Outer Banks (1983: Doomsday)

Republic of the Outer Banks
Timeline: 1983: Doomsday
OTL equivalent: Outer Banks

Flag of Outer Banks Flag of Outer Banks Location of Outer Banks Motto First In Flight
Anthem	"We at the Edge of the Sea"
Capital	Manteo
Largest city	Kill Devil Hills
Other cities	Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Beaufort
Language	English
Demonym	Outer Bankers
President	Rodney Middget
Vice President	Robin Mann
Area	2494 mi² land: 887 mi² water:: 1507 mi²
Population	30,000 (2010 est.)
Independence	25 Sept 1988
Currency	Barter, Dollar

The Republic of the Outer Banks is a North American survivor nation located off the coast of the former US state of North Carolina.

History

Before Doomsday

The land of the barrier islands was sparsely populated before the coming of English settlers in the late sixteenth century. The counties at the northern end near the Roanoke River were originally home to many tribes of the Carolina Algonquian peoples. Two of these were the Roanoke and the Croatoan tribes. These tribes were known as village dwellers, building towns that would remain until the crops failed or the game fled from over-hunting.

In 1584, having heard of the success of the Spanish in the Americas, Queen Elizabeth of the Kingdom of Britain had granted Sir Walter Raleigh the right to colonize the land in order to have a base from which to raid the Spanish treasure ships. Raleigh sub-contracted to Phillip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe to scout the coast of North America for a good port from which to base such an operation. The chose what was to become known as Roanoke Island (for the tribe that frequented the island for it's game). The nearby tribe of Croatoans seemed also to be friendly with the visitors. The explorers established a colony on the island, sending ships back to England for supplies. In 1586, Sir Francis Drake took all but 15 of the original colonist back to England. In 1587 a full colony, including women, were brought to the island. One colonist, the daughter of the colony's governor John White, was pregnant and gave birth to a little girl by the name of Virginia Dare, the first English citizen born on American soil.

After a settler was killed by unfriendly natives, and due to an earlier rough treatment to such natives by the colony's first leader, John White was sent back to England for help to deal with the natives on the mainland. When he returned, the colony had been abandoned with no evidence of violence. 115 colonists, including White's grand daughter, had disappeared.

The area saw very little significant history in the following four hundred years. This was perhaps due to the inhospitable shores which the offshore reefs presented. American vice president Aaron Burr is said to have lost his daughter, wife to the South Carolina governor of the time, to a ship wreck off those shores. At any rate, the prevailing winds on the islands provided an excellent test site for the vehicle that would one day "sail" safely far above the waves - the airplane. Orville and Wilbur Wright of Ohio flew the first motorized heavier than air vehicle in the long island called "Kill Devil Hills" near the town of Kitty Hawk. That was on December 17, 1903. Since then the whole state has taken the motto: "First In Flight."

After Doomsday

On September 25, 1983, a quiet Sunday evening was shattered all over North America. The state of North Carolina was literally cut down the middle by Soviet warheads over cities of industrial, military and political significance. Last minute messages from the center of the state made it clear that the capital city of Raleigh had been targeted. Traffic Comptrollers from Raleigh and Charlotte, among others, had rerouted incoming jets to safer airports while getting as many out as they could in the short window available. Hundreds of planes however, were reported having crashed due to electrical failure after the main EMP over mid-America. By the time the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras went out, everyone knew that America was in deep trouble.

The Dark Years

With power out all throughout the islands, and few vehicles being able to operate to leave, the local villages came together under the authority of Dare County, North Carolina to form an emergency government to assist the survivors of what had to be a bad situation due to the final reports coming before the black out. By late afternoon on September 27, 1983, all the mayors and city managers from all over the islands had made their way to Manteo on Roanoke Island. The islands of Dare County, or the "Outer Banks" would make it through the crisis as they had many of the hurricanes in the last century or so of their existence.

It became apparent within days that no deliveries of goods by truck or by sea would be coming in any time soon. A run on the grocery stores (most particularly Food-a Rama) had begun even before any official state of emergency could be announced (difficult to pronounce to the population due to lack of radio and TV). Refugees from as far away as Virginia Beach and Wilmington began to come onto the islands to ride out the crisis away from the big cities. By December, the bridge to the mainland was barricaded to discourage further immigration in order to conserve resources. Expeditions were planned to the mainland, but for the first winter, all the efforts were in providing services to those living on the scattered islands of Dare County.

The soil on the Outer Banks is very sandy, and many of the arable areas were wooded, making subsistence agriculture unworkable for any large group of people in many areas. Fishing which had been emerging into a commercial industry became once again a subsistence lifestyle. Prevailing wind patterns also led the Pamplico Sound and Cape Hatterask were almost free of all fallout and these became the source of survival for the majority of citizens.

Early on the breakdown of governance allowed for the rise of warbands who fashioned themselves as pirates. Those who had access to the few weapons in the area seized the island of Ocracoke for themselves and began a rampage throughout the region. As traditional American currency became worthless, the pirates raided both on the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean and inland areas into the Pamlico River in search of food. A certain figure whose true identity has been lost, fashioned himself as a resurrected brother of the 18th century Blackbeard. Staging a desperate night attack, the Black Shadow and his gang hoped to be recognized as the 'protectors'. However such plans were foiled, when Black Shadow's plans were foiled when he was poisoned by a disgruntled crew member whose brother had been inadvertently murdered in a raid.

Afterward, the diehard members of the gang vanished into the sea, while some others were put on trial. Despite their crimes, almost all surviving members of the gang were given clemency on the condition that they put themselves in the service of the local churches to feed the destitute and the sick with their catch. Legends tell that the Black Shadow had a daughter that will reutrn with an army of Indian spirits to wreck havoc once more. The events of the Black Shadow are attested to had taken place from 1983 to 1985.

A New Government

At first, the leadership of the Outer Banks had no intention of forming a permanent nation, believing state and federal authorities would eventually return. After five years, however, hopes of reuniting with the US, or the state governments of ethier North Carolina or Virginia had dwindled. Finally, the provisional authorities decided that the federal government was never coming back and it was time to give up on the USA. In September 1988, on the 5th anniversary of Doomsday, the Republic of the Outer Banks was officially formed. In the late 90s, the government made formal contact with communities on the western mouth of the Albermarle Sound. Rivers as the Roanoke, Pamplico and the Tar will once again be used as navigation in the region.

However, a tension developed between the city-state of Elizabeth City over the "rights" to survivor communities and farmland in the counties between the two. In 2002, as disputes over this land continued, a ship bearing Brazilian explorers sailed through Banker waters, under the lax security of the "Dare County Connector" bridge, all the way to Elizabeth City.

After a period of four years, and contact with Mexican officials, the Brazilian "invasion" had been exposed. In 2006, the Outer Banks established a protectorate in the Roanoke River valley up to the former NC-Virginia state line. By the end of 2008, the Outer Banks had established contact with other US successor states. In January 2009, official contact was made with the ANZC.

In 2010 The Outer-Banks has reinstated control of the mainland that had once been part of the old Dare County. Though open for seasonal expeditions for timber and farmland reclamation from as early as the Mid-80's, it had never been permanently re-incorporated.

Despite the fact that of the residents of the sparsely populated marshes had already migrated across the Croatan Sound a few dozen survivors had been discovered in the old site ofEast Lake. These families had avoided confrontation with loggers while farming the marshlands and hunting game for over twenty years. The expeditions assured them that their lands would remain theirs. However, the expedition requested that they educate their children in basic literacy.

Government

The Republic of the Outer Banks follows a model of government similar to the pre-DD United States. The republic is divided into seven townships. The legislative branch consists of a House of Representatives and a Senate. The House is divided into seats which correspond to the population of townships and its members are elected by the people. The Senate is divided into two seats per township and its members are appointed by the governments of the townships.

The President is elected to a four-year term, and is eligible for two consecutive terms. The powers of the Presidency are identical to that of the pre-DD US President.

The Judges

On paper, the judicial branch has the same structure and purpose as the judicial branch of the former US. Disregarding official documents, the council of five judges has transformed to have entirely new meanings and functions, that resemble old English- or even native Croaton society.

In practicality, however, as the original counties had very few lawyers, presidents often appoint their closest friends or supporters to positions in judgeships. However, an ordinance has been enacted to ensure all appointments are literate. Often times judges have been members of the Baptist or Methodist. In reality judges have increasingly been seen not as legal experts alone but a 'council of elders' who are consulted in all types of questions and disputes. It is not common for individuals to approach the judges on questions of personal feuds or importance.

Politics

This report must note, that is very little support for the reemergence of the United States or even for a hypothetical nation of Noth Carolina here.

For more information on the Politics of the Outer Banks: .

Outer Banks Politics

Education

Education was for a time neglected by the local government due to the ensuing crisis, children were merely a focus for survival. As there was only one doctor in the Outer Banks area prior to Doomsday, there was a near total lack of medical supplies, with the exception of those held by a local pharmacy- who were compelled to give their supplies to Manteo officials. Children once more returned to the fishing and farming work that defined their lives in the 19th century. Though some parents put their children under quarantine in fear that refugees would infect their children. Education reverted to home instruction, almost always by mothers or grandparents.

On Roanoke Island, educational buildings though oversized and neglected could still be used to educate children. In 1990 it became apparent that many children and even some teenagers were effectively illiterate, still, many locals did not see the real point of education when survival was a day to day battle.

Netherless, the first Outer Banks President, saw a need to enforce some educational ruling, as literacy and arithmetic were still valuable. These basic skills allowed for some additional level of commerce about the ordinary barter and allowed the accurate tracking of loans and debts between citizens. The largest justification came from religion, as the region had near uniformly Protestant since, before Doomsday, faith was deeply important to the older citizens. Under the guise of remembering religious teachings and morals, a new primary education program that taught literacy to children and adults was initiated. Schooling would be done by some former teachers of the counties, and by the remaining churches. Literacy was taught with the Bible and some remaining copies of Mark Twain's works. Arithmetic was often taught by splitting and sorting everyday objects. Schooling almost entirely took place in the 'Cold Time' from November to March. However, even such rudimentary instruction remained functional only Roanoke Island for many years. Most families in other islands were reluctant to permit their children to go on long journeys often by boat to Roanoke just for education.

Law and Order

While at first documents indicate, that there was an attempt to preserve customs from the dissolved United States, very quickly did the status of laws and punishments to serve the needs of an isolated community, where almost all community members know each other. With very few legal officials present in the first place, the distribution of law fell to the Supreme Court which became more as a council of elders than a secular court. As day to day survival is not taken for granted 'imprisonment' as considered in the old United States does not exist. In terms of crimes where there is a victim, convicted criminals often are asked to pay large forgive fee especially for crimes considered drimes. If a crime is economic such as theft, it is very common for the guilty to be issued to the service of the community which is usually forced labor for the church.

For actions of murder are actions that are deemed as detrimental to the existence of the order, there has been a number of punishments. Sometimes very large compensation, or lifelong community service if the murderer may have had justification for his crime. Most common is expulsion, which at least in the early years could mean certain death. The expelled were traditionally brought to the far west of the Albermarle Sound, on the mouth upon the Roanoke. The old North Carolina, Virginia border dangerously close to radiation was also used. Reports from other states confirm however that some of the expelled survive, often times on fishing on the high seas. Indeed, sightings of expelled Outer Bankers was one of the early confirmations of the existance of surivors in the Tidewater of former North Carolina.

Economy

Food

The Outer Banks have established strict self-sufficiency. Fishing is the main source of sustenance, with no fear of overfishing even the inlets to the mainland. A larger variety of fish and seafood began to be harvested as competition for the usual fare became heated. In addition, citizens were expected to grow fruits and vegetables in available lots and even private greenhouses. As a result, fish and waterfowl were traded for fruits and vegetables and no has gone hungry since the 1990s. Other services, such as repair and maintenance of equipment, were also bartered in lieu of money.

Transportation

For years after Doomsday, fuel was rationed to the few public vehicles used for rapid transport between villages and to fishing boats needed to maintain the economy. Though distances were small, fishing waters were large, leading to the an inevitable disappearance of fuel within a few years. Before that happened, though, gasoline engines were re-engineered to run on alcohol, and diesel engines to run on vegetable oils. Innovations in electric golf carts also became popular. Others, though, took to raising the feral horses on the islands, for both transportation and sport.

Recreation

Until very recently, the tourism industry was just about nil in the islands. However, as the populace grew used to the routine of working to sustain a comfortable, if primitive, lifestyle, the beaches became popular places to spend weekends and even week-long vacations for those who could get away (successful fishermen were especially flexible in this way). Hotel management became a job that many villages kept on the "payroll" - paid mostly in food and housing, and some credits for incidentals. Managers, in turn, would hire young people who had become tired of farming and fishing as a way of life. According to the League of Nations since 2015, tourists are often denoted as 'Woodsers' and must pay for permission for entry with ethier food or forgein currencies that can be used in international trade.

Energy

In addition to bio-fuel to fuel generators , other ways were found to return electricity to the homes and businesses of the Association. Before venturing to the mainland, attempts were made to farm the winds and the waves - both of which were plentiful. Windmills popped up along the Atlantic coast between the hotels and beaches. In between the islands, anchored by the pilings of the bridges, were tidal generators running turbines that produced electricity as well.

By late 1985, mainland Dare county, with its fertile, but wet marshland and swamps, had begun to be reclaimed to grow grain for food and for fuel. Later, in the 1990's, contact was made with survivors in Currituck and Camden counties, leading to similar farming efforts to fuel both economies and vehicles.

International Relations

Despite recent contact with other nations, the Outer Banks maintains a strict isolationist policy. The government has turned down an offer to join the League of Nations, citing the failure of previous international bodies to prevent wars in the past.

The majority of the information in this report was published to the League of Nations by means of a recent Blue Ridge investigation into the area whose envoys have dubbed the Outer Banks as the 'Pirate Hermitage'.