Hurricane (Typhoon) — Pender, North Carolina

1999-09-15 to 1999-09-16 · Pender, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Floyd, with wind gusts around 90 mph caused widespread downed trees and power outages. In Brunswick County, power was out to 95% of the county. The wind did major damage to the roof of Brunswick Community Hospital. Storm surge was 7 to 9 feet on the east side of the county and 3 to 6 feet further west. Ocean Crest Pier, Long Beach Pier and Sunset Beach Pier were hard hit. Ocean overwash was worst at Oak Island, where 4 miles with 100 oceanfront homes sustained $23 million damage. Holden Beach sustained $8.8 million damage, where 46 homes were condemned, many due to exposed septic tanks. Ocean Isle Beach suffered $6 million damage, where 2 homes were knocked off foundations and 500 feet of roadway was lost, with 28 homes declared unsafe. Sunset Beach had $1.25 million damage and lost half its dune and a road, isolating 75 homes. However, the heavy rains which accumulated around 20 inches caused the worst flooding in history. High water closed most roads, including US17, isolating many areas. A dam broke at Boiling Springs Lakes, inundating the area.In New Hanover County, housing losses were near $25 million - 8 homes were destroyed and more than 200 sustained major damage. Ocean storm surge was 9 to 10 feet, inundating barrier islands and causing extensive dune erosion. Record rainfall distinguished Floyd - the most rain ever in 24 hours at ILM airport (14.84") and a storm total 19.06", causing widespread flooding.In Pender County, a 7 to 9 foot storm surge Beach damaged the barrier islands, eroding half the dune. However it was record rainfall with ensuing ponding and flooding of rivers that caused the most serious damage. The Northeast Cape Fear had the worst flood of the century, while that Black River flood was the worst since 1945. Largely due to flooding, more than 1000 homes suffered major damage and 200 more were condemned. More than 3000 hogs, 90,000 turkeys, and 200 cows were lost due to drowning. Animal waste and septic tanks added pollution to the flooding. Two human fatalities occurred as motorists drove into flooded parts of highways.In Columbus and Bladen Counties, wind gusts were near 75 mph in the eastern parts of the counties, downing trees and power lines. More than 15 inches of rain caused widespread flooding. In Robeson Hurricane Floyd caused wind gusts near 70 mph in eastern Robeson County, downing trees and power lines. Rainfall around 10 inches caused widespread flooding.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5717591. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.