Wilmington North Carolina News

Mayor Bill Saffo, City of Wilmington (Source: WECT) NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Downtown Wilmington could see additional flooding – up to three or four feet – this weekend or early next week, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said Wednesday. “If you’re there, take precautions now,” Saffo said during a media briefing. Saffo said price gouging also has become a concern in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. He said about 650 complaints have been filed…

SURF CITY, NC (WECT) – The leaders of Topsail Island towns met Wednesday afternoon and decided to allow residents to re-enter the island on Thursday morning as crews continue to work to restore power, water and sewage to the island after Hurricane Florence. Topsail Beach, Surf City and North Topsail Beach will open Thursday morning at 9 a.m., though some residents may still be without water, sewer or power.  People with a re-entry pass or decal will be able…

9/19/18– Roads are closed–the rivers are rising–and emergency management officials want folks to remember that flooding remains a real threat following Hurricane Florence. Much of the Wilmington area is still under water–and the Cape Fear and Black rivers are expected to crest tomorrow. Officials are asking folks to stay off the roads until the flooding threat passes.

9/18/18– Wilmington Police identified the woman killed—along with her 8 month old child—during Hurricane Florence. They say 41-year-old Lesha Johnson and her baby died when a large tree fell on their Mercer Avenue home. Her husband—48-year-old Adam Johnson—was injured and is in the hospital in fair condition.  

9/18/18– Governor Cooper is spending his afternoon in Wilmington to get a first-hand look of conditions following Hurricane Florence. The governor will thank first responders and tour a staging area, then he’ll head to one of three food distribution sites set up by New Hanover County.  

President Donald Trump is expected to visit southeast North Carolina Wednesday. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) (WECT) – President Donald Trump will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday to survey the impact of Hurricane Florence. MOBILE USERS: Click here to watch live updates on The President’s visit White House press secretary Sarah Sanders on Tuesday confirmed Trump’s travel plans to North Carolina, which bore the brunt of the powerful storm. Days after the…

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Governor Roy Cooper stopped in the Port City Tuesday to speak with those who had been impacted by Hurricane Florence and to thank the first responders for their efforts in the wake of the storm. Cooper was greeted by local leaders from New Hanover County at the Independence Mall Thursday. The mall has served as a staging area for rescue crews. Cooper, along with Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long,…

As the lights come back on after Hurricane Florence, more and more businesses are able to open their doors. Many restaurants began opening as early as Saturday, Sept. 15, just 24 hours after Florence made landfall. With prolonged power outages, however, comes the risk of food-borne illness, and restaurants have to be even more mindful of food temperatures and storage. The state of North Carolina’s food code dictates that refrigerated food be stored at 41…

A fallen tree destroys a deck in southeastern North Carolina. (Source: Viewer Submitted) NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Officials with the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado briefly touched down in Ogden early Sunday morning. The tornado struck the south side of Biscayne Drive at Pages Creek just after midnight and moved northwest for about two minutes, snapping and uprooting several trees. The twister also caused significant roof damage to a home before ending…

N.C. Black Film Festival, American Craft Walk Wilmington among the weekend’s casualties. September is when the number of arts events and festivals in Wilmington start ramping up. Hurricane Florence has put a major damper on September this year, however, washing away at least two weekends worth of events. Just for starters, the N.C. Black Film Festival set for Sept. 20-23 has been postponed, festival director Charlon Turner said in a news release. She said they…

TRENTON, NC (AP) — About 1.7 million chickens have been killed in flooding from Florence as rising North Carolina rivers swamped at least 60 farm buildings where the animals were being raised for market, according to a major poultry producer. Sanderson Farms said Tuesday the losses occurred at independent farms that supply its poultry processing plants. The company said its facilities suffered no major damage, but supply disruptions and flooded roadways had caused shutdowns at…

People living in Fair Bluff say Florence resurfaces all the bad memories from Matthew, but the difference this time – they aren’t alone in the destruction. (Source: Kolby Skidmore | WECT) FAIR BLUFF, NC (WECT) – Residents in Fair Bluff are familiar with flooding as the town faced devastation from Hurricane Matthew less than two years ago. They have spent countless hours trying to get back on their feet – some having just moved back into…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Entrance to Festival Park with Cape Fear River over its banks in Fayetteville, NC on September 16, 2018. (Photo: Ed Clemente / MGN) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan is donating $2 million dollars to assist residents affected by Hurricane Florence. The former NBA star says the destruction caused by Hurricane Florence to his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina, prompted him to act quickly. – Advertisement – Jordan told…