Flood — Sampson, North Carolina

2016-10-09 to 2016-10-13 · near Newton Grove, Sampson, North Carolina

Event narrative

Torrential rainfall of 10 to 14 inches caused widespread flash flooding across the county. Additional rainfall upstream caused all-time record major flooding along the Black River near Tomahawk. Flooding damaged approximately 657 structures throughout the county, resulting in $4.1 million in property damage and and at least $25 million in crop damage. Numerous roads were flooded all througout the county. U.S. 701 was flooded going into both Newton Grove and Garland, and N.C. 24 was flooded between Turkey and Clinton. N.C. 24 was closed at the county line in Autryville, with water flowing over the bridge. Bonnetsville Road, between Salemburg and The Avenue was washed out. Washed-out areas were also on Edmond Matthis Road, Bass Lake Road, Mount Moriah Church Road, Five Bridge Road, Fleet Cooper Road and numerous others. Numerous homes and businesses were flooded as well, with numerous water rescues from people trapped in homes and vehicles.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Matthew skirted by the North Carolina coast on October 8, 2016, dropping torrential rainfall of 8 to 15 inches and producing wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph across Central and Eastern North Carolina. The large swath of 8 to 15 inches of rain across Eastern and Central North Carolina, caused devastating and life threatening flash flooding, that evolved into major and record setting river flooding along portions of the Neuse, Cape Fear, and Tar river basins.

Matthew's inland flood waters resulted in 11 direct fatalities within the WFO RAH CWA, approximately $686 million in property damage to flooded homes and businesses, and $150 million in crop damage. Countless roads and highways were underwater, along with with numerous roads washed out, including sections of Interstates 95 and 40. Besides the 11 direct fatalities, at least 3 indirect fatalities also occurred.

In addition, the associated strong wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph resulted in 1 fatality, when a tree fell onto a moving vehicle. Finally, the associated EF-1 tornado in Wayne County resulted in $75 thousand in property damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.2726, -78.3325)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 663370. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.