Heavy rains have flooded Carolina Beach, North Carolina, prompting the mayor to declare a state of emergency. Over 10 inches of rain fell in the city in just four hours, causing widespread flooding. Emergency services are overwhelmed with rescue calls as residents and businesses are trapped. High clearance vehicles have been deployed to reach the hardest hit areas. Even storm water crews have been affected and had to be rescued from the dangerous conditions.
CAROLINA BEACH, NC- As potential Tropical Cyclone Eight circled near the North Carolina coast on Monday, a coastal city declared a state of emergency due to flooding caused by the storm.
Carolina Beach authorities urged residents to stay home as the city contends with more than 18 inches (460 millimeters) of rain that has fallen since midnight.
Videos from the city showed cars being towed from flooded streets and vehicles driving through the floodwaters. Carolina Beach authorities urged residents not to drive through flooded streets.
WATCH: NORTH CAROLINA IS DROPPED BY POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE 8
Precipitation totals for the North Carolina coast as of September 16, 2024, 2:30 p.m. ET.
(FOX Weather)
In a Facebook post, Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee said firefighters have received rescue calls from residents trapped in flooded homes or businesses. The mayor also said stormwater crews have been rescued from rising floodwaters.
“Guys, don’t go out,” Barbee wrote in the post. “Dow is barely passable. Henniker’s ditch is full. EOC is taking care of people as quickly as possible. Two dozen of the most talented pros are working hard for you.”
In an afternoon update, the mayor said people had sought shelter at Carolina Beach City Hall and flood rescue vehicles were continuing to rescue people trapped in the floodwaters.
A vehicle drives through a flooded street in Carolina Beach, North Carolina on September 16, 2024, as Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 approaches land.
(Brandy Campbell/FOX Weather)
A report from the National Weather Service indicated that Carolina Beach Elementary School was flooded. However, FOX weather specialist Mike Seidel, reporting from Carolina Beach, said the school did not appear to be flooded. In a statement, New Hanover County Schools said all students at Carolina Beach Elementary were safely brought home. Some students were stuck at school for several hours because their parents could not get to the school due to the flooding. Those students were brought home by the sheriff’s office using flood vehicles, the statement said.
In all other schools, classes ended two hours earlier due to flooding and weather conditions, the school district said.
Carolina Beach City Hall and Recreation Center were also closed. A city Facebook post said the buildings were expected to reopen Tuesday.
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A view from above shows the flooding in Carolina Beach. The city has received more than 460 mm of rain since midnight Monday.
The flooding in Carolina Beach brought with it an interesting discovery. FOX weather correspondent Brandy Campbell caught some fish swimming through the flooded streets. “Wow! This is crazy!” she said in the video.
FOX Weather’s Brandy Campbell surprisingly spots fish in the Carolina Beach waters. “This is crazy!” she says in the video.
