North Carolina News

By Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief Knightdale, N.C. — A shelter set up at Knightdale High School for people fleeing their homes in Dare and Carteret counties ahead of Hurricane Florence was already at capacity by Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Officials could expand the shelter beyond its 450-person limit, if needed later, but they were sending evacuees to other area shelters, such as at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School or Garner High School. Novan…

By Adam Owens, WRAL anchor/reporter There is a reason a Carteret County town is called Sea Level. To get there, you travel a road that rides only a little higher than the water on both sides. The land is low, so many homes are raised high. Franklin Salter, 80, said Wednesday that he and his wife are staying for Hurricane Florence. He has some idea what he is up against. He remembers past storms, like…

By Ken Smith, WRAL anchor/reporter A handful of residents still in the Outer Banks on Wednesday pride themselves on being resilient in the face of any storm, including Hurricane Florence. Jim Rose, owner of Sand Spur Ocean Cottages, is taking the few days of downtime this week to get his cottages ready for the end-of-summer season. He put up a sign some will understand instantly: “Kiss my grits.” The line comes from the 1970s sitcom…

Raleigh, N.C. — As mandatory evacuations are in place for Beaufort, Dare, Pamlico and Tyrrell county beaches (Atlantic, Indian, Emerald Isle, Pine Knoll Shores, Ocracoke, Carolina, Kure, Wrightsville, Topsail, Currituck Outer Banks, Oak Island and Holden), most people are heeding the warning and getting out in advance of Hurricane Florence. During a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Roy Cooper said there are 750,000 to 1 million people under evacuation orders. “If you aren’t under…

By Bryan Mims, WRAL reporter Hurricane Florence comes less than two years after the historic flooding from Hurricane Matthew. Areas across the state, like Goldsboro, are still recovering. Along the Neuse River, people are praying for the water to stay at bay. Brenda Sigmon knows a hurricane can roil that river right into her mom’s living room. It happened before, and she fears it will happen again. And if it does, she said, “I have…

Updated Sept. 15, 9:45 a.m. Groups offering shelter may email metroeds@newsobserver.com. Wake County ▪ 1 p.m. at Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road, Wake Forest ▪ 2:30 p.m. at Middle Creek High School, 123 Middle Creek Park Ave., Apex ▪ 4 p.m. at Sanderson High School, 5500 Dixon Drive, Raleigh Wake County reported Wednesday night that the following shelters, previously opened, are now full. ▪ Shelter for New Hanover County residents (priority) at Southeast Raleigh…

By Rosalia Fodera, WRAL reporter Lumberton, N.C. — The floodwaters from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 flooded Lumberton’s water plant backup generator and the control room. On Wednesday, crews were working to protect the water plant with a berm and sandbags. People who live in the areas that were hit hard by those floodwaters said they’re not taking any chances with Hurricane Florence coming. Linda Brewer Norris’ home was damaged by Hurricane Matthew. After spending thousands…

By Janine Bowen, WRAL.com editor Raleigh, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation on Tuesday was helping to evacuate coastal residents and preparing emergency supplies ahead of Hurricane Florence’s arrival. According to the DOT, more than 2,100 people and 1,074 vehicles had been evacuated from Ocracoke Island, Cedar Island and Swan Quarter. Following the final ferry departure Wednesday morning, all operations have been suspended and ferries will be secured until weather conditions improve. Although…