After major flooding from unnamed storm, Gov. Cooper tours Brunswick, New Hanover counties

After seeing historic flooding on Monday, recovery and resiliency were the messages Governor Roy Cooper brought to the Cape Fear region Wednesday.

The area was hit by an unnamed storm — known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight — which brought more than 20 inches of rain to Brunswick and southern New Hanover counties, which flooded homes and businesses, washed out roads, and damaged infrastructure.

On Wednesday, Cooper toured the area by helicopter and met with state, county and municipal officials. Following the tour, Cooper recalled what he saw in a news conference.

“The best description I’ve heard of it is a firehose concentrated right here in Southeastern North Carolina and particularly in Brunswick County,” Cooper said.

Cooper has declared a state of emergency for Brunswick, New Hanover, and Columbus counties, and he said federal, state and local officials were working together to aid in the response.

“When you have predictions for five to eight inches (of rain) and you end up with 20-plus in some areas, that can cause real significant problems,” he said.

Cooper noted that at this time, more than 60 roads in the state — many of those in Brunswick — remain closed. Some of those damaged include sections of highly traveled thoroughfares, including U.S. 17, N.C. 211, N.C. 133, and N.C. 87.

The N.C. Department of Transportation, State Highway Patrol, and local officials are responding to road closures.

Cooper noted that one storm-related death had been reported in Brunswick County, and the incident resulted when a motorist drove around a barricade on N.C. 211 and the vehicle disappeared into the water.

“We will reiterate that it is so important not to drive through flooded areas and to stop at all barricades, stop for law enforcement officers,” Cooper said. “We just don’t know for sure what’s under that water.”

State officials praised first responders for their efforts to keep residents safe.

Many are calling the storm a “one in a 1,000-year event.”

“But I think Southeastern North Carolina is recognizing that’s no longer true,” Cooper added, noting that climate change is resulting in more violent storms.

As a result, he said investing in more resilient recovery is essential to ensure the state is ready for the next storm. Cooper said evidence of the investments made during Hurricane Florence, which hit southeastern North Carolina six years ago, were evident during their tour.

He referenced a bridge in Brunswick County that is currently under construction and being built much higher than the current one, which was breached during Monday’s storm.

As the news conference was happening, EMS strike teams from Brunswick County were working to evacuate 85 residents from Southport Health and Rehabilitation Center on North Fodale Avenue. Southport Police Chief Todd Coring said the facility took on water during Monday's storm, and 12 residents were evacuated from the facility at that time, but damage and mold resulting from the storm forced the remaining residents to be evacuated Wednesday.

Coring said the residents were being loaded into three mass casualty buses and eight ambulances for transport to other facilities located across the state.

North Carolina Secretary of Transportation Joey Hopkins and North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray also addressed recovery efforts. Hopkins said the plan was to get roads and highways “open as soon and as safe as possible.”

Ray said it is too early to estimate the damage and economic loss from Monday’s unnamed storm. He said local crews will begin collecting damage assessments later this week and early next week.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: After major flooding from unnamed storm, Gov. Cooper tours Brunswick, New Hanover counties