Wilmington North Carolina News

Gov. Cooper: ‘We have days more to go;’ President Trump calls Wilmington mayor SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — The Wilmington region should expect immediate and long-lasting impacts as Hurricane Florence roars through. “The first bands are upon us,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday evening. “We have days more to go.” The storm’s outer bands began hitting the Wilmington region, particularly coastal areas, Thursday afternoon, with the eye’s landfall expected Friday morning. Cooper said 30,000 people statewide were…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Hotels that stayed open in our area are full of coastal residents escaping the hurricane. Some are even completely full. Residents share how fearful they are of what is yet to come with Florence. Many are worried that they may not have a home to go back to. – Advertisement – “You know, it was a Category 4 for awhile, then a 3, and we…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior Defense Department officials say the expected high winds and slow movement of Hurricane Florence as it comes ashore will make rescue efforts challenging in the flooded areas. – Advertisement – Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, head of U.S. Northern Command, says search and rescue is a top priority, but weather may prevent rescuers from getting in during the…

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – During the tense and trying days during and after Hurricane Florence, one group is looking to provide Wilmington with something that can raise any spirit: a hot meal. World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit founded by Chef Jose Andres, came to the area to provide free meals for first responders, shelters and anyone else that needs food during and after the storm. “We are fully up and running,” WCK Executive Director Nate…

Actors from locally filmed series like ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘Under the Dome’ shared their support for the region on social media

By MICHAEL BIESECKER and JONATHAN DREW, Associated Press NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (AP) — Richard Barnett spent his week boarding up the windows of million-dollar homes perched precariously at the northern tip of Topsail Island, a narrow spit of North Carolina ringed with sandbags to offer some armor against the pounding surf. – Advertisement – A local handyman, he knew some of those houses might not be there next week. “When Fran came, it tore…

Record flooding is likely by Tuesday along the Northeast Cape Fear River in Burgaw. (Source: WECT) Major flooding is likely by Sunday along the Lumber River in Lumberton. (Source: WECT) Moderate flooding is likely by Tuesday along the Cape Fear River in Elizabethtown. (Source: WECT) Southeastern North Carolina is expected to get anywhere from 12 to 24 inches and locally higher amounts of rain over the next several days which will cause major to historic river flooding across…

Florence looks to rewrite the record books in terms of flooding in the Lower Cape Fear Region. (Source: WECT) Rainfall of one to two and locally three feet from Hurricane Florence will bring extensive, long-lasting, and in some cases record-setting river flooding across southeastern North Carolina. As feared, flooding will occur in some areas that have never had flooding before.   HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE LARGER, WELL-MODELED RIVERS… WE KNOW LESS ABOUT…

Rainfall of one to two and locally three feet from Hurricane Florence continues to bring extensive, long-lasting, and in some cases record-setting river flooding across southeastern North Carolina. As feared, flooding is occurring in some areas that have never had flooding before.   HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE LARGER, WELL-MODELED RIVERS… WE KNOW LESS ABOUT THE MANY SMALLER RIVERS AND STREAMS, BUT… rainfall tallies and other storm-related and pre-existing conditions suggest flooding will assume…

A list of shelters and phone numbers for help in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties during Hurricane Florence. NOTE: Some shelters may not have cots or beds. Residents should take cots, air mattresses or sleeping bags if they have them as well as other needed supplies. And don’t forget your medications! NEW HANOVER COUNTY All beach town residents are under mandatory evacuation orders, and residents who live in low-lying areas where flooding and storm…

Although Hurricane Florence has not yet made landfall, the storm is already pounding North Carolina’s coast with devastating winds and rain. The hurricane has slowed and should make landfall near Wilmington around 8 a.m., with most of the state feeling its effects throughout the weekend.

Actors from locally filmed series like ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘Under the Dome’ shared their support for the region on social media WILMINGTON – The Port City has seen many famous residents over the years as film and TV projects shot in the region and some of them have taken to social media to share their thoughts of the region as Hurricane Florence approaches. Most of the viral support came from the cast of The…

The garage is outfitted with half a century of collections, from street signs to fishing gear. (Source: WECT) CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WECT) – More than half of the residents in Carolina Beach have evacuated the island to seek refuge from the impacts of Hurricane Florence, but there are still some people who decided to stay behind. Johnny and Robin Arnette have lived in Carolina Beach for more than four decades and have decided to ride out…

Officials began shutting down the nuclear power plant Thursday as Hurricane Florence approaches (Source: Duke Energy) SOUTHPORT, NC (WECT) – The Brunswick Nuclear Plant, located four miles from the coast in Southport, is being shut down as Hurricane Florence moves onshore. Duke Energy said in a press release Thursday that the two units on the site are systematically being shut down by plant staff. “We remain in constant communications with local, state and federal officials…

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – New Hanover County Emergency Management updated the on the latest on Hurricane Florence at an 11:45 briefing Thursday morning. County Commission Chair Woody White, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, Wrightsville Beach Mayor Bill Blair and NHCEM director Steven Still briefed members of the local and national media about the last-minute preparations underway and the condition of the county’s shelters. As of the briefing, 515 people were in the five shelters…