Carolina Beach flooding leads to state of emergency as Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 slams North Carolina
The town has received more than 18 inches of rain since midnight Monday.
Watch: Heavy rain inundates Carolina Beach, NC as mayor declares state of emergency
Heavy rainfall has inundated Carolina Beach, North Carolina, prompting the mayor to declare a state of emergency. The city received over 10 inches of rain in just four hours, leading to widespread flooding. Emergency services are overwhelmed with rescue calls as residents and businesses are trapped. High-clearance vehicles have been deployed to reach the most affected areas. Even storm water crews have been impacted, requiring rescue from the dangerous conditions.
CAROLINA BEACH, N.C.- As Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight spins near the coast of North Carolina on Monday, one coastal town has declared a state of emergency because of the flooding caused by the storm.
Officials in Carolina Beach urged residents to stay home as the town deals with the more than 18 inches of rain that has fallen since since midnight.
Videos from the town showed cars being towed from flooded streets and vehicles driving through high floodwaters. Carolina Beach officials urged people not to drive through flooded roads.
WATCH: NORTH CAROLINA GETS HAMMERED BY POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE 8
Rainfall totals for the coast of North Carolina as of 2:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 16, 2024. (FOX Weather)
In a post to Facebook, Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee said the fire department has received calls for rescue from residents trapped in flooded homes or businesses. The mayor also said stormwater crews have been saved from rising floodwaters.
"Folks, do not go out," Barbee wrote in the post. "Dow is barely passable. Hennikers ditch is full. EOC is getting to folks as fast as they can. There are two dozen of the most talented professionals working hard for you."
In an afternoon update, the mayor said people were sheltering at Carolina Beach Town Hall. High-water vehicles continued to rescue people trapped in flooding.
New Hanover County Fire Rescue said Monday evening its rescue team was still out in full force. "So far, they have rescued over a dozen residents and even a few furry friends," the fire rescue said in a Facebook post.
A vehicle navigates a flooded street in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, on Sept. 16, 2024, as Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 moves closer to land. (Brandy Campbell / FOX Weather)
A report from the National Weather Service indicated that Carolina Beach Elementary School was flooded. However, FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel, who was reporting from Carolina Beach said it doesn't appear that the school flooded. In a statement, New Hanover County Schools said all students from Carolina Beach Elementary were safely transported home. Some students were stuck at the school for several hours because their parents were unable to access the school due to flooding. Those students were taken home via high-water vehicles by the sheriff's office, the statement said.
All other schools were dismissed two hours early due to flooding and weather conditions, according to the school district.
Carolina Beach Town Hall and the Recreation Center were also closed. A post from the town on Facebook said the buildings are set to reopen Tuesday.
Watch: Flooding innudates Carolina Beach, North Carolina
A view from above shows flooding across Carolina Beach. The town has received more than 18 inches of rain since midnight on Monday.
The flooding in Carolina Beach brought an interesting discovery along with it. FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell caught some fish swimming through the flooded streets. "Wow! This is crazy!" she said in the video.
'Wow!' Fish caught swimming in North Carolina floodwaters
In a surprising disovery, FOX Weather's Brandy Campbell sees fish swimming in the floods in Carolina Beach. "This is crazy!" she says in the video.