1 00:00:02,535 --> 00:00:04,304 - The water started comin' up 2 00:00:04,404 --> 00:00:06,740 and then it just seeps in. 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,642 And it was very quiet and soft and gentle 4 00:00:09,743 --> 00:00:11,177 the way the water came up. 5 00:00:11,277 --> 00:00:13,680 - We had gone through Bertha, and so we had been through one 6 00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:14,948 and we had prepared for it. 7 00:00:15,048 --> 00:00:16,583 But it was all of a sudden like really? 8 00:00:16,683 --> 00:00:18,985 - I felt like I was in another country. 9 00:00:19,085 --> 00:00:23,256 I mean, I had no idea where I was at Carolina Beach. 10 00:00:24,657 --> 00:00:27,794 - We knew pretty much we'd come back to nothing. 11 00:00:27,894 --> 00:00:29,829 We knew that the pier would probably be destroyed 12 00:00:29,929 --> 00:00:32,399 as old as it was, and it was gonna be a direct hit. 13 00:00:32,499 --> 00:00:34,968 - I think one day we'll probably see one worse than Fran. 14 00:00:35,068 --> 00:00:39,439 As far as devastation, and as wide-spread as it was, 15 00:00:39,539 --> 00:00:43,276 I don't think people realize how bad it was. 16 00:00:43,376 --> 00:00:46,112 (dramatic music) 17 00:00:48,748 --> 00:00:51,151 - This morning I have declared a state of emergency 18 00:00:51,251 --> 00:00:54,521 for all 100 counties in North Carolina. 19 00:00:55,822 --> 00:00:58,625 - We knew it was gonna be stronger than Bertha. 20 00:00:58,725 --> 00:01:02,896 We knew the storm had, intensity-wise, was bigger. 21 00:01:04,397 --> 00:01:06,800 The wind fields were larger. 22 00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:08,802 Tidal surge was higher. 23 00:01:08,902 --> 00:01:10,170 So we knew it was gonna be 24 00:01:10,270 --> 00:01:13,106 a little bit more devastating than Bertha was. 25 00:01:13,206 --> 00:01:14,641 My name is Tom Collins. 26 00:01:14,741 --> 00:01:17,610 At the time Fran made landfall in North Carolina, 27 00:01:17,710 --> 00:01:19,746 I was the Area Sea Coordinator 28 00:01:19,846 --> 00:01:22,982 for the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management. 29 00:01:23,083 --> 00:01:27,087 - I've been here with you in a lot of disasters. 30 00:01:28,922 --> 00:01:32,425 And a lot of you new, many of you not new. 31 00:01:33,827 --> 00:01:35,795 And we hope and pray that something will happen 32 00:01:35,895 --> 00:01:38,832 and this won't come at us with full force. 33 00:01:38,932 --> 00:01:40,400 - [Tom Collins] The urgency wasn't as great 34 00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:43,269 because it looked like it was gonna come into Georgia. 35 00:01:43,369 --> 00:01:45,071 It never goes to Georgia. 36 00:01:45,171 --> 00:01:47,140 - It kinda sputtered along as it developed, 37 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,642 so it was a tropical wave, tropical depression, 38 00:01:49,742 --> 00:01:50,877 and then tropical storm. 39 00:01:50,977 --> 00:01:52,879 But it really started to gather strength 40 00:01:52,979 --> 00:01:54,881 and get to major hurricane status 41 00:01:54,981 --> 00:01:56,616 in the vicinity of The Bahamas. 42 00:01:56,716 --> 00:01:58,017 - [Tom Collins] It does look like it was gonna 43 00:01:58,118 --> 00:01:59,886 come into South Carolina. 44 00:01:59,986 --> 00:02:02,322 That was on September 3rd on Tuesday. 45 00:02:02,422 --> 00:02:03,756 - Our meteorologists were telling us 46 00:02:03,857 --> 00:02:07,260 in the earlier part of the forecast 47 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,363 that it really wasn't going to be that big of a deal. 48 00:02:10,463 --> 00:02:13,500 And so we were convinced that 49 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,970 tropical storm Fran was just going to 50 00:02:17,070 --> 00:02:18,738 cruise through and not be a big deal. 51 00:02:18,838 --> 00:02:20,607 - Even though it was supposed to go inland, 52 00:02:20,707 --> 00:02:23,343 and it kept going, you had a couple of days, 53 00:02:23,443 --> 00:02:27,347 once it didn't take that turn it was like 54 00:02:27,447 --> 00:02:29,649 this is real, this is coming right down our throats. 55 00:02:29,749 --> 00:02:31,351 - [Tom Collins] By 11 o'clock we're feeling 56 00:02:31,451 --> 00:02:33,887 gale-force winds, or tropical storm winds. 57 00:02:33,987 --> 00:02:35,155 34-knot winds. 58 00:02:36,289 --> 00:02:37,857 - Our emergency management officials 59 00:02:37,957 --> 00:02:41,060 have been briefing me for the past three days. 60 00:02:41,161 --> 00:02:44,898 And it appears that Hurricane Fran may be the biggest threat 61 00:02:44,998 --> 00:02:48,268 that we've had in North Carolina in a long time. 62 00:02:48,368 --> 00:02:52,572 - As county commissioners, we were overcome 63 00:02:52,672 --> 00:02:55,508 with the gravity of the situation. 64 00:02:57,010 --> 00:02:58,745 I think we did a good job eventually, 65 00:02:58,845 --> 00:03:00,213 it was just one of the hardest things 66 00:03:00,313 --> 00:03:01,414 we've ever had to deal with. 67 00:03:01,514 --> 00:03:02,682 - Most of you know last night 68 00:03:02,782 --> 00:03:04,984 the beach towns had a voluntary evacuation. 69 00:03:05,084 --> 00:03:08,454 This morning the barrier islands did a mandatory evacuation. 70 00:03:08,555 --> 00:03:10,623 The schools are closed today. 71 00:03:10,723 --> 00:03:12,358 - I'm Carolyn Justice, 72 00:03:12,458 --> 00:03:15,662 and when Hurricane Fran struck the coast of North Carolina, 73 00:03:15,762 --> 00:03:17,997 I was a county commissioner in Pender County, 74 00:03:18,097 --> 00:03:19,899 and a small-business owner. 75 00:03:19,999 --> 00:03:24,804 - I want to encourage everyone in North Carolina to be safe. 76 00:03:24,904 --> 00:03:28,741 - [Tom Collins] We're down to about less than 30 hours. 77 00:03:28,841 --> 00:03:32,545 And here, on September the 5th, it's decision time. 78 00:03:32,645 --> 00:03:36,816 - The National Guard has activated a large amount of troops 79 00:03:38,017 --> 00:03:39,519 highway patrol is moving people around, 80 00:03:39,619 --> 00:03:41,287 and DOT's got things in place. 81 00:03:41,387 --> 00:03:42,555 Correction's ready to go to work. 82 00:03:42,655 --> 00:03:44,557 So we think we have everything in place. 83 00:03:44,657 --> 00:03:47,260 - [Tom Collins] We had to make a decision to evacuate. 84 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:52,865 We're right on the edge of this outer error slough. 85 00:03:52,966 --> 00:03:54,801 - The error count is basically the probability 86 00:03:54,901 --> 00:03:58,004 that the storm is gonna be somewhere in that cone, 87 00:03:58,104 --> 00:04:00,607 66 and 2/3 percent of the time. 88 00:04:00,707 --> 00:04:02,041 My name's Steve Pfaff, 89 00:04:02,141 --> 00:04:03,610 I'm the Warning Coordination Meteorologist 90 00:04:03,710 --> 00:04:05,645 with the National Weather Service Office 91 00:04:05,745 --> 00:04:07,313 in Wilmington, North Carolina. 92 00:04:07,413 --> 00:04:10,183 With Fran, originally it was outside of the cone, 93 00:04:10,283 --> 00:04:12,051 but as the models get a better feel 94 00:04:12,151 --> 00:04:15,855 for the environment that it was going to move into, 95 00:04:15,955 --> 00:04:17,190 the models keyed in on a landfall 96 00:04:17,290 --> 00:04:19,192 for southeast North Carolina, 97 00:04:19,292 --> 00:04:21,261 and then the storm went through the cone 98 00:04:21,361 --> 00:04:23,896 and came ashore September 5th in the evening. 99 00:04:23,997 --> 00:04:25,598 - The latest advisory that was issued at about 100 00:04:25,698 --> 00:04:29,235 half-hour ago, 11 o'clock has moved the track of the storm 101 00:04:29,335 --> 00:04:30,837 a little bit more to the northeast. 102 00:04:30,937 --> 00:04:34,674 Right now we're projecting landfall near Calabash, 103 00:04:34,774 --> 00:04:37,043 on the North Carolina South Carolina state line, 104 00:04:37,143 --> 00:04:38,811 10 or 11 o'clock tonight. 105 00:04:38,911 --> 00:04:41,047 - [Tom Collins] The decision was made to evacuate 106 00:04:41,147 --> 00:04:44,617 and thank goodness a lot of people heeded to-- 107 00:04:44,717 --> 00:04:47,487 - People need to leave the barrier islands 108 00:04:47,587 --> 00:04:50,089 and coastal towns immediately. 109 00:04:51,257 --> 00:04:53,826 There should be no one left there. 110 00:04:53,926 --> 00:04:56,396 - The Governor has declared all 100 counties 111 00:04:56,496 --> 00:04:59,532 of North Carolina in a state of emergency. 112 00:04:59,632 --> 00:05:02,168 That's the first time that's ever been done. 113 00:05:02,268 --> 00:05:04,637 The letter that goes to the President 114 00:05:04,737 --> 00:05:07,040 has been sent by the Governor. 115 00:05:07,140 --> 00:05:10,143 We have put everything in place that we need 116 00:05:10,243 --> 00:05:12,645 to get federal assistance as soon as possible. 117 00:05:12,745 --> 00:05:14,647 And as I think most of you know, 118 00:05:14,747 --> 00:05:17,350 actually FEMA is already here on-site, 119 00:05:17,450 --> 00:05:19,852 and we're gonna be up and ready to roll. 120 00:05:19,952 --> 00:05:21,554 - If it impact on the course it's goin' on right now 121 00:05:21,654 --> 00:05:23,222 we're sure it's just gonna be a pretty significant storm. 122 00:05:23,323 --> 00:05:24,691 - We're makin' life and death decisions 123 00:05:24,791 --> 00:05:26,626 based off of a forecast. 124 00:05:26,726 --> 00:05:28,861 The forecast can't always be perfect. 125 00:05:28,961 --> 00:05:30,730 We try to get as perfect as we can, 126 00:05:30,830 --> 00:05:32,498 but given the limitations 127 00:05:32,598 --> 00:05:34,967 that Mother Nature challenges us with, 128 00:05:35,068 --> 00:05:36,536 it's often difficult. 129 00:05:36,636 --> 00:05:39,138 - Mornin' of the 5th, the storm's on us. 130 00:05:39,238 --> 00:05:41,874 We were receivin' what we call gale-force winds 131 00:05:41,974 --> 00:05:43,776 that were at least 34 knots, 132 00:05:43,876 --> 00:05:46,879 or around 40 miles an hour, roughly. 133 00:05:48,147 --> 00:05:49,782 What you see, this blue circle. 134 00:05:49,882 --> 00:05:56,456 The storm at this point was somewhere around 415 miles wide, 135 00:05:56,556 --> 00:05:58,558 which, as you see as big as the storm is, 136 00:05:58,658 --> 00:06:00,927 that's the whole east coast of North Carolina. 137 00:06:01,027 --> 00:06:03,596 - We really want to indicate 138 00:06:03,696 --> 00:06:05,832 where that is gonna be the biggest threat, 139 00:06:05,932 --> 00:06:07,834 where the impacts are gonna be greatest, 140 00:06:07,934 --> 00:06:10,002 and cut back on the false alarm 141 00:06:10,103 --> 00:06:11,504 for other parts of the country. 142 00:06:11,604 --> 00:06:13,773 - I don't wanna sound like a profit of doom, 143 00:06:13,873 --> 00:06:15,608 and we hope this won't happen, 144 00:06:15,708 --> 00:06:17,276 but folks, you need to understand 145 00:06:17,377 --> 00:06:19,011 this thing could be a whole lot worse 146 00:06:19,112 --> 00:06:23,483 than anything most of you've ever dealt with. 147 00:06:23,583 --> 00:06:28,087 I've seen Long Beach when there wasn't a house left. 148 00:06:28,187 --> 00:06:29,922 And this could happen this time. 149 00:06:30,022 --> 00:06:31,557 - Everybody was watching it. 150 00:06:31,657 --> 00:06:34,127 We watched every hurricane that comes this way. 151 00:06:34,227 --> 00:06:37,697 - I think the fact that it hit so quickly after Bertha, 152 00:06:37,797 --> 00:06:40,233 everybody was like not again. 153 00:06:41,534 --> 00:06:43,503 - Just before Fran hit, 154 00:06:43,603 --> 00:06:45,738 we had gone through Hurricane Bertha. 155 00:06:45,838 --> 00:06:47,807 - And the wind was blowin' 100. 156 00:06:47,907 --> 00:06:50,009 - [TV Announcer] And it could get a little nasty here 157 00:06:50,109 --> 00:06:50,943 all through the region. 158 00:06:51,043 --> 00:06:52,178 We'll continue to keep you-- 159 00:06:52,278 --> 00:06:53,112 - That was the first time I'd ever been 160 00:06:53,212 --> 00:06:54,614 in the eye of a hurricane. 161 00:06:54,714 --> 00:06:58,451 You could hear the Hurricane Hunter airplane flyin' around. 162 00:06:58,551 --> 00:07:00,253 - It wasn't that devastating. 163 00:07:00,353 --> 00:07:02,255 It wasn't a Hurricane Fran, 164 00:07:02,355 --> 00:07:05,691 though it did do a lot of damage, took out a lot of trees. 165 00:07:05,792 --> 00:07:08,161 - But I saw what was goin' on then, 166 00:07:08,261 --> 00:07:11,564 and six weeks later Hurricane Fran was comin' in 167 00:07:11,664 --> 00:07:14,100 with 115 mile an hour winds. 168 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,769 And I thought, 15 miles an hour, I'll stay. 169 00:07:16,869 --> 00:07:21,774 - Our fear was that would've lulled people into complacency. 170 00:07:21,874 --> 00:07:24,010 - Residents all across North Carolina 171 00:07:24,110 --> 00:07:25,745 from one end to the other, 172 00:07:25,845 --> 00:07:28,581 need to heed warnings of potential flooding 173 00:07:28,681 --> 00:07:29,916 and high winds. 174 00:07:31,217 --> 00:07:33,619 They need to go immediately to high ground 175 00:07:33,719 --> 00:07:37,323 and make sure that property is secured. 176 00:07:37,423 --> 00:07:39,792 - Take time out for a quick video, 177 00:07:39,892 --> 00:07:42,328 that's water level back there. 178 00:07:42,428 --> 00:07:44,864 It's even over in my high-rise, new deck. 179 00:07:44,964 --> 00:07:46,866 It's about under water. 180 00:07:46,966 --> 00:07:49,101 My name's Jim Mincher, I moved to Wrightsville Beach 181 00:07:49,202 --> 00:07:53,773 in 1974 and opened a bicycle store which is still going. 182 00:07:53,873 --> 00:07:56,776 And yes, I stayed at Wrightsville Beach 183 00:07:56,876 --> 00:07:58,878 during Hurricane Fran. 184 00:07:58,978 --> 00:08:00,580 Was it a good decision? 185 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:01,881 I don't know. 186 00:08:01,981 --> 00:08:04,484 But I did and it was an experience. 187 00:08:05,651 --> 00:08:07,086 We may not have any video for a while 188 00:08:07,186 --> 00:08:08,454 'cause we're gonna start fightin' it. 189 00:08:08,554 --> 00:08:10,490 You can see the water comin' up. 190 00:08:10,590 --> 00:08:13,092 When the water started comin' up, 191 00:08:13,192 --> 00:08:14,760 of course I was movin' items. 192 00:08:14,861 --> 00:08:16,162 I didn't want it to get wet. 193 00:08:16,262 --> 00:08:17,530 Then all of a sudden I realized the water was goin' down 194 00:08:17,630 --> 00:08:20,266 so I grabbed the camera and started filming. 195 00:08:20,366 --> 00:08:22,301 Comin' in here, there's a little step ladder, 196 00:08:22,401 --> 00:08:24,504 it's not quite knee-deep. 197 00:08:28,407 --> 00:08:31,410 Got everything piled high as we can. 198 00:08:34,780 --> 00:08:37,450 Bathroom doesn't smell too good. 199 00:08:40,319 --> 00:08:41,153 Chairs, 200 00:08:42,455 --> 00:08:44,790 sittin' a little low in the water. 201 00:08:44,891 --> 00:08:46,058 Cars floatin'. 202 00:08:47,627 --> 00:08:49,829 Whole house is just a mess. 203 00:08:49,929 --> 00:08:53,933 I was in a neighborhood back from oceanfront, 204 00:08:54,033 --> 00:08:56,335 and the water was calm. 205 00:08:56,435 --> 00:08:57,870 Maybe a little ripples. 206 00:08:57,970 --> 00:09:01,040 You could see stuff slowly floating down the street. 207 00:09:01,140 --> 00:09:04,844 But it wasn't waves and action like the oceanfront. 208 00:09:04,944 --> 00:09:08,848 - The winds really are not that big of an issue 209 00:09:08,948 --> 00:09:11,617 than it is with the tidal surge. 210 00:09:13,052 --> 00:09:15,087 If you don't get outta the way of the tidal surge, 211 00:09:15,187 --> 00:09:16,722 you're stuck. 212 00:09:16,822 --> 00:09:19,091 - [Camera Operator] This is in the yard. 213 00:09:19,191 --> 00:09:21,394 We've got our buckets ready. 214 00:09:21,494 --> 00:09:25,031 - You're stuck in the building, roads are blocked. 215 00:09:25,131 --> 00:09:28,067 You can't get out, you can't drive. 216 00:09:29,502 --> 00:09:30,903 - You're not gonna be able to get to the pharmacy. 217 00:09:31,003 --> 00:09:35,107 You're not gonna be able to get to the gas station. 218 00:09:35,207 --> 00:09:39,378 If there is an emergency, you're not gonna be able to 219 00:09:41,213 --> 00:09:44,350 get to the emergency room very easily 220 00:09:44,450 --> 00:09:45,985 if you're in the middle of the storm. 221 00:09:46,085 --> 00:09:49,388 - Was approaching cat. 4 at the time, 222 00:09:49,488 --> 00:09:53,159 and that's when you don't fool around with, at the time. 223 00:09:53,259 --> 00:09:54,493 And so I said to Shiela, 224 00:09:54,594 --> 00:09:56,629 I wanna get you and the kids inland. 225 00:09:56,729 --> 00:10:00,433 I want to be able to worry about work and the newsroom. 226 00:10:00,533 --> 00:10:02,568 I don't want to have to worry about your safety. 227 00:10:02,668 --> 00:10:04,670 - What was personally very difficult for me, 228 00:10:04,770 --> 00:10:08,240 my father was very ill at the time. 229 00:10:08,341 --> 00:10:11,243 As a matter of fact, that was September 230 00:10:11,344 --> 00:10:13,212 and he passed in October. 231 00:10:13,312 --> 00:10:14,747 So it was very difficult for me 232 00:10:14,847 --> 00:10:16,983 because I wanted to be with my family 233 00:10:17,083 --> 00:10:19,685 knowing that they were not going to evacuate 234 00:10:19,785 --> 00:10:21,320 because of his condition. 235 00:10:21,420 --> 00:10:22,688 - The pressure is immense, 236 00:10:22,788 --> 00:10:24,790 because you're always at that moment, 237 00:10:24,890 --> 00:10:27,026 should I leave, should I stay? 238 00:10:27,126 --> 00:10:29,929 - You see how big these emergency services vehicles are, 239 00:10:30,029 --> 00:10:32,698 at 55 miles an hour these things have a danger 240 00:10:32,798 --> 00:10:34,133 of tippin' over. 241 00:10:35,901 --> 00:10:37,903 We can't do really anything 242 00:10:38,004 --> 00:10:39,505 when the storm has made landfall. 243 00:10:39,605 --> 00:10:42,708 So that's why now when we prepare, 244 00:10:42,808 --> 00:10:45,111 we try to get everybody out of harm's way 245 00:10:45,211 --> 00:10:48,114 prior to gale-force winds arriving. 246 00:10:49,815 --> 00:10:52,652 - We just had Hurricane Bertha a few weeks prior, 247 00:10:52,752 --> 00:10:55,321 and I felt like wow, sort of a second chance. 248 00:10:55,421 --> 00:10:58,824 Again that hurricane weather geek in me 249 00:10:58,924 --> 00:11:01,060 not worrying too much about the impact, 250 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:05,164 more about the incredible nature of the event. 251 00:11:05,264 --> 00:11:08,501 I was definitely determined to film it. 252 00:11:10,436 --> 00:11:13,706 I'm Mark Sudduth and I lived in Leland, North Carolina 253 00:11:13,806 --> 00:11:16,308 when Hurricane Fran came over. 254 00:11:17,777 --> 00:11:21,047 But filming it myself from the different rooms in the house, 255 00:11:21,147 --> 00:11:22,515 that was an exciting moment, 256 00:11:22,615 --> 00:11:24,884 to be able to see the effects of the hurricane, 257 00:11:24,984 --> 00:11:28,254 but in the safety of the enclosure of that house. 258 00:11:28,354 --> 00:11:29,488 But then when the eye wall came over 259 00:11:29,588 --> 00:11:32,258 I decided well this is too much. 260 00:11:32,358 --> 00:11:33,793 I didn't want to miss it, it was dark, 261 00:11:33,893 --> 00:11:36,529 so I just turned the car around in the carport, 262 00:11:36,629 --> 00:11:38,230 and aimed the headlights out, 263 00:11:38,330 --> 00:11:41,767 put the camera on a tripod and let it go. 264 00:11:44,070 --> 00:11:47,273 - People naturally feel they need to stay 265 00:11:47,373 --> 00:11:49,809 and protect what's theirs. 266 00:11:49,909 --> 00:11:52,812 But in a hurricane with high winds, 267 00:11:53,779 --> 00:11:55,548 you can't protect anything. 268 00:11:55,648 --> 00:11:59,018 You can put up shutters, which we all do, 269 00:11:59,118 --> 00:12:02,855 but you can't protect yourself from the wind. 270 00:12:04,290 --> 00:12:07,593 Nor can you from the flooding if it's that kind of event. 271 00:12:07,693 --> 00:12:10,362 - If you don't get out of the way of the tidal surge 272 00:12:10,463 --> 00:12:11,797 you're stuck. 273 00:12:11,897 --> 00:12:15,201 You're stuck in the buildin', roads are blocked. 274 00:12:15,301 --> 00:12:16,902 You can't get out you can't drive. 275 00:12:17,002 --> 00:12:17,837 - [Camera Operator] Tryin' to get a shot 276 00:12:17,937 --> 00:12:19,105 out the front of the door. 277 00:12:19,205 --> 00:12:22,875 Actually, the water level 20 minutes ago 278 00:12:22,975 --> 00:12:27,480 was to the top of the fence, it's comin' down. 279 00:12:27,580 --> 00:12:28,681 Can see that. 280 00:12:30,049 --> 00:12:32,151 - We heard stories about there being hurricane parties 281 00:12:32,251 --> 00:12:33,619 and everything else like that, 282 00:12:33,719 --> 00:12:36,622 and then it's like, I don't know if I could do that 283 00:12:36,722 --> 00:12:37,857 at the time. 284 00:12:37,957 --> 00:12:40,292 - I remember very well talking to 285 00:12:41,994 --> 00:12:46,098 a gentleman at Carolina Beach who decided to stay 286 00:12:46,966 --> 00:12:49,068 despite evacuation orders. 287 00:12:49,168 --> 00:12:51,337 And he cried on the phone. 288 00:12:52,772 --> 00:12:56,242 Was fearful that he was not going to live through the storm. 289 00:12:56,342 --> 00:13:00,279 - We had a lot of calls for people, we need help. 290 00:13:00,379 --> 00:13:01,814 We need rescue. 291 00:13:01,914 --> 00:13:05,217 And it gets to a point that we can't go out. 292 00:13:05,317 --> 00:13:07,553 Our vehicles can't survive. 293 00:13:11,056 --> 00:13:12,458 - It was completely out of our hands. 294 00:13:12,558 --> 00:13:17,296 And that's the way it is with any natural disaster. 295 00:13:17,396 --> 00:13:20,966 At some point if you've been able to get out of harm's way 296 00:13:21,066 --> 00:13:22,368 then that's a good thing. 297 00:13:22,468 --> 00:13:25,805 If not, if you're a spiritual person then you pray. 298 00:13:25,905 --> 00:13:27,840 - 'Til you receive one of those phone calls, 299 00:13:27,940 --> 00:13:29,608 you don't know how... 300 00:13:29,708 --> 00:13:33,145 I sorta get how they feel in their mind but, 301 00:13:33,245 --> 00:13:34,013 it's hopeless. 302 00:13:34,113 --> 00:13:35,648 We're gonna die. 303 00:13:35,748 --> 00:13:37,917 - I always knew there was a possibility, 304 00:13:38,017 --> 00:13:40,052 and I knew a lot of eyes were on the other one, 305 00:13:40,152 --> 00:13:42,521 Edouard I think was the powerful one 306 00:13:42,621 --> 00:13:43,989 that went off the coast. 307 00:13:44,089 --> 00:13:46,392 - All eyes originally were on Hurricane Edouard. 308 00:13:46,492 --> 00:13:48,694 It was a category 4 hurricane at one point. 309 00:13:48,794 --> 00:13:52,631 But fortunately that storm stayed far off shore. 310 00:13:52,731 --> 00:13:55,034 It did result in large swells and waves 311 00:13:55,134 --> 00:13:58,637 coming into the east coast, causing multiple fatalities, 312 00:13:58,737 --> 00:14:00,239 drownings from rip currents. 313 00:14:00,339 --> 00:14:01,907 - Weather teams were focusing on that one 314 00:14:02,007 --> 00:14:04,710 and Fran was sitting down there kinda quiet, 315 00:14:04,810 --> 00:14:07,479 and it just sorta sneaked up and got us. 316 00:14:07,580 --> 00:14:08,914 - Once Edouard was out of the picture 317 00:14:09,014 --> 00:14:11,717 I think the focus certainly shifted by the public 318 00:14:11,817 --> 00:14:13,185 to Hurricane Fran. 319 00:14:13,285 --> 00:14:16,021 And it's a good thing that people were paying attention. 320 00:14:16,121 --> 00:14:18,490 - We had the worst side of the storm, 321 00:14:18,591 --> 00:14:20,392 which is the northeast quadrant of the storm. 322 00:14:20,492 --> 00:14:23,262 If you take a hurricane, split it right down the middle 323 00:14:23,362 --> 00:14:25,364 and make four quadrants, 324 00:14:26,665 --> 00:14:28,767 that northeast quadrant of the storm 325 00:14:28,868 --> 00:14:32,771 is always the worst 'cause the way the storm rotates. 326 00:14:32,872 --> 00:14:36,075 - And that's what's hit Topsail Island and Hampstead. 327 00:14:36,175 --> 00:14:39,245 We were surprised by that (laughs). 328 00:14:39,345 --> 00:14:40,179 Why us? 329 00:14:41,847 --> 00:14:43,215 - You just have to be always on your guard. 330 00:14:43,315 --> 00:14:45,651 Doesn't matter if they're calling for 25 storms, 331 00:14:45,751 --> 00:14:47,086 We've been out, get one to come close, 332 00:14:47,186 --> 00:14:49,488 and that one is all it takes. 333 00:14:49,588 --> 00:14:53,525 I'm Edwin Lore, and I own the Surf City Pier. 334 00:14:53,626 --> 00:14:55,861 And we rode Fran out, pier was destroyed. 335 00:14:55,961 --> 00:15:00,266 But I rebuilt it and still going strong today. 336 00:15:00,366 --> 00:15:01,934 There's no use in crying over something 337 00:15:02,034 --> 00:15:05,137 that you absolutely have no power over. 338 00:15:05,237 --> 00:15:06,739 There's nothing we could do about it, 339 00:15:06,839 --> 00:15:10,509 we knew pretty much we'd come back to nothing. 340 00:15:10,609 --> 00:15:12,511 We knew the pier would probably be destroyed, 341 00:15:12,611 --> 00:15:15,447 as old as it was, and it was gonna be a direct hit. 342 00:15:15,547 --> 00:15:17,583 That's the tackle shop, and when they started it they-- 343 00:15:17,683 --> 00:15:21,887 We actually came out, we took some of our light poles down. 344 00:15:21,987 --> 00:15:24,423 We also took up every third or fourth board 345 00:15:24,523 --> 00:15:28,360 so that the water pressure could come up between the cracks 346 00:15:28,460 --> 00:15:31,630 and maybe loosen the pressure on the main frame. 347 00:15:31,730 --> 00:15:34,266 We got everything out of the pier house that we could, 348 00:15:34,366 --> 00:15:36,368 stored it in Smithfield. 349 00:15:37,903 --> 00:15:41,073 When we rebuild I'm gonna put it all right back down here. 350 00:15:41,173 --> 00:15:42,942 And we'll just work. 351 00:15:43,042 --> 00:15:46,245 I just had that energy to rebuild. 352 00:15:46,345 --> 00:15:48,447 We just kinda had fun with it. 353 00:15:48,547 --> 00:15:51,517 I said you know when we get back and see what we've got, 354 00:15:51,617 --> 00:15:54,353 we'll just start getting ready to rebuild 355 00:15:54,453 --> 00:15:56,355 and get everything back together. 356 00:15:56,455 --> 00:15:58,891 And the island did a real good job, the whole island did. 357 00:15:58,991 --> 00:16:03,162 - This is the worst disaster we've had in this century. 358 00:16:04,496 --> 00:16:05,731 People say how does it compare? 359 00:16:05,831 --> 00:16:07,066 It's the worst. 360 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,302 Nothin's touched it. 361 00:16:10,402 --> 00:16:12,438 - [Camera Operator] Here's a floating dock in the backyard 362 00:16:12,538 --> 00:16:14,606 along with Boston Whaler. 363 00:16:17,309 --> 00:16:20,980 Here's the roof of the pier house next door. 364 00:16:23,315 --> 00:16:24,750 - We're gonna do everything we can 365 00:16:24,850 --> 00:16:27,686 to help the people of North Carolina and South Carolina 366 00:16:27,786 --> 00:16:29,088 in this difficult time. 367 00:16:29,188 --> 00:16:31,824 But again I say to you: we need to be praying 368 00:16:31,924 --> 00:16:33,325 for those people and supporting them. 369 00:16:33,425 --> 00:16:36,895 And there are doubtless people here from those two states. 370 00:16:36,996 --> 00:16:40,466 In addition to the hurricane there has been and will be 371 00:16:40,566 --> 00:16:42,501 more rain, and there's a lot to do. 372 00:16:42,601 --> 00:16:45,037 - We really had to wait until the light of day 373 00:16:45,137 --> 00:16:48,474 to see just how massive the destruction was 374 00:16:48,574 --> 00:16:51,844 from some of the South Carolina line, Carolina Beach 375 00:16:51,944 --> 00:16:53,045 and Topsail Island. 376 00:16:53,145 --> 00:16:55,948 I mean that was the shock to so many people. 377 00:16:56,048 --> 00:16:59,284 When sun came up, that next morning how bad things were. 378 00:16:59,385 --> 00:17:01,987 - [Unknown Male] Kure Beach had damage to about 200 homes, 379 00:17:02,087 --> 00:17:04,957 some 25 homes were lost completely. 380 00:17:05,057 --> 00:17:07,493 The seawall at Fort Fisher was not damaged 381 00:17:07,593 --> 00:17:09,762 according to the town's mayor. 382 00:17:09,862 --> 00:17:12,398 The damage there was caused by the storm surge 383 00:17:12,498 --> 00:17:14,867 - It was so widespread and massive 384 00:17:14,967 --> 00:17:17,002 but I think to me the one thing I'll always remember 385 00:17:17,102 --> 00:17:19,772 is the steeple from First Baptist Church, 386 00:17:19,872 --> 00:17:22,374 sitting right in the middle of Market and 5th, 387 00:17:22,474 --> 00:17:25,978 and just people saying this 200-year old church, 388 00:17:26,078 --> 00:17:27,479 why now? 389 00:17:27,579 --> 00:17:29,214 - [Female Reporter] The First Baptist Church in Wilmington 390 00:17:29,314 --> 00:17:32,718 which was built between 1860 and 1870, 391 00:17:32,818 --> 00:17:35,921 was able to survive the Civil War. 392 00:17:36,021 --> 00:17:38,724 But the church's 197-foot steeple 393 00:17:38,824 --> 00:17:41,427 could not survive Hurricane Fran. 394 00:17:41,527 --> 00:17:43,228 - That was the one in town. 395 00:17:43,328 --> 00:17:45,664 At the beaches, I hate to say that 396 00:17:45,764 --> 00:17:48,967 you always see beach destruction and devastation, 397 00:17:49,068 --> 00:17:51,437 and I don't wanna say it as a bad thing, 398 00:17:51,537 --> 00:17:54,640 but the fact that that steeple came down 399 00:17:54,740 --> 00:17:57,543 right almost smack dab in the middle of downtown 400 00:17:57,643 --> 00:18:00,813 was a signal to me of just how bad the storm was. 401 00:18:00,913 --> 00:18:03,682 And then you see the devastation along Topsail island. 402 00:18:03,782 --> 00:18:05,551 - [Camera Operator] Porch is gone. 403 00:18:05,651 --> 00:18:06,752 Deck is gone. 404 00:18:08,420 --> 00:18:10,022 The dune is gone. 405 00:18:10,122 --> 00:18:14,693 - You saw where homes had been moved from their foundations 406 00:18:14,793 --> 00:18:16,195 across the street. 407 00:18:16,295 --> 00:18:20,299 - Their damage wasn't just houses gone and roofs gone, 408 00:18:22,034 --> 00:18:24,670 the ocean completely went across the island, 409 00:18:24,770 --> 00:18:27,039 and left with it several feet of sand. 410 00:18:27,139 --> 00:18:31,810 - I know some places I saw sand that was 8 feet deep. 411 00:18:31,910 --> 00:18:36,482 - All the sand here was brought in from overwash processes. 412 00:18:36,582 --> 00:18:39,751 - Only way you could drive was a four-wheel-drive, 413 00:18:39,852 --> 00:18:43,088 and then we had National Guard vehicles, Humvees. 414 00:18:43,188 --> 00:18:44,156 - And what you're looking at 415 00:18:44,256 --> 00:18:46,358 is individual overwash events. 416 00:18:46,458 --> 00:18:49,128 A big surge comes, drops some sand. 417 00:18:49,228 --> 00:18:52,498 Another big surge comes and drops another layer of sand. 418 00:18:52,598 --> 00:18:55,100 Another big surge comes drops another layer of sand. 419 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,870 So you're looking at the history of the overwash events 420 00:18:57,970 --> 00:18:59,104 in this area. 421 00:18:59,204 --> 00:19:00,572 - I couldn't find my aunt's house. 422 00:19:00,672 --> 00:19:03,142 And we were walking around Topsail beach 423 00:19:03,242 --> 00:19:06,912 and I have no idea where the house is. 424 00:19:07,012 --> 00:19:10,048 I thought it was supposed to be here, 425 00:19:10,149 --> 00:19:12,017 but lo and behold it was over here. 426 00:19:12,117 --> 00:19:15,087 - It was very difficult for people that even lived there 427 00:19:15,187 --> 00:19:16,288 to get their bearings. 428 00:19:16,388 --> 00:19:18,957 Sort of similar to like when a tornado hits. 429 00:19:19,057 --> 00:19:20,826 They just not only couldn't get to their place 430 00:19:20,926 --> 00:19:23,695 because of the sand, but they had to deal with 431 00:19:23,795 --> 00:19:27,866 finding what was left, if there was anything. 432 00:19:27,966 --> 00:19:30,035 It was a real sad time. 433 00:19:30,135 --> 00:19:32,838 - What I can tell you that we have in mind, 434 00:19:32,938 --> 00:19:36,808 help with immediate services such as debris removal, 435 00:19:36,909 --> 00:19:40,145 repair of streets and highways, 436 00:19:40,245 --> 00:19:42,247 emergency loans, temporary housing, 437 00:19:42,347 --> 00:19:45,584 and assistance to our farmers. 438 00:19:45,684 --> 00:19:47,986 We have been absolutely devastated. 439 00:19:48,086 --> 00:19:50,522 - Actually up in the air flyin' around, 440 00:19:50,622 --> 00:19:55,127 you would see two, three hundred acre tracks of timber. 441 00:19:55,227 --> 00:19:56,762 It looks like somebody took your hand 442 00:19:56,862 --> 00:19:58,530 and it went boop. 443 00:19:58,630 --> 00:20:01,033 - So many trees are down 444 00:20:01,133 --> 00:20:03,001 that you don't recognize where you are. 445 00:20:03,101 --> 00:20:07,439 You lose your sense of direction when trees are gone. 446 00:20:07,539 --> 00:20:09,641 As a matter of fact, in Pender County, 447 00:20:09,741 --> 00:20:12,044 we lost a third of the trees in the county. 448 00:20:12,144 --> 00:20:15,581 - Folks this has been a long week. 449 00:20:15,681 --> 00:20:18,383 The folks have worked hard, they prayed a lot. 450 00:20:18,483 --> 00:20:20,619 And a lot of prayers have been answered. 451 00:20:20,719 --> 00:20:22,588 We've lost a lot of our citizens, 452 00:20:22,688 --> 00:20:25,157 and we've lost a lot of our property. 453 00:20:25,257 --> 00:20:27,259 But I think now we're coming back. 454 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:29,228 - Governor Hunt came quickly. 455 00:20:29,328 --> 00:20:30,996 Afterwards we were pleased about that 456 00:20:31,096 --> 00:20:35,300 and noted what a great job Pender County had done. 457 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,837 But he also noted the devastation on Topsail Island 458 00:20:38,937 --> 00:20:41,506 and how hard this was gonna be to overcome. 459 00:20:41,607 --> 00:20:45,677 - It recovered well but it did change the thinking. 460 00:20:45,777 --> 00:20:47,846 Businesses come an go as they always have, 461 00:20:47,946 --> 00:20:51,717 but it's something you've always gotta think about. 462 00:20:51,817 --> 00:20:53,285 There's storms every year. 463 00:20:53,385 --> 00:20:55,287 You might get the big one that's gonna come in here 464 00:20:55,387 --> 00:20:57,022 and take everything away again. 465 00:20:57,122 --> 00:21:00,125 - It took a while to get back from that one. 466 00:21:00,225 --> 00:21:02,294 And it would take a while to get back from another one. 467 00:21:02,394 --> 00:21:03,895 But I think if there's any kind of community 468 00:21:03,996 --> 00:21:05,697 along the east coast that would do it, 469 00:21:05,797 --> 00:21:07,099 it's southeastern North Carolina. 470 00:21:07,199 --> 00:21:08,634 It's a tough town. 471 00:21:08,734 --> 00:21:12,104 These are tough people, they rebound really, really well. 472 00:21:12,204 --> 00:21:14,072 Now there are a lot of people who have moved here since, 473 00:21:14,172 --> 00:21:18,677 who hasn't been through anything like Fran or Floyd. 474 00:21:18,777 --> 00:21:20,846 - I think people are gonna be floored 475 00:21:20,946 --> 00:21:23,649 by what another Hazel type of storm, 476 00:21:23,749 --> 00:21:25,851 or another Fran type of storm can do, 477 00:21:25,951 --> 00:21:28,120 given the growth in our infrastructure 478 00:21:28,220 --> 00:21:31,623 and a really large segment of our population 479 00:21:31,723 --> 00:21:35,961 that's never been in a category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane. 480 00:21:36,061 --> 00:21:37,229 - It is setting the stage. 481 00:21:37,329 --> 00:21:40,666 We affectionately refer to it as hurricane bait. 482 00:21:40,766 --> 00:21:43,035 That we are literally baiting the line 483 00:21:43,135 --> 00:21:46,471 for there to be something pretty dangerous on the other end. 484 00:21:46,571 --> 00:21:49,775 - We've built back better, more, 485 00:21:49,875 --> 00:21:53,378 and more people want to come to the coast. 486 00:21:54,813 --> 00:21:57,382 It's fun to live here when we don't have storms. 487 00:21:57,482 --> 00:21:59,885 But when we have that, the challenge is 488 00:21:59,985 --> 00:22:03,388 to get the people to understand and prepare for it. 489 00:22:03,488 --> 00:22:05,057 - [Camera Operator] Glad to see you're in a happy mood. 490 00:22:05,157 --> 00:22:06,558 - I'm worried about- - You might as well smile. 491 00:22:06,658 --> 00:22:07,826 - [Man] that tree, that oak tree is leaning hard. 492 00:22:07,926 --> 00:22:09,428 - [Camera Operator] Oh do you? 493 00:22:09,528 --> 00:22:10,929 - Yeah I need to save it somehow, I don't know what to do. 494 00:22:11,029 --> 00:22:12,030 - [Camera Operator] I'll help you pull it back up. 495 00:22:12,130 --> 00:22:13,765 - Was it right that I stayed? 496 00:22:13,865 --> 00:22:15,133 I don't know. 497 00:22:15,233 --> 00:22:16,468 I did stay. 498 00:22:16,568 --> 00:22:18,737 - [Camera Operator] Old Bert's Surf Shop report. 499 00:22:18,837 --> 00:22:21,073 - Bert's Surf Shop is deep. 500 00:22:22,207 --> 00:22:25,110 - [Camera Operator] Like head high? 501 00:22:27,913 --> 00:22:30,415 - (mumbles) I'll tell you 95% of my merchandise 502 00:22:30,515 --> 00:22:32,017 is totally ruined. 503 00:22:33,385 --> 00:22:34,453 It's unbelievable. 504 00:22:34,553 --> 00:22:36,922 - I just hope it doesn't happen again. 505 00:22:37,022 --> 00:22:38,990 I'm still in the same house. 506 00:22:39,091 --> 00:22:41,026 - Generally people get too comfortable. 507 00:22:41,126 --> 00:22:43,695 They see other hurricanes on TV 508 00:22:45,364 --> 00:22:48,734 and they say well that just can't happen here. 509 00:22:48,834 --> 00:22:52,003 And they're just generally unprepared. 510 00:22:52,104 --> 00:22:54,473 - So many people opted to stay home, 511 00:22:54,573 --> 00:22:58,343 and now I think the learning lesson there was 512 00:23:00,379 --> 00:23:04,783 when you hear evacuate, you need to evacuate. 513 00:23:04,883 --> 00:23:06,551 - The good thing is we know they're coming, 514 00:23:06,651 --> 00:23:10,322 and we can know they're gonna hit us or not, 515 00:23:11,556 --> 00:23:12,824 with plenty of time in advance. 516 00:23:12,924 --> 00:23:15,660 So we can get ready for them. 517 00:23:15,761 --> 00:23:17,329 - So when you go back to the 1800s, 518 00:23:17,429 --> 00:23:19,564 look at all the hurricane activity, 519 00:23:19,664 --> 00:23:21,466 our average is 16, 17 years 520 00:23:21,566 --> 00:23:24,369 on getting a monster storm like that come back. 521 00:23:24,469 --> 00:23:26,104 And here it's been 20 years. 522 00:23:26,204 --> 00:23:29,775 So with respect to statistics, we're far overdue 523 00:23:29,875 --> 00:23:32,210 for another major hurricane. 524 00:23:33,612 --> 00:23:36,715 - Unfortunately we lost life during that storm. 525 00:23:36,815 --> 00:23:39,751 And so I think it was a lesson learned for a lot of people 526 00:23:39,851 --> 00:23:43,188 that you can rebuild homes, you can buy a new car, 527 00:23:43,288 --> 00:23:46,792 but you can't replace a life that is lost. 528 00:23:49,895 --> 00:23:52,531 - I miss the old pier and lot of folks are still around 529 00:23:52,631 --> 00:23:55,600 that miss the old pier and the way it was. 530 00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:59,938 But you create new memories with the new pier. 531 00:24:00,038 --> 00:24:03,809 If something happens it's replaceable. 532 00:24:03,909 --> 00:24:05,210 That's the key to that. 533 00:24:05,310 --> 00:24:06,578 You take care of your folks, 534 00:24:06,678 --> 00:24:08,113 and take care of your family, 535 00:24:08,213 --> 00:24:09,347 and make sure nobody's hurt. 536 00:24:09,448 --> 00:24:12,117 And then you just go from there. 537 00:24:12,217 --> 00:24:14,286 You do what you gotta do. 538 00:24:15,387 --> 00:24:18,023 (dramatic music) 539 00:24:18,123 --> 00:25:39,304 ♪ 540 00:25:40,605 --> 00:25:42,307 - [Narrator] North Carolina Channel is made possible 541 00:25:42,407 --> 00:25:45,110 by the financial contributions of viewers like you, 542 00:25:45,210 --> 00:25:47,479 who support the UNC-TV Network.