Hurricane Florence - September 2018

[Bravo]

I truly don't trust the weather anymore. It has been so extreme. I don't think our air shut off for 99% of August. Typically we get a stretch here and there over summer with humidex over 100. This summer oppressive. I admit I really did rely on 100 year archeological weather maps. As of late I do agree. Climate change. I think it's going to be an intense season of hurricane. IMO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I truly don't trust the weather anymore. It has been so extreme. I don't think our air shut off for 99% of August. Typically we get a stretch here and there over summer with humidex over 100. This summer oppressive. I admit I really did rely on 100 year archeological weather maps. As of late I do agree. Climate change. I think it's going to be an intense season of hurricane. IMO

My husband of 54 years has drilled the patterns of weather into me since the day I met him. I thought he was just a weather nut and that was okay with me. Over the years, with where we live and his constant lookouts for our family. I’ve learned more than enough to scare the hell out of me.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I’ve been in several much worse tornadoes. But this one has stayed with me forever. It’s taken from the Police Officers cam. The mother took cover under a bridge several blocks from me. She was standing holding her baby girl when the tornado took her from her arms. Oklahoma LE went into action immediately. I forget how long it was before they found her in the mud. It breaks my heart into pieces.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I’m triggered for just a moment. I know this doesn’t have anything to do with Florence. I just want to show you one more weather video.

 

[Jax49]

Florence death toll rises to 32, including 3 young children, Carolinas officials say

 

[Spellbound]

Updates as of last night. They say the worst flooding is yet to come --- unbelievable to me how awful this looks. I can't imagine such a large area under water.

Florence's Devastation: More Evacuations as Rivers Reach Major Flood Stages; Death Toll Rises | The Weather Channel
WILMINGTON: Wilmington, the state’s eighth-largest city, was cut off from the rest of North Carolina by still-rising floodwaters from Florence. Officials announced Monday afternoon that they had cleared a driving route to get needed supplies and first responders into Wilmington, but they didn't make the route public. They also planned to airlift food and water to the city of nearly 120,000 people as rescuers elsewhere pull inland residents from homes threatened by swollen rivers. Three TV stations in the city are in danger of having to go off the air because they are running out of fuel for their emergency generators.

I-95 closed: Flooding led to the closure of a huge stretch of Interstate 95 from north of Fayetteville all the way north to U.S. 64 – a span of about 60 miles of the freeway. Officials told drivers to avoid I-95 entirely, and advised them to instead go west into Tennessee and take I-75 through Georgia, WTVR.com reported.

Rainfall records: Five spots have preliminarily topped North Carolina's tropical cyclone rainfall record: Swansboro (34 inches), Hofmann Forest (29.48 inches), Sunny Point (27.44 inches), Nature Conservancy (27.12 inches) and Newport/Morehead City (25.20 inches). The previous record was 24.06 inches from Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Much more at link; also, 680+ pictures

 

[lonetraveler]

Finally checking in after Hurricane Florence. It has been really stressful but all my family is safe. My neighborhood was on video last night on NBC nightly news. It was the one where water was up to the roof. Lost power Friday morning around 6 am. Had generator, food and was on one of the highest areas of the subdivision. Not a flood zone. My neighbor who had left to stay in Charlotte texted me early Sunday that the National Guard was going door to door mandatory evacuation. I was given two minutes to pack, grab my dog and climb into the back of a high military type vehicle. A dam had broken miles away and water had completely surrounded my area, cutting off any way out but by boat. Truck took us to a shallow area I waded through to get into a boat and was taken to another center. From there my friend got his son in law to pick us up. They have graciously let us sleep on a mattress in their living room.
Problem now is no gas for generator. Mile long lines only for the gas to run out. Allowed to buy only $10 of gas at the time. People are shooting at each other over gas. A man was shot yesterday over $10 of gas.
Looters are breaking in and cleaning out stores.
Have no idea how long it will be before I will be able to return to my home.
But, my children and grandchildren are safe. That's the most important. A neighbor let us siphon gas from his old truck in exchange for a meal.
People are helping each other.

 

[Bravo]

Oh lonetraveler so glad u checked in. So very sorry you are going thru this. Sending thoughts and prayers. So glad u and loved one's are safe.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Finally checking in after Hurricane Florence. It has been really stressful but all my family is safe. My neighborhood was on video last night on NBC nightly news. It was the one where water was up to the roof. Lost power Friday morning around 6 am. Had generator, food and was on one of the highest areas of the subdivision. Not a flood zone. My neighbor who had left to stay in Charlotte texted me early Sunday that the National Guard was going door to door mandatory evacuation. I was given two minutes to pack, grab my dog and climb into the back of a high military type vehicle. A dam had broken miles away and water had completely surrounded my area, cutting off any way out but by boat. Truck took us to a shallow area I waded through to get into a boat and was taken to another center. From there my friend got his son in law to pick us up. They have graciously let us sleep on a mattress in their living room.
Problem now is no gas for generator. Mile long lines only for the gas to run out. Allowed to buy only $10 of gas at the time. People are shooting at each other over gas. A man was shot yesterday over $10 of gas.
Looters are breaking in and cleaning out stores.
Have no idea how long it will be before I will be able to return to my home.
But, my children and grandchildren are safe. That's the most important. A neighbor let us siphon gas from his old truck in exchange for a meal.
People are helping each other.

BBM I’ve been worried about you.
But, my children and grandchildren are safe. That's the most important. People are helping each other.
Yes, you have your priorities and heart in the right place. You are strong!

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[sallye818]

Here in VA, we got a round of tornadoes courtesy Hurricane Florence yesterday. One person was killed; not publicized, but a 2nd one was killed in a car accident that was attributed to the awful weather here yesterday (I have friends on the local rescue squads who told me this). Buses were held as late as 7pm at schools to keep the kids from being out in tornadoes & tornado threats. Extensive property damage.

Not nearly as bad as an uncle we have in Boiling Spring Lakes, NC, just south of Wilmington. The whole town has been pretty much locked in due to flood waters, caved-in roads, and a breached dam. National Guard is having to bring in supplies & food. Yesterday, the Duracell company sent a truck in to give out free batteries--the problem is getting out of your neighborhoods to get to where supplies are being distributed. The local hospital has no potable water. My friend lives in Rocky Point, NC and also cannot get home due to caved-in and washed out roads. She can no longer afford to stay at a hotel so is trying to make her way from western NC to GA to stay with family members.

My heart breaks at all of this devastation. This has been a monster storm.

 

[?mysterian?]

Here in VA, we got a round of tornadoes courtesy Hurricane Florence yesterday. One person was killed; not publicized, but a 2nd one was killed in a car accident that was attributed to the awful weather here yesterday (I have friends on the local rescue squads who told me this). Buses were held as late as 7pm at schools to keep the kids from being out in tornadoes & tornado threats. Extensive property damage.

Not nearly as bad as an uncle we have in Boiling Spring Lakes, NC, just south of Wilmington. The whole town has been pretty much locked in due to flood waters, caved-in roads, and a breached dam. National Guard is having to bring in supplies & food. Yesterday, the Duracell company sent a truck in to give out free batteries--the problem is getting out of your neighborhoods to get to where supplies are being distributed. The local hospital has no potable water. My friend lives in Rocky Point, NC and also cannot get home due to caved-in and washed out roads. She can no longer afford to stay at a hotel so is trying to make her way from western NC to GA to stay with family members.

My heart breaks at all of this devastation. This has been a monster storm.

Yes, and I'm afraid the flooding at the coast won't be over with for several weeks. All the rain falling as the storm moved inland had to go somewhere, and as local creeks and rivers were rising and flooding inland, all that water is going to go downstream, to the coast. Just like with Dennis and Floyd. The flooding will get worse, IMO.

Edited last sentence for clarity.

 

[Jax49]

Thanks for the updates and check ins everyone. Absolutely heartbreaking.

 

[CARIIS]

Here in VA, we got a round of tornadoes courtesy Hurricane Florence yesterday. One person was killed; not publicized, but a 2nd one was killed in a car accident that was attributed to the awful weather here yesterday (I have friends on the local rescue squads who told me this). Buses were held as late as 7pm at schools to keep the kids from being out in tornadoes & tornado threats. Extensive property damage.

Not nearly as bad as an uncle we have in Boiling Spring Lakes, NC, just south of Wilmington. The whole town has been pretty much locked in due to flood waters, caved-in roads, and a breached dam. National Guard is having to bring in supplies & food. Yesterday, the Duracell company sent a truck in to give out free batteries--the problem is getting out of your neighborhoods to get to where supplies are being distributed. The local hospital has no potable water. My friend lives in Rocky Point, NC and also cannot get home due to caved-in and washed out roads. She can no longer afford to stay at a hotel so is trying to make her way from western NC to GA to stay with family members.

My heart breaks at all of this devastation. This has been a monster storm.

I dont know why they dont do food drops -- but i think they would have to put down some armed folks around each drop zone

that was one angle of the documentary when nation lost electricity - people did start murdering each other -- survival instinct

So you let down 4-5 people with machine guns used in mass shootings and distribute food water etc then they go to the next stop

i don't know what they think --everything has not topped yet so we are talking about a long long time people need things

oddly for some reason houston felt different cause it was urban this is so scary to be pretty much alone trapped that is really scary

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Here in VA, we got a round of tornadoes courtesy Hurricane Florence yesterday. One person was killed; not publicized, but a 2nd one was killed in a car accident that was attributed to the awful weather here yesterday (I have friends on the local rescue squads who told me this). Buses were held as late as 7pm at schools to keep the kids from being out in tornadoes & tornado threats. Extensive property damage.

Not nearly as bad as an uncle we have in Boiling Spring Lakes, NC, just south of Wilmington. The whole town has been pretty much locked in due to flood waters, caved-in roads, and a breached dam. National Guard is having to bring in supplies & food. Yesterday, the Duracell company sent a truck in to give out free batteries--the problem is getting out of your neighborhoods to get to where supplies are being distributed. The local hospital has no potable water. My friend lives in Rocky Point, NC and also cannot get home due to caved-in and washed out roads. She can no longer afford to stay at a hotel so is trying to make her way from western NC to GA to stay with family members.

My heart breaks at all of this devastation. This has been a monster storm.

I am so deeply sorry for you and your love ones. I know my last most devastating tornado (May 20, 2013) LE, OSBI, State Highway Patrol, National Guard and numerous EMS were stationed right in front of my home. There is a 7-11 within feet of my home. Since we were quarantined to prevent all the looters and press trying to get in. We were not even allowed to cross the boundaries to get ice or water for the first two days. My whole family sat in the front yard on lawn chairs watching the whole miserable thing play out. There was no power, water or gas for weeks; so the only place to breathe and get air was outside once it quit raining. Our roof was mostly gone in a 2-story. We mostly wandered from neighbor to neighbor helping each other. Especially to find animals lost. I can’t tell you how many times we witnessed officers taking down photographers with cameras. Wrestled them to the ground. Two tried to jump over a fence and all of a sudden, I couldn’t see them anymore for all the LE on top of them. I am so happy you are safe. Help will come!! In truckloads, military vehicles, local home supply trucks, churches, free pizzas galore, Red Cross, local emergency providers, loving city comrades.; the list goes on forever.

 

[MaryG12]

T. is homebound but safe all the streets where he lives in Elizabethtown NC are flooded.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

This is what hit my neighborhood head on. Watch how quickly Mother Nature forms once she makes up her mind. Until she has her “eye” set on us. I’m kinda freaked out again. I watched that twice just now. Six of us were huddled in a closet with our football helmets on when a monster freight train landed right on top of us. When it was over, we made our way (somehow out the front door) everything was soooo still until we heard all the screaming, crying and pleas for help. I won’t be watching that video again for awhile.

 

[MaryG12]

My husband of 54 years has drilled the patterns of weather into me since the day I met him. I thought he was just a weather nut and that was okay with me. Over the years, with where we live and his constant lookouts for our family. I’ve learned more than enough to scare the hell out of me.

The whole planet is out of whack.

 

[CARIIS]

27 total gauges 13 gauges in flood

the thirteen remain in flood for the next 6 days

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service: Newport/Morehead City

 

[zencompass]

Finally checking in after Hurricane Florence. It has been really stressful but all my family is safe. My neighborhood was on video last night on NBC nightly news. It was the one where water was up to the roof. Lost power Friday morning around 6 am. Had generator, food and was on one of the highest areas of the subdivision. Not a flood zone. My neighbor who had left to stay in Charlotte texted me early Sunday that the National Guard was going door to door mandatory evacuation. I was given two minutes to pack, grab my dog and climb into the back of a high military type vehicle. A dam had broken miles away and water had completely surrounded my area, cutting off any way out but by boat. Truck took us to a shallow area I waded through to get into a boat and was taken to another center. From there my friend got his son in law to pick us up. They have graciously let us sleep on a mattress in their living room.
Problem now is no gas for generator. Mile long lines only for the gas to run out. Allowed to buy only $10 of gas at the time. People are shooting at each other over gas. A man was shot yesterday over $10 of gas.
Looters are breaking in and cleaning out stores.
Have no idea how long it will be before I will be able to return to my home.
But, my children and grandchildren are safe. That's the most important. A neighbor let us siphon gas from his old truck in exchange for a meal.
People are helping each other.

Dear Lonetraveler,

Your words describe everything so clearly I feel as if I am right there.

And you were not "in a flood zone"!

This is all so terrifying that it is difficult for me to absorb this information.

I feel so useless. At least I can donate as much money as I can to my nearby bank that is gathering funds for the people there. That's something but it will never feel like it is enough. I also donate to Red Cross.

I am so deeply thankful that you, your children and grandchildren are safe. Also when you write "people are helping each other", this gives me great hope.

The reports I've heard today are describing a dire situation - worse than what predictors had thought.

I am continuously praying along with millions of others, for everyone there.

I am grateful that you are keeping us posted with updates.

It must have been scary to get out of there so quickly but you did. I can only imagine the fear I would have been going through. You are so courageous.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.