Raleigh North Carolina News

By Candace Sweat, WRAL reporter Raleigh, N.C. — On the heels of Hurricane Florence, the Red Cross has prepared to mobilize again in expectation of Hurricane Michael Barry Porter, regional CEO for the Red Cross, said there are still hundreds of people in shelters in the southeastern part of North Carolina, but the organization can reach pretty deep for resources. With about 2,000 disaster relief volunteers in the state, the Red Cross estimates roughly 40…

Recreation vehicles are seen strewn about at the South Llano River RV Park and Resort in Junction, Texas, Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. Heavy rains the area caused the Llano River to flood and about 19 people were rescued. One woman swept away by floodwaters drifted approximately 25 miles before she was rescued, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The San Antonio Express-News via AP Jerry Lara Recreation vehicles are seen strewn about at the…

After it moved through Florida and Georgia, Hurricane Michael is expected to hit South Carolina early Thursday morning. Shortly after that, Columbia and the Midlands will feel the effects of the deadly storm. Starting at 4 a.m., heavy rains and powerful winds will start lashing Richland and Lexington counties, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Alsheimer. Michael is expected to have weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm by that time,…

Hurricane Michael is one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the U.S., and the proof is strewn across miles of Florida’s coastline: Roofs and awnings peeled from buildings, pieces of homes scattered amid snapped trees and downed power lines, chunks of beaches washed away. After landfall in Florida, Michael’s strong winds and heavy rains thrashed Georgia and headed toward the Carolinas, including areas that got a soaking last month from Hurricane Florence. BY…

Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle with terrifying winds of 155 mph Wednesday, splintering homes and submerging neighborhoods before continuing its destructive charge inland across the Southeast. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the continental U.S. in nearly 50 years and at least one death was reported during its passage. Supercharged by abnormally warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Category 4 storm crashed ashore in the early afternoon near Mexico…

SPRING LAKE, N.C. (WTVD) — The old saying goes that nothing worth having comes easy. With that in mind, all the elbow grease and sweat equity the owners of Evolution Athletics have put in is beyond rewarding — even though Mother Nature has decimated what they’ve created. Two months ago, Evolution Athletics opened its new building to incorporating new businesses, such as Cactus Coffee, a yoga studio, and co-working space; all the while keeping the…

By CATHERINE LUCEY Associated Press ERIE, Pa. As Hurricane Michael pounded Florida on Wednesday, President Donald Trump took shelter at a campaign event in Pennsylvania, where he sought to boost Republicans before the midterms. Trump acknowledged the hurricane at the top of his rally in Erie, offering his “thoughts and prayers” to those in the storm’s path and promising to “spare no effort” in the response. He promised to travel to Florida “very shortly.” He…

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Powerful Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle with terrifying winds of 155 mph Wednesday, splintering homes and submerging neighborhoods before continuing its destructive march inland across the Southeast. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the continental U.S. in nearly 50 years and at least one death was reported during its passage. After the storm passed, a WFTV news crew toured the damage in Panama City. The crew encountered…

Washington’s Public Lands Commissioner wants lawmakers to increase the amount of money that the state spends to fight wildfires and prevent future blazes. Hilary Franz, who oversees the Department of Natural Resources, is asking the Legislature for $55 million for wildfire response and prevention for the two-year budget that begins in 2019. Her proposal would add two helicopters, provide more training and better equipment and make 30 seasonal firefighting positions permanent. She’s also seeking more…

A pair of pigs found frenzied and pummeled by Hurricane Florence are in better ways now, taking comfort in each other’s company as they heal, according to their rescuers. Ziggy’s Refuge, a Providence, N.C., animal sanctuary run by Kristin Hartness and Jay Yontz, has posted constant updates on the pigs, named Jax and Flo, since the group helped rescue them. “They were both a terrified, nervous wreck when they were first found, and both were…

Take a bumpy NOAA Hurricane Hunter flight into Hurricane Michael Oct 10, 2018 The NOAA Hurricane Hunter WP-3D Orion takes a bumpy ride through HurricaneMichael before the storm makes landfall on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. By

Despite high surf and rip current warnings ahead of Hurricane Michael, people continued to swim on Hilton Head Island beaches Wednesday. Two 9-year-olds and a 15-year-old were rescued on Hilton Head while boogie boarding just after noon Wednesday, Beaufort County Emergency Management Director Neil Baxley at a press conference. “There’s a reason for the warning,” Baxley said. “…..Fortunately this has ended well, but it could have ended differently.” Nearly 15 to 20 people were swimming…

MEXICO BEACH, Fla. — As Hurricane Michael roared ashore, one small Florida town was swallowed by storm surge up to the roofs of houses in some areas. In Mexico Beach, population 1,000, resident Tessa Talarico said all that remained from one nearby home was a sea of debris floating in the floodwaters. She wrote on Instagram that, from her vantage point, all of the nearby houses were submerged at one point. When winds reached 140…