It is hard to believe it has been almost 26 years since Hurricane Floyd, then the worst hurricane in the state’s history, slammed into Eastern North Carolina.
The storm crashed ashore on September 16, 1999, resulting in 51 fatalities, record flooding, and billions in damage. The monster hurricane’s storm surge amounted to 9-10 feet along the southeastern portion of North Carolina.
Floyd’s damage was estimated at $6.5 billion, but Hurricane Florence in 2018 surpassed that estimate, causing an estimated $17 billion in damage.
However, Hurricane Helene would become the deadliest and costliest hurricane in the state’s history, with a record-breaking $59.6 billion in damages and at least 107 deaths in September 2024.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
Image Credit: Aerial view of flooding in eastern North Carolina after Hurricane Floyd. (J. Jordan/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)