North Carolina
Related: About this forumSunday roads update: Most roads in southeastern NC impassable
RALEIGH
Think twice before you attempt to drive on any road in southeastern North Carolina.
The storm surge and heavy rain from Hurricane Florence have made roads, streets and highways impassable in that part of the state. And on Saturday, the N.C. Department of Transportation advised that all roads south of U.S. 64 and east of Interstate 73/74 be avoided.
I-73/74 runs vertically from Asheboro to Richmond County, which borders South Carolina. U.S. 64 stretches from Raleigh past Nashville and Tarboro to Plymouth on the coast.
Florence hovered over southeastern North Carolina and South Carolina overnight Saturday, dumping record amounts of rain. In many cases, flooding blocked motorists from some of North Carolinas key thoroughfares.
To avoid I-95, DOT suggested an extremely long detour for southbound drivers: use I-64 West in Virginia to I-81 south, to I-75 south in Tennessee to I-16 East in Georgia back to I-95. DOT suggested the inverse route for northbound drivers.
DOTs update Saturday night came after it had previously announced road closings on U.S. 70 between Kinston and New Bern; U.S. 17 from New Bern south to the Jones County line; U.S. 421 near the USS North Carolina battleship in Wilmington and U.S. 264 in several areas, including downtown Washington, on both sides of Belhaven and west of Swan Quarter.
Road closures began Thursday near the coast, as the tidal surge overtopped low-lying roads. N.C. 12 is closed on Hatteras Island, and parts of U.S. 70 are shut down between Beaufort and Atlantic, as floodwaters covered the pavement in numerous places, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Many roads and streets in Craven County are also flooded, including East Front Street in New Bern. The Trent River drawbridge is closed, and the ramp from southbound U.S. 17 on to Front Street has collapsed.
Read more (Includes videos): https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article218351395.html#bigNews=related_story
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,595 posts)This will make things very difficult for first responders and rescue teams. With associated power and communications outages, I fear most for those trapped who have disabilities or illness or perhaps no food, water or shelter. As usual, those with no voice will suffer the most and the hangover from this ordeal will be with us for months.
In addition, damage to personal property, businesses and infrastructure will be astronomical. This affects at least one-half of an entire state, plus that in South Carolina and other areas not yet hit. I can see insurance rates for all coastal regions inching upward as we speak.
I just hope that we the American public are not too disaster fatigued and we pony-up to fund the associated charities that will help those most in need......
littlemissmartypants
(25,483 posts)Last edited Wed Sep 19, 2018, 11:53 AM - Edit history (1)
They are also being guarded by LEOs. It's a big old mess, anyway you slice it. Stay safe KY_EnviroGuy.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,595 posts)I have a dear friend here in KY that has an aunt in a nursing home there that she has not yet heard from, and we're seeing so much in the news about people having difficulty just getting basic supplies and gasoline.
Never occurred to me before about Wilmington being on a peninsula due to the Cape Fear River. Those low country highways are highly vulnerable to flooding, with so much water draining down from up-state.
Let's hope supplies can be hauled in for them very soon, but we have to remember that the entire eastern half of NC will have pressing needs as well. So, someone has to set priorities.
To everyone in the flood zone.......
........
janterry
(4,429 posts)We were stuck in Lumberton (at the gas station overlooking the closed! waffle house), as we tried to drive up the coast between FL and VT.
We drove back to Florence, stayed overnight, and then took that detour and it added another day or two to the trip.
littlemissmartypants
(25,483 posts)The website drivenc.gov is supposed to have updated roadway information but I don't know if it does. Be prepared to meet law enforcement on the roadways as many are manning posts in dangerous areas. Best option is to just stay put if you can. If you do take to the road make sure to have plenty of gas as you will likely have to go around your elbow to get to your thumb, as the saying goes. Good luck!
Rhiannon12866
(222,097 posts)This was quite helpful for Florida and Texas last year. Residents post where and whether gas is available at local stations, saving time and wasting scarce gas looking for a station that's open and still has fuel:
Live updates on fuel availability and gas station outages in states affected by Hurricane Florence:
Our fuel-availability tracking systems are active to provide information notifying users of gas stations with no fuel or power.
Download the app here. https://www.gasbuddy.com/app?_ga=2.6968754.1831063784.1536548331-910412061.1474671292
Gas Station Outages - North Carolina
https://business.gasbuddy.com/florence-live-updates-fuel-availability-station-outages/