Hurricane Florence - September 2018

[Jax49]

"People are trying to kill each other": Woman describes chaos in Wilmington after Hurricane Florence - CBS News

Crystal Brewer and her son rode out the storm surviving on only bread and water. When they arrived at a Wilmington distribution center, it was their first real meal in more than four days. She said her house is underwater, and will be for a while.

Asked about her hope right now, she said, "That Wilmington gets back to normal. People are trying to kill each other around here."

bbm

 

[Gardener1850]

"People are trying to kill each other": Woman describes chaos in Wilmington after Hurricane Florence - CBS News



bbm

My heart goes out to Wilmington (and all affected by Florence) but I hope this quote about people trying to kill each other was over dramatic and not the actual situation there. My community wasn't impacted by the storm but many people I know are organizing and heading there with water, food and supplies as soon as they are cleared to do so (I know of at least two semi trucks that left already for Wilmington but I have not heard if they were able to make it through/find a passable road). If they are going to have to face angry mobs then the National Guard will need to escort food and water trucks into the area. I pray it is really not that bad though. We need people to come together and help each other not kill each other over food and water. From what I have seen in photos recovery from Florence will take years. Prayers for all.

 

[Jax49]

I hope you're right Gardener that it isn't that bad. I thought the same when I listened to the woman.

Trump to visit as N. Carolina governor pleads for patience | WTOP

It is bad, even if not that bad. moo

Brandon Echavarrieta struggled to stay composed as he described life post-Florence: no power for days, rotted meat in the freezer, no water or food and just one bath in a week.

“It’s been pretty bad,” said Echavarrieta, 34, his voice breaking.

 

[Gardener1850]

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — The death toll from Hurricane Florence climbed to at least 37, including two mental health patients who drowned when a sheriff’s van was swept away by floodwaters, and North Carolina’s governor pleaded with thousands of evacuees not to return home just yet.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, arrived in storm-ravaged North Carolina on Wednesday.

Wilmington, population 120,000, was still mostly an island surrounded by floodwaters, and people waited for hours Tuesday for handouts of food, water and tarps. Thousands of others around the state waited in shelters for the all-clear.

“I know it was hard to leave home, and it is even harder to wait and wonder whether you even have a home to go back to,” Gov. Roy Cooper said.

After submerging North Carolina with nearly 3 feet (1 meter) of rain, the storm dumped more than 6.5 inches (16.5 centimeters) of rain in the Northeast, where it caused flash flooding.

Cooper warned that the flooding is far from over and will get worse in places.

Trump visits North Carolina as governor pleads for patience

 

[JerseyGirl]

I hope these people have flood insurance, otherwise life of hell is just beginning. Besides, flood insurance money is not going to rebuild homes either.

It's a struggle, believe me, 6 years since Sandy and I'm still homeless - and I had flood insurance.

 

[Gardener1850]

I hope you're right Gardener that it isn't that bad. I thought the same when I listened to the woman.

Trump to visit as N. Carolina governor pleads for patience | WTOP

It is bad, even if not that bad. moo

That man's quote is more believable, IMO. I believe they had no power and spoiled meat and no showers. I believe people are suffering and struggling right now, absolutely. But the "only bread and water" and the "people are trying to kill each other" seemed a bit over-the-top IMO. She didn't have anything in her house besides bread and water DURING the storm? I've eaten a few ketchup sandwiches in really hard times-- that would have been more believable to me than the "only bread and water" or to just say your meat spoiled and you had to eat PB&J. JMHO. Regardless though, the good news is they had some food and they survived. And I know more help is on the way.

 

[Gardener1850]

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — With power still out in many places hampering various services, one bank is bringing a mobile banking unit to help.

PNC Bank plans to open the unit equipped with a 24-hour ATM available for cash withdrawals, deposits and other account services around noon today. It will be at 3709 Oleander Drive in Wilmington.

PNC brings mobile banking unit to Wilmington - WWAY TV

 

[Gardener1850]

Lots of photos here: Photos: Florence Flooding & Recovery, Wednesday, Sept. 19

 

[Gardener1850]

SOUTHEASTERN N.C. The Cape Fear River in Fayetteville, the Northeast Cape Fear River near Burgaw and the Black River near Currie either have broken or could break flood stage records in the wake of Hurricane Florence.
The waterways have something else in common.
“It’s all coming toward us” in Wilmington, said Reid Hawkins, science officer for the National Weather Service office in Wilmington.

The rivers, along with other creeks and tributaries, ultimately merge just north of downtown Wilmington before flowing to the Atlantic.

And Brunswick County will also see historic flooding, as the Waccamaw River is expected to crest at more than 23 feet near Ash.

“That’s 4 feet higher than we had for (Hurricane) Floyd,” Hawkins said.

In other words, Florence may have passed. The sun was out Wednesday and no rain is forecast for several days. Towns and counties are lifting curfews and allowing residents and the public to return to their homes.
But the Wilmington region’s flooding woes may have only just begun and the region remains under a flood warning through at least Thursday morning.

Read more: HURRICANE FLORENCE: Worst of floods yet to come - News - Wilmington Star News - Wilmington, NC

 

[Gardener1850]

Since last Friday, Rabbi Yossi Groner of Charlotte’s Ohr HaTorah said he’d tried in vain to reach the rabbi at their satellite synagogue in hurricane-ravaged Wilmington.

The coastal city, pounded by two feet of rain, had been cut off by floodwaters, leaving Rabbi Moshe Leiblich of Chabad of Wilmington with no power or phone service for days.

But with Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, fast approaching, the two Orthodox rabbis finally made contact by phone on Monday.

On Tuesday morning, a helicopter loaded with 150 pounds of food — including kosher chicken, kosher yogurt, cream cheese, and “honey cakes,” traditional treats for a sweet Jewish New Year — took off for the airport in Wilmington.

When it arrived at about 1:30 p.m. — just hours before Yom Kipper was to begin at sundown — Leiblich was there to pick it up.

“It was tremendous, and certainly a relief,” he said. “It gave us kosher meat until the stores are back to normal.”

Read more here: Charlotte Jews answer SOS from Wilmington: Send kosher food!

 

[Gardener1850]

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said he made a mistake when he announced two open routes for evacuees back into the Port City.

Speaking at a media briefing Tuesday, Saffo shared the following two routes:

• I-40 East to Exit 373, then NC 903 West to US 421 South to Wilmington
• I-40 East to Exit 385, then NC 41 West to 421 South to Wilmington

However, Tuesday evening Saffo said those routes should only be used by emergency vehicles and responders.

“At this point in time, based on the volume of assets that we need to bring in, we would like to ask the public to hold off using those routes," Saffo said. "I know it’s out there and I know I’ve made my comments it would be very nice for the public not to use those routes at this time”

Wilmington mayor walks back announcement of open routes into city

 

[Gardener1850]

SOUTHEASTERN N.C. – The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Wilmington division -- which covers all of Southeastern North Carolina -- has an uphill battle ahead of it.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, the region has numerous roads still impassable under floodwaters and even more suffering from damage ranging from broken pavement to cavernous sinkholes.

To mount those repairs, division engineer Karen Collette said the DOT has recruited 92 push-and-shove contractors to help clear and assess roads in addition to regular staff. Sister divisions have also sent in crews to help operate on the “bare pavement routes” model.

“We focus on the interstates first, primary roads second and then the secondary roads,” Collette said. “We need those interstates open because it is important to get commercial up and running. We have to get gas to the gas stations and food to the restaurants and stores.”

Where possible, crews can also make safe temporary repairs to get traffic moving and then circle back to do permanent repairs in the future.

Of chief concern right now, Collette said I-40 suffered structural damage at multiple markers, starting at the Gordon Road exit where part of the westbound shoulder collapsed, and stretching all the way to Johnston County. At mile marker 388, it is completely flooded, she added.

“We may not see pavement in some of these places until this weekend,” Collette said.

Recovery won’t be a quick process.

Repairing roads: Which ones to do first?

Map of roads closed in NC: North Carolina road closures - Google My Maps

 

[Gardener1850]

List of food & water distributions and medical places, gas stations and stores that are open (in Wilmington area):
What's open post-Hurricane Florence?

 

[Gardener1850]

Many people left Wilmington ahead of the storm. One man, Fred Hardy, ended up in Norfolk.

"Floyd, Fran, Gloria, Bertha, so after seeing those hurricanes normally we stayed,” Hardy explained thinking about past natural disasters.”

For Hardy and his roommate Tom Witherspoon, riding out hurricanes was just part of the deal when they moved to the coast.

But Florence is different.

"We kept hearing a lot from this hurricane, they were saying Category 4 and we kept looking at it getting closer so we decided and they were telling people to get out and this the first time it's happened like this since I've been in Wilmington, so I got out,” Hardy said.

They headed for safety to his former home in Norfolk, not knowing in just a matter of days the city he's come to love would become an island separated from the rest of civilization.

"I pray a lot, and I cry sometimes, over the last few days I've had, I'll admit it, I've had some tears,” he said."
It is scary and I have a lot of anxiety because I don't know what's going on as far as my property,” he added.

Read more: Wilmington evacuee takes refuge in Norfolk, but worries about home in NC

 

[Gardener1850]

WILMINGTON, MA — We’re One Wilmington always believes many people acting together in kindness can total a large difference and no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

WOW is organizing a drive to assist a Wilmington family in need, the fire victims in Lawrence and the Hurricane Victims in Wilmington, North Carolina who have been displaced and evacuated from their homes. It may be weeks or months before they can return to their homes. Some will never be able to return.

WOW is encouraging the citizens of Wilmington to team up and support our neighbors on their massive recovery. This weekend, they hope to “Fill a Truck” for Lawrence, MA and Wilmington, NC.

More details at link: WOW To Hold Donation Drive For Wilmington, NC Hurricane Victims & Merrimack Valley Fire Victims On Sept. 22-23

 

[Gardener1850]

Finding food can be a challenge during the days after a hurricane. Starting today, a national organization has set up camp in Wilmington, to feed the community. They will be preparing tens of thousands of meals. WHQR’s Vince Winkel reports.

The mouth-watering smell of barbecue is swirling around the old K-Mart Parking lot on College Avenue in Wilmington.

From now until early October, the Operation BBQ Relief disaster response team will be cooking hundreds of thousands of pounds of turkey, chicken, beef brisket and other items to help Wilmington recover. David Marks is with Operation BBQ Relief, a non-profit that helps communities after a disaster has struck.

Operation BBQ Relief Sets Up In Wilmington

 

[Gardener1850]

Samaritan’s Purse is offering assistance to Jacksonville area residents who need help with clean up and repairs at the homes.

The international Christian relief organization currently has teams working in three locations in Eastern North Carolina: Jacksonville, New Bern and Wilmington.

“We mobilize volunteers to do work out in the community,” said Samaritan’s Purse program manager Kristin Koning.

Koning said they organize teams to perform tasks including chainsaw work on trees, removal of personal property and furniture, muck/gut homes and sanitizing, and roof repairs. All work is done free of charge.

More info on how to volunteer at link: Samaritan's Purse sets up in ENC - News - The Daily News - Jacksonville, NC

 

[Gardener1850]

Residents of the island portions of North Topsail Beach and Surf City might be permitted to return to their properties by Thursday, but officials stressed that re-entry continues to be a moving target as crews clear roads, check utilities and assess bridges and buildings for safety.

They said residents should watch for official word on Facebook or await other notification from the towns before trying to return.

“There are rumors flying everywhere in incidents like this,” said Allan Libby, director of tourism and public information for Surf City.

Libby said he’s heard that about 12 residents may have weathered Hurricane Florence on the island part of Surf City. Authorities had not heard of any injuries.

Read more: Beach officials ask for patience as islands prepare to open

 

[Gardener1850]

Hurricane Florence laid waste to farm after farm in Eastern North Carolina, and the men and women who rely upon the land for their livelihoods say their way of life is in jeopardy. It is a certainty, they say, that some farms will not survive the financial ruin inflicted first by wind and then by water.

“It’s probably game over, unless somebody steps in and gives them some relief,” Faulkner said.

North Carolina’s poultry farmers have lost an estimated 3.4 million birds, including chickens and turkeys, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said on Tuesday. The swine industry losses were estimated at about 5,500 hogs, and those numbers are expected to grow as some rivers continued to flood Wednesday and as word about other losses filtered in from the hardest hit areas. By comparison, about 2,800 hogs perished in 2016 during Hurricane Matthew.

Read more: Area farms demolished by Hurricane Florence

 

[Gardener1850]

Here is a list of places offering everything from food to showers to laundry in Onslow County, NC:
Where to get food, water, showers