Hurricane and Tornadoes in North Carolina, August 26 to 28, 2011

Across Beaufort County...winds gusted to 90 mph resulting in numerous trees and power-lines down with major power outages...and structural damage due to a 7 to 11 foot surge along the Pamlico sound and Pamlico river. Numerous homes sustained major damage and were swept away in the Jarvis landing residential and Aurora Ferry landing areas. Storm total rainfall of 11 to 16 inches resulted in extensive freshwater flooding of roads and low lying areas. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were ordered on the 25th. An EF1 tornado touched down near Belhaven around 10 pm on the 26th. The tornado heavily damaged the Edgewater Motors dealership. One woman with a pre-existing medical condition had an emergency as the hurricane began and Emergency personnel were unable to reach her for two hours due to downed trees and flooding. She passed away the following day.

Across Carteret County...winds gusted above hurricane force with the highest reading at Cedar Island at 115 mph. High winds resulted in numerous trees and Power-lines down and structural damage. Surge values were 4 to 7 Feet, highest at South River, flooding numerous homes and Businesses. Heavy rainfall of 6 to 12 inches resulted in flooding of streets and low lying areas. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Craven County...winds gusted to 75 mph resulting in minor to major structural damage and power outages across the county. Voluntary evacuations were called for on the 25th for residents in low lying and flood prone areas. Maximum storm surge ranged from 8 to 10 feet across the lower reaches of the Neuse River at Adams...Clubfoot...Hancock and Slocum Creeks.

Across Duplin County...winds gusting as high as 60 mph resulting in downed trees and power lines with power outages. Storm total rainfall resulted in flooding of roads and low lying areas. Minor flooding occurred on the northeast Cape Fear River at Chinquapin. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Eastern Dare County...maximum wind gusts from 63 to 88 mph were recorded resulting in numerous trees and power-lines down with extensive power outages and structural damage. Highest surge was 7 to 10 feet on the sound-side from Buxton to Rodanthe. Highest ocean-side surge of 9.5 feet was recorded at Hatteras Village. Surge resulted in extensive damage, flooding of structures, and caused many dune breaches and damage to Highway 12. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for all visitors and residents on the 24th and 25th.

Across Eastern Hyde County...winds gusted above hurricane force resulting in numerous tress and power-lines down with extensive power outages and minor to moderate structural damage. Storm total rainfall of 7 to 8 inches caused flooding of roads low lying areas. Sound-side storm surge on Mainland Hyde county was 5 to 6 feet. Total water level rises, including wave action, of 11 to 14 feet resulted in several dune breaches across highway 12 in Ocracoke. Sound-side surge was minimal Up to 2 feet. A mandatory evacuation was ordered for all residents and visitors on the 24th. Significant damage occurred to structures.|Across Greene county...winds gusted to 50 to 60 mph resulting in downed trees and power-lines with sporadic power outages. Heavy rainfall resulting in flooding of roads and low lying areas. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Greene county...winds gusted to 50 to 60 mph resulting in downed trees and power-lines with sporadic power outages. Heavy rainfall resulting in flooding of roads and low lying areas. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Jones County...winds gusted to near 60 mph resulting in downed trees and power-lines with power outages. Minor flooding occurred on the Trent River at Pollocksville on the 27th. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Lenoir County...winds gusted to 50 to 60 mph resulting in trees and power-lines down with power outages. Storm total rainfall of 10 inches resulted in flooding of roads and low lying areas. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Martin County...winds gusted to tropical storm force resulting in downed trees and power-lines with sporadic power outages. Storm total rainfall ranged from 11 to 14 inches with flooding of roads and low lying areas. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Onslow County...winds of 50 to 60 mph resulted in numerous tress and power lines down with minor structural damage and extensive power outages. The Highest storm surge was 5.5 feet at North Topsail beach. Other Locations receiving a 2 to 3 foot storm surge were Sneads Ferry and Swansboro. Storm total rainfall of 7 to 12 inches resulted in Flooding of streets and low lying areas. One man died from a heart attack while boarding up prior to the hurricane. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Pamlico County...winds gusted to hurricane force resulting in trees and power-lines down and extensive power outages. A 9 to 11 foot sound-side surge occurred across eastern Pamlico County and the Pamlico River resulted in extensive damage to structures. Storm total rainfall of 10 to 16 inches caused extensive freshwater flooding. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Pitt County...winds gusted near hurricane force resulting in minor to major structural damage to 2000 homes and businesses, mainly due to fallen trees. Agricultural losses were estimated at 38 million dollars from flooding and winds. Storm total rainfall was 7 to 13 inches with flooding of roads and low lying areas. Two direct deaths were reported from Hurricane Irene. One fatality was due to a tree falling on a house, and a second fatality resulted from a car that struck a tree.

Across Tyrrell County...winds gusting to hurricane force resulting in numerous trees and power-lines down with power outages. A 3 to 5 foot surge occurred along the Albemarle Sound including the Columbia area. Heavy rainfall resulted in freshwater flooding of roads and low lying Areas. An EF2 tornado touched down near Columbia during the late evening on the 26th. Several manufactured homes were completely destroyed along Highway 64. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Washington County...winds gusted to 50-60 mph resulting in trees and power-lines down with power outages. Storm total rainfall of 11 inches resulted in freshwater flooding of roads and low lying areas. A 3 to 5 foot surge occurred along the Albemarle Sound including Plymouth. An EF1 Tornado touched down around 11 pm on the 26th near Creswell. A grain Silo and hardware store was damaged along Highway 64. Significant damage occurred to structures and crops.

Across Western Dare County...winds gusted above hurricane force resulting in numerous trees and power-lines down with extensive power outages along with structural and crop damage.

Across Western Hyde County...winds gusted above hurricane force resulting in numerous trees and power-lines down causing extensive power outages, minor to moderate structural damage, and significant crop damage. Storm total rainfall of 7 to 8 inches caused flooding of roads low lying areas.

Winds gusting to 90 mph resulted in major structural damage, primarily due to a 7 to 11 foot surge along the Pamlico Sound and Pamlico River. Numerous homes sustained major damage and were swept away in the Jarvis landing residential and Aurora Ferry landing areas.

Winds gusted above hurricane force with the highest reading, 115 mph, recorded at Cedar Island. Surges of 4 to 7 Feet, highest at South River, flooded numerous homes and Businesses with major structural damage.

Winds gusted to 75 mph resulting in minor to major structural damage with a maximum storm surge of 8 to 10 feet across the lower reaches of the Neuse River at Adams, Clubfoot, Hancock, and Slocum Creeks.

Wind gusts from 63 to 88 mph resulted in extensive structural damage. Highest surge was 7 to 10 feet on the sound-side from Buxton to Rodanthe. Highest ocean-side surge of 9.5 feet was recorded at Hatteras Village. The storm surge resulted in extensive damage to structures along the coast along with many dune breaches and damage to Highway 12.

Winds gusting above hurricane force resulted in total water level rises including wave action of 11 to 14 feet causing several dune breaches across highway 12 in Ocracoke. Sound-side surge was minimal Up to 2 feet.

Winds gusting above hurricane force resulted in sound-side storm surge of 5 to 6 feet with minor to moderate structural damage.

Winds of 50 to 60 mph resulted in a storm surge of 5.5 feet at North Topsail beach. Sneads Ferry and Swansboro had a storm surge of 2 to 3 feet.

Winds gusted to hurricane force resulting in a 9 to 11 foot sound-side surge across eastern Pamlico County and the Pamlico River with extensive damage to structures.

Winds gusted to hurricane force resulting in a 3 to 5 foot surge along the Albemarle Sound including the Columbia area.

Winds gusted to 50-60 mph resulting in a 3 to 5 foot surge along the Albemarle Sound including Plymouth.

Wind gusts from 60 to 70 mph resulted in a 5 foot sound-side in Manteo.

An EF1 Tornado touched down along Highway 264 and Bible Shore Rd. damaging large Pine trees. A utility trailer was also overturned. The tornado skipped 4.4 miles into Belhaven heavily damaging Edgewood Motors Dealership with two walls blown out.

A brief EF1 tornado damaged a grain silo and a hardware store.

Several manufactured homes were completely destroyed with the metal undercarriages severely mangled and twisted around tree trunks indicating a high end EF2 tornado with estimated winds of 130 mph.