home

F

lorence has left. There’s a lot to do now as people return: locate lost boats, tear out flooded floors, clean up what the storm left behind. Residents are slowly returning to Oriental.

Highway 55 was initially closed between Bayboro and Oriental due to flooding, downed trees and telephone poles, electric lines. When traffic did begin to come back, it was on 306 or other side roads. Highway 55 was cleared Sunday.

Along Highway 55, many telephone poles gave way, some partially , others were broken and laying on the ground..

Seen on Highway 55 in Merritt.

MasTec trucks at Pamlico Middle School on Monday waiting for roads to clear, so they could survey the power lines and begin repairs.

The pier at Lou Mac Park was destroyed during the storm, and with it went the State’s water level gauge. After that, the gauge incorrectly read a 36ft surge in water level..

Lou Mac park’s water fountain took a tumble.

Parking barriers were moved off their rebar fasteners and left in the broken asphalt of South Ave.

The intersection of High St and South Ave. Florence moved the asphalt and left a beach behind.

A “No Parking” sign at John Bond Beach (also known as Minuscule Beach) was lodged in the sand. No sign of the other sign.

Riprap of marl strewn by Florence.

A tree leans outside First Citizens Bank. The cars were parked there by owners thinking it would be higher ground. It was not high enough. Florence’s surge got into the bank and so likely into the vehicles as well.

Lots of large trees went over. This one was at Apple Lane and Mildred St.

High north winds peeled up part of the metal roof on the Cartwright House.

The scene along Neuse Dr.

Fay Bond has been thru more hurricanes (and their clean-ups) than most Oriental residents. Monday, she took a brief break to play with a neighbor’s dog.

[page]

Florence’s force tumbled one of the four corner markers on Jennifer & Frank Roe’s yard.rank says it’ll be rebuilt.

Pre-Florence, a park bench had occupied this spot in the public right of way at the river’s end of Neuse Street.

Waters receded enough to see Town Dock #1. A few planks and the flag pole were the only casualties. Other docks around Oriental were lost entirely.

A tree on the Oriental Yacht Club side of the fence kept this giant fuel tank from rolling up the Garland Fulcher Seafood side.

A boat trailer came to a stop at South Ave and Neuse Streets.

A window lay in the ditch next to Deaton Yacht Service’s boat yard.

Seen on South Ave.

[page]

Across the bridge, homes and businesses had casualties of their own.

Another peeled roof.

Endurance Seafood, a small family operation run by Keith Bruno, was brutally hit by Hurricane Florence. They lost their refrigeration truck and docks.

A wooden boat, already in disrepair, lay in pieces near the home of Angi and Ron Diamond, owners of Pickers on Highway 55.

Some houses near Dawsons Creek showed extensive damage. This concrete block house had walls crumbled by Florence.

Florence shifted a building off her foundation and left a car in the ditch.

The only looting sign seen.

Trees fell and floated onto the docks.

The power boat is local to nearby China Grove Road. The sailboat drifted in from elsewhere.

Posted Wednesday September 19, 2018 by Allison DeWeese