Hurricane (Typhoon) — New Hanover, North Carolina

1996-09-05 to 1996-09-06 · New Hanover, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

The center of the eye of Hurricane Fran, about 25 miles across, passed up the Cape Fear River during the evening... with winds gusting around 110 mph, storm surge 12 feet MSL, and 40 ft beach erosion destroying most docks and piers. County infrastructure suffered $5 million damage. Schools had $2 million damage. Power outages exceeded 1 week in some areas. Pleasure Island was hard hit, as 25 homes were carried off foundations and many others badly damaged. Wrightsville Beach was not hit as hard, but 15 homes were at least 75% damaged. In Wilmington, 14 homes were destroyed and 385 homes suffered major damage. The 197 foot tall steeple of 130-year-old First Baptist Church fell. Evacuation Shelters housed 880 people.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5578509. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.