Month: October 2018

Hurricane Michael has come and gone, but for many in its destructive path, life will never be the same. The storm has been blamed for at least 17 deaths as of Saturday morning, but FEMA officials warn that the death toll may climb. Here is what we know so far about those who were killed. FLORIDA Some victims have not yet been identified. Among them are four people in Gadsden County, Florida. A sheriff’s office…

MEXICO BEACH, Fla. — New satellite imagery shows the extent of Hurricane Michael’s destructive power in several areas of the Florida Panhandle. The before and after photos provided by DigitalGlobe show parts of Mexico Beach laid to waste. Michael, then a Category 4 storm, blew ashore there on Wednesday with devastating 155 mph winds and nearly 10 feet of storm surge, leaving entire blocks of homes reduced to nothing but concrete slabs in the sand…

Police say torrential rains have triggered floods and landslides on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing at least 11 children at a devastated school. Local police chief Irsan Sinuhaji said a river overflowed in North Sumatra’s Mandailing Natal district and swept away 20 children studying late Friday at an Islamic school. He said rescuers retrieved the bodies of 11 children from water and mud and were still searching for the other children. A video showed…

While most residents of Mexico Beach, Florida, fled ahead of Hurricane Michael’s arrival, others stayed to face the hurricane. They barely escaped as homes were smashed from their foundations, neighborhoods got submerged, and broken boards, sheet metal and other debris flew through the air. On Friday, some walked amid the destruction searching for loved ones and telling harrowing tales of how they survived. Tom Garcia fought to keep the sliding doors of his beachfront home…

By Ken Smith, WRAL anchor/reporter Wake County, N.C. — At a time when North Carolina has experienced the worst of times with two hurricanes in a little more than a month, the State Fair can be an example of the best of times. For some vendors, this annual fall classic is taking on a deeper purpose this year. They’re helping those directly impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael by donating proceeds from their profits to…

The Latest on the aftermath of Hurricane Michael (all times local): 10 p.m. The Internal Revenue Service says victims of Hurricane Michael will get a grace period before having to file some tax returns and payments. The IRS said Friday it’s offering the relief in parts of Florida and other regions that may be added later to the disaster area as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Individuals who had a valid extension to…

Forecasters expect Hurricane Leslie to bring heavy rains and dangerous winds and surf to parts of Portugal and Spain. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Friday night that the Category 1 storm was about 795 miles (1,280 kilometers) southwest of Lisbon, Portugal. Leslie is moving northeast at 35 mph (55 kph) and it has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph). The storm is expected to pass north of Madeira Island and then…

Chapel Hill, N.C. — The University of North Carolina men’s basketball program and head coach Roy Williams donated $23,400 to Hurricane Florence relief efforts Friday evening at Late Night with Roy!, the team’s annual celebration to the start of the college basketball season. Carolina donated $100 for each of 117 made baskets over a four-minute, 15-second shooting drill during Late Night. The Tar Heels are donating $11,700 in proceeds from the team’s sale of autographed…

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — Fayetteville is still recovering from Hurricane Florence and on Friday, soldiers took the day off to help the city with its clean-up efforts. Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division teamed up with Fayetteville Beautiful to help clean up the Cape Fear River Trail, downtown Fayetteville, Arnette Park, Clark Park and Mazarick Park. These areas were selected because of the large amount…