ADVERTISEMENT Florence hits land: 60 people are rescued from collapsing hotel as storm surge of TEN FEET swamps city where 150 people are trapped as hurricane batters North Carolina with 90 mph winds

Friday, September 14, 2018
By Paul Martin

Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, at 7.15am with winds of up to 90 mph
More than 60 people were rescued from a collapsing hotel in Jacksonville, North Carolina, early on Friday
Rescue teams are working to free those trapped in New Bern after the nearby Neuse River burst its banks
The Neuse River near the city is recording more than 10 feet of inundation, the National Hurricane Center said
In Jacksonville, about 70 people have been rescued from a hotel whose structural integrity was threatened
Even before Florence hit land, life-threatening storm surge was reported along the coast of the Carolinas
Once a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph, Florence was downgraded to a Category 1 on Thursday

By KHALEDA RAHMAN and KEITH GRIFFITH
DAILYMAIL.COM
14 September 2018

The center of Hurricane Florence has smashed into North Carolina with three inches of rain falling every hour and 90mph winds sparking a 10-foot storm surge.

More than 60 people including children had to be pulled from a collapsing motel in Jacksonville at the height of the storm and many more who defied evacuation orders were waiting to be rescued.

Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, at 7.15am. At least 12,000 people sought refuge in shelters in the state and more than 415,000 homes and businesses were reported to be without power as the outer band of the storm approached.

The hurricane knocked a basketball-sized hole in the wall of the Triangle Motor Inn causing cinder blocks to crumble and the roof to fall down – while residents were still in their rooms.

Police and fire crews had to force their way into rooms to rescue guests who were all taken to a shelter. None were injured.

Rescue teams were also working to free around 150 people trapped in New Bern as city spokeswoman Colleen Roberts warned that the storm surge will increase further as Florence passes over the area.

The National Hurricane Center said the Neuse River near the city is more than 10 feet (3.05 meters) high after it burst its banks on Thursday night.

The city warned that people ‘may need to move up to the second story’ but told them to stay put as ‘we are coming to get you.’

Even before Florence hit land, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported ‘life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds’ along the coast of the Carolinas leaving coastal streets inundated with ocean water.

Screaming winds bent trees toward the ground and raindrops flew sideways as Florence’s leading edge whipped the Carolina coast on Thursday night to begin an onslaught that could last for days, leaving a wide area under water from both heavy downpours and rising seas.

Like an out of control freight train, Florence entered into Wilmington, a port city of 120,000 people on the North Carolina coast, and started pummeling the city with 100 mph winds early friday.

The city was plunged into darkness after losing its power grid shortly after 5am during some of the fiercest wind bursts.

Damages are starting to appear as large swaths of the roof of Hotel Ballast, a downtown tourism staple, are being peeled off one by one and sucked out into the sky.

The Cape Fear River, which usually lazies from east to west through the city’s historic district, has been transformed into rapids.

The Rest…HERE

Leave a Reply

Join the revolution in 2018. Revolution Radio is 100% volunteer ran. Any contributions are greatly appreciated. God bless!

Follow us on Twitter