Early October rain and wind harassed the coast

A vulnerable section of N.C. 12 (Virginia Dare Trail) in Kitty Hawk, Dare County, gave way during the early October storm.

While Hurricane Joaquin veered away from North Carolina’s coast during the first weekend in October, a low pressure system in its wake brought heavy rain and wind from the southeast to coastal counties, some inland regions, and the southern mountains.

Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm on Oct. 1, and 12 counties did the same. Flooding and beach erosion spread as the weather event persisted from Oct. 2 to Oct. 5. Minor power outages occurred in electric cooperative service areas. Agricultural properties suffered setbacks due to heavy rain and flooding.

At the height of the storm, state ferry service was suspended. Service to Ocracoke Island remained suspended for visitors until Oct. 8. Some 60 state-maintained secondary roads were closed, reported N.C. Department of Transportation. Closed roads included N.C. 12 on Cedar Island in Carteret County, N.C. 179 in Brunswick County, N.C. 50 in Duplin County, U.S. 117 near Castle Hayne in New Hanover County, N.C. 210 at North Topsail in Onslow County, N.C. 12 on Ocracoke in Hyde County and N.C. 12 in Kitty Hawk in Dare County.

Fort Bragg served as a staging area for emergency services.

While damage was considerable and flood waters remained treacherous for days in some areas, the flooding was not nearly as bad as just over the border throughout South Carolina. Some 550 roads, including 75 miles of interstate highway, were closed Oct. 5. All but one of the state’s electric cooperatives experienced power outages.