Hurricane (Typhoon) — Craven, North Carolina

1996-09-04 to 1996-09-06 · Craven, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Fran moved onshore near Cape Fear Thursday evening (9/6) and raced north toward Raleigh cutting a swath of destruction. The Category 3 hurricane destroyed or damaged 90% of the homes in North Topsail Beach. The town hall and police station were destroyed. A 15 foot storm surge cut a 100-foot-wide inlet through thye middle of the island. A Camp Lejeune-based Marine lost his life when he and two others mistakenly drove onto the island at the height of the storm. State Route 1568 was washed out and NC210 was covered with sand. Damage in North Topsail and Onslow County alone exceeds $500 million as 6,688 structures were destroyed or damaged. In Carteret County, Emerald Isle reported 67 homes destroyed and 409 with major damage. Thirty-three mobile homes were destroyed. The Emerald Isle fishing pier was destroyed, and Bogue Sound Pier lost 150 feet. Erosion along the dunes ranged from 5 to 20 feet. Winds gusted to 100 mph at Atlantic Beach. Storm surge in Swansboro was measured at 10 feet. Several businesses along the waterfront were destroyed and water covered Main Street. Storm surges approaching 9 feet flooded portions of Washington and Belhaven. The storm surge in Washington was the highest since the September 3, 1912 unnamed hurricane. New Bern had a storm surge on the Neuse River of 10 feet. One bridge was closed when an approach road collapsed. Other bridges were out near Stella and Swansboro. One man was killed near Greenville when his car struck a tree. In Duplin County, near Rose Hill, a woman perished when her chimney collapsed through the house. A woman died when a tree fell through her trailer in Catherine Lake, Onslow County. Wind gusts measured included 94 mph at the New River Marine Corps Air Station in Jacksonville and 92 mph at Duke Marine Labs in Beaufort.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5580427. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.