Charlotte North Carolina News

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. – A  neon sign was no match for Hurricane strength winds. Video shows the sign torn apart as Hurricane Florence made landfall in Jacksonville, North Carolina Friday morning. The storm was downgraded to a category one Thursday evening, but is still packing winds of at least 85 miles per hour.  At 11 a.m., Florence was centered about 20 miles (30 kilometers) southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina, and about 55 miles (90 kilometers) east-northeast of…

In the face of ferocious winds that could pelt it with flying debris, French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle’s “Firebird” — the 18-foot-tall uptown sculpture covered with about 7,000 pieces of mirrored glass — might as well be a sitting duck. And so on Thursday morning, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art took steps to safeguard the rather fragile artwork from the possible effects of Hurricane Florence this weekend: It wrapped up the top portion…

If your home is damaged in Hurricane Florence, you can get help from the federal government to cover some of the costs. It doesn’t matter if you rent or own, or whether or not you have insurance coverage. The aid is available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. The money is not guaranteed to everyone who applies. But on Thursday afternoon, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper asked President Donald Trump to issue an…

Waves created by Hurricane Florence are seen along Cherry Grove Fishing Pier on September 14, 2018 in North Myrtle Beach, United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)   Waves created by Hurricane Florence are seen along Cherry Grove Fishing Pier on September 14, 2018 in North Myrtle Beach, United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)   NORTH CAROLINA (AP) – Flights are grounded at several airports in the Southeast as Hurricane Florence barges through the…

Marines land in uptown Charlotte U.S. Marine Corps aircraft land in uptown Charlotte in preparation for Marine Week , Sept. 5-9. 2018. More than 700 Marines will descend on Charlotte to participate in hands-on displays, ceremonies, community projects, and live demonstrations.

Empty streets and attractions in Myrtle Beach as Hurricane Florence arrives (Will Nunley / FOX 5). Empty streets and attractions in Myrtle Beach as Hurricane Florence arrives (Will Nunley / FOX 5). MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (FOX 46 WJZY) – Weather conditions are deteriorating at Myrtle Beach this afternoon, as Hurricane Florence continues to move ashore along the coast. Florence made landfall this morning as a Category 1 storm along Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina —  about…

The Trent River (background) overflows its banks and floods a neighborhood during Hurricane Florence September 13, 2018 in River Bend, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)   The Trent River (background) overflows its banks and floods a neighborhood during Hurricane Florence September 13, 2018 in River Bend, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)   NORTH CAROLINA (AP) – North Carolina officials say parts of the state could experience a once-in-a-millennia flood as Hurricane…

The Blue Ridge Parkway has called for a mandatory evacuation of campgrounds as Hurricane Florence pounds the state with heavy rains and wind gusts in the 100 mph range. Among the National Park’s fears: Landslides. North Carolina announced Wednesday it was also closing all its state parks through at least Sunday. The evacuation of Blue Ridge Parkway campers was put in place “pending high wind and heavy rain” expected from the storm in the Appalachians…

Officials at Charlotte Douglas International Airport said Friday that while some flights have been canceled, the airport plans to remain open during Hurricane Florence, which is expected to bring high winds and torrential rain to Charlotte this weekend. Workers have been preparing Charlotte Douglas for the possibility of severe weather. The airport has one runway, 5/23, that can be used to take off and land during strong crosswinds. “We’ve removed anything that has the potential…

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will remain closed Monday, with Hurricane Florence expected to drench the Charlotte area over the weekend, the district announced Friday. The state’s second-largest district has been closed since Thursday, when officials decided to “err on the side of caution” and keep students away while five high schools were set up as shelters for coastal evacuees. “Our community remains in a declared official state of emergency by state and local leaders,” a news release…

WILMINGTON, N.C. (FOX 46 WJZY) – Water Street lived up to its name in Wilmington this morning as Hurricane Florence roared ashore, flooding roads, smashing windows, and generally leaving behind a widespread mess. Florence made landfall along nearby Wrightsville Beach just after 7 this morning as a Category 1 storm. Howling 90-mph winds pushed water up into the town of Wilmington as the storm blew through. FOX 46’s Ann Wyatt Little was able to explore…

The last transformer exploded before dawn, plunging the Comfort Suites hotel into total darkness. But when the dozens of guests woke to greet Hurricane Florence and its 90-mph gusts, Beth Bratz was already making coffee. As general manager, she could have closed the three-story motel on Market Street. But most of her staff lives in flat, low-lying neighborhoods, and she worried they wouldn’t last. So she took them in, along with three news crews and…