local lifelines.