WILMINGTON, North Carolina — It’s about the water, not the wind, with Hurricane Florence making an extended stay along the North Carolina coast. Forecasters say “it cannot be emphasized enough that the most serious hazard associated with slow-moving Florence is extremely heavy rainfall, which will cause disastrous flooding that will be spreading inland.” Top winds were holding at 90 mph — that’s just a Category 1 hurricane — but some communities were already submerged in…

As Hurricane Florence barrels across the Carolinas, the American Red Cross is bracing for a major test and trying to avoid failures that have followed other storms. The relief organization sets up shelters, provides meals and health services when natural disasters strike. But the Red Cross has faced criticism in recent years for its response during hurricanes. After Hurricane Harvey struck Texas last year, for example, some residents and public officials complained that the Red…

WILMINGTON, North Carolina — It’s about the water, not the wind, with Hurricane Florence making an extended stay along the North Carolina coast. Forecasters say “it cannot be emphasized enough that the most serious hazard associated with slow-moving Florence is extremely heavy rainfall, which will cause disastrous flooding that will be spreading inland.” Top winds were holding at 90 mph — that’s just a Category 1 hurricane — but some communities were already submerged in…

Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wilmington Friday as a Category 1 storm, and its impact will be felt all of Friday, much of Saturday and into next week. Overview The Triangle will feel the strongest effects from Florence mid-day including tropical storm force winds and several inches of rain. The heaviest rain in Raleigh will be around noon, Gardner said, and we could see wind gusts up to 50 mph by that time. Fayetteville will…

After their dream wedding was ruined because of Hurricane Florence, a couple have decided to tie the knot in a town named Hurricane. Marsha Bradbury and Jon Gillenwater had planned to get married on Sept. 16 in Salvo, North Carolina, according to People Magazine. They had invited about 30 people to the wedding, which they began planning back in March. They spared no expense for the ceremony, Bradbury told WCHS. “Sunk a bunch of money…

The last transformer exploded before dawn, plunging the Comfort Suites hotel into total darkness. But when the dozens of guests woke to greet Hurricane Florence and its 90-mph gusts, Beth Bratz was already making coffee. As general manager, she could have closed the three-story motel on Market Street. But most of her staff lives in flat, low-lying neighborhoods, and she worried they wouldn’t last. So she took them in, along with three news crews and…

Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach around 7:15 a.m. Friday as a Category 1 storm. At a glance: Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach around 7:15 a.m. Friday as a Category 1 storm. More than 400,000 customers are without power. Jet Blue has canceled all of its flights today out of Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Other airlines are considering their schedules. A gas station in Wilmington collapsed due to heavy winds. 200 people have…