Tropical Storm Idalia brings flipped ambulance, heavy rain, and strong winds to NC Coast

The coast of North Carolina has been feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Idalia, with heavy rain and dangerous driving conditions in Fayetteville.

Roads are slick and water is pooling in some areas, making driving difficult and dangerous. An ambulance flipped on Raeford Road, sending multiple people to the hospital with minor injuries. No patients were inside the ambulance at the time of the accident.

The fire department said the accident appears to be weather-related.

“Roads are going to be horrible,” Louise Gandy Fayetteville vistor.

Gandy is visiting from out of town and was supposed to head back home on Thursday.

“Today every other hour there was something else closing,” Gandy said.

Flash flooding is a concern for Fayetteville, with up to 6 inches of rain expected in some areas. The Department of Transportation has put up signs warning drivers of the bad road conditions.

Residents are urged to stay safe and avoid driving if possible. If you must drive, be sure to use caution and be aware of the road conditions.

Meteorologists are predicting 3 to 5 inches of rain in the Sandhills, including Fayetteville. This amount of rain in a short period of time could lead to flash flooding.

During Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018, the Cape Fear River rose to the base of the Person Street Bridge. They were historic flood events. They serve as a reminder of the potential for flooding in the area.

Gene Booth, the Management Director with Cumberland County Emergency, said the county was dry up until this weekend.

“Some areas got very little rain in Cumberland County, some areas got 2, 3, 4 inches of rain on Sunday, at least two inches of rain on Sunday and those are going to be some of the areas to be more concerned with,” Booth said. “The ground saturation and trees falling.”

Cumberland County’s New Emergency management headquarters will be activated to track the storm. Two shelters have been designated to help residents who need to evacuate their homes. The shelters are located at the Kiwanis Rec Center at Honeycutt Park and the Seabrook Recreation Center on Slater Avenue. Both shelters will open at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Cumberland County Schools will be closed Thursday due to the storm. Students will learn from their computers at home.

Wrightsville Beach residents prepare for Tropical Storm Idalia

The Wrightsville Beach community is bracing for Tropical Storm Idalia, which is expected to bring heavy rain, possible flooding and beach erosion. As predicted storms in the area always draw out one very adventurous group of people which are surfers.

“The waves have been great all day,” said Locke Jones, a surfer from Wrightsville Beach. “But the rain kind of moved in on us. We’re going to try to get back on it before the storm comes [Wednesday night].”

Patrick Jones, another surfer who lives in Raleigh, said he came home to help his parents prepare for the storm.

“They have a property on the water over on Hewlett’s Creek,” Jones said. “We’re a little worried about that.”

In anticipation of the storm, New Hanover Schools have called off all activities Wednesday and classes are canceled Thursday.