Tropical Storm Isaias has moved well out of Eastern North Carolina, but not after leaving behind a trail of damage. Gov. Roy Cooper said today the storm made landfall at Ocean Isle Beach with 85 mph winds and 3-5 feet of storm surge. As it moved across Eastern North Carolina, many communities reported downed trees and powerlines and flooding.
“Damaging winds and likely tornadoes spun out from the storm, including one in Bertie County that tragically killed two people, and sent about a dozen others to the hospital,” said Cooper.
The suspected tornado in Bertie County destroyed about 10 homes. National Weather Service meteorologists will survey possible tornado touchdowns in Bald Head Island, Windsor, and Manolo in the coming days.
During a news briefing Tuesday afternoon, North Carolina Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said swift water rescue teams rescued two individuals form a flooded home in Bertie County.
“In other areas, teams are assisting with damage assessments. These damage assessments will help us gather data and help us determine eligibility for a federal disaster declaration for our hard-hit communities,” said Sprayberry.
Power outages peaked at 7 am Tuesday with roughly 375,000 homes and businesses without power. As of 6:30 pm Tuesday, 119,448 customers across the state are still without power. The majority of the outages are reported in New Hanover, Brunswick, Onslow, and Pender counties.
The N.C. Department of Transportation all primary routes in Eastern North Carolina are open for traffic. Bayview Road in Beaufort County is partially washed out, but one lane is open to traffic. A repair schedule has not yet been determined.
“Flood waters remain in several communities and are still covering some secondary roads,” said Sprayberry. “The state remains under elevated threat for some minor downstream flooding later this week. If you encounter barriers closing a road… turn around, don’t drown.”
DriveNC.gov provides current information on road closures across North Carolina.