(Photo: CFPUA) WILMINGTON, NC (Press Release) — Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) wants to address continued news reports and social media stories concerning drinking water quality. As we survey the storm’s damage and more stories emerge about animal waste, biological spills, and coal ash, we understand more about the storm’s impacts on the environment. – Advertisement – Large numbers of trees are down across the region and storm surge and riparian flooding have led…

Homeowners in Columbus County are picking up the pieces after Hurricane Florence. (Source: WECT) DELCO, NC (WECT) – Hurricane Florence destroyed roofs and homes across Delco in Columbus County. One couple’s home will have to be gutted after wind ripped off parts of the roof and water poured in. Jim and Melinda Sowers estimate they emptied about five gallons of water every five hours from their home starting Friday. They said they filled any container…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Fallen tree at New Hanover County Arboretum (Photo: NHCO Arboretum FB) NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Several parks and attractions in New Hanover county are closed to the public due to damage from Hurricane Florence. Airlie Garden will remain closed until further notice, while trees are cleared and the grounds cleaned up. Airlie Gardens posted on social media that the Airlie Oak, Bottle Chapel, Pergola, and Butterfly House…

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Walk up to the Pender County Animal Shelter in Burgaw, and you see some animals that look like they don’t belong. “We have goats. We have donkeys, horses, turkeys, chickens, roosters, then, of course, cats, dogs, parrots, and rabbits,” said Jewell Horton, the shelter director. The shelter is housing more than 230 animals, almost half of them rescued from rising floodwaters created by Hurricane Florence. “This is a massive undertaking,” Horton…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Pender Memorial Hospital in Burgaw (Photo: NHRMC) BURGAW, NC (WWAY) – Pender Memorial Hospital is back open for the first time since before Hurricane Florence hit. For the safety of the community, patients and staff, Pender Memorial Hospital closed starting at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 12, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Florence, according to a news release. – Advertisement – While the hospital and its emergency room were closed,…

State education officials on Tuesday launched a fundraising campaign to help schools, students and teachers affected by Hurricane Florence.

Local, state and federal officials discuss what went right, wrong and needs improvement WILMINGTON — Highlights of response to Hurricane Florence, what went right, went wrong and what can be improved comprised the first post-storm discussion among the region’s local, state and federal leaders held Tuesday at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. “We hope this is the beginning of a few conversations with our local delegation on how to recover from the storm … and…

(Photo: nchsaa.org) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — As communities across much of North Carolina continue to clean up after Hurricane Florence, many people are wondering what will happen to the high school sports schedule. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors and Commissioner Que Tucker have decided to adjust the playoff calendar for fall sports. – Advertisement – “The complexity of adjusting dates for playoff rounds and state championships in fall sports are…

Coast Guard shallow-water response boat team members assist motorists stranded in flood water caused by Hurricane Florence in North Carolina, Sept. 16, 2018. (Photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Seth Johnson) WASHINGTON (AP) — Hurricane Florence was the nation’s second rainiest storm in 70 years, a top rainfall meteorologist calculated. Only last year’s Hurricane Harvey rained more over a 14,000 square mile area during a four-day time period, said Ken Kunkel, a meteorologist at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and…