Flood — Wilson, North Carolina

2016-10-09 to 2016-10-13 · near Elm City, Wilson, North Carolina

Event narrative

Torrential rainfall of 9 to 12 inches caused widespread flash flooding across the county. Additional heavy rainfall upstream caused major flooding along the Tar River Basin, and along Contentnea Creek. Flooding damaged approximately 1,174 structures throughout the county, resulting in $32.3 million in property damage, and $20 million in crop damage. Numerous streets and roads were reported flooded, with several washouts reported on secondary roads. The flooding resulted in 2 direct fatalities. A 51 year old female died when the car she was driving was swept off the road in rushing floodwaters along N.C. Highway 581 between Renfro Road and Rock Ridge. A 65year old male died when his car was swept away by swift water in a creek near the 6400 block of Good News Church Road near Saratoga.

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 → (35.8179, -77.8574)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 663526. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.