Last year I spent five days at South Mills on the Dismal. It was because of Sandy, three days in wind and rain and then waiting for debris check before they let us through. Actually it wasn't bad. There were over a dozen of us waiting and because of the trees the wind was effectively blocked. There is a small eatery that does good pizza and in the morning a good breakfast. The Canal Supervisor came by and checked on us and he and the locals insisted if there was anything they could do, or if there was an emergency - call. Probably the best hurricane hole on the east coast.