Remembering Hurricane Fran (1996), concerned about Florence - our Raleigh experience [View all]

[NRaleighLiberal]

Anyone else have a Fran story? Here is ours...

22 years is a long time ago. Fran approached as a Cat 3 storm and came ashore at Bald Head Island - 115 mph winds. We in Raleigh were watching on TV - then the power went out and we had no idea what we were in for. These storms lose steam over land, right?

Well, as it grew dark, there was the sound of the wind howling though the trees. Once it was dark the wind really picked up - we were getting 75 mph gusts - then we heard snaps. We saw power flashes - green flashes - in the distance as trees hit more and more power lines. Stepping outside you could smell the pine sap - many of the trees that went down were snapped or whole loblolly pines...the oaks tended to just topple over, root ball and all - some of the root areas well over 6 feet in diameter.

We huddled around an AM radio until the wee hours of the morning - things got oddly calm as the eye passed over, then charged up again. the rain was torrential, and we were so tired of the sound of the wind...and we had no idea what was going on out there.

we woke the next morning to find that our woods looked like pick up sticks that were randomly tossed. Magically, nothing hit our home - we had a few trees that landed on neighbor's decks, and we had a huge oak that fell toward our house but simply destroyed our back yard fence - the tree top brushed our deck. We got up - it was hot and sticky - and took a walk around the yard, then the block. forget about getting out in a car - roads were blocked everywhere, power lines were down everywhere. Chainsaws same out - and so did the bees - yellow jackets after the sweet smelling oak and other hardwood sap. I am sure snakes were about - we didn't run into any.

Food in freezers and refrigerators couldn't last with out power, so there were neighborhood grillings where people brought whatever needed to be eaten after thawing. At first, it was festive - but that didn't last as there was no way to shower, no ice, no phone service.

When we finally could drive out, we were looking for ice and found it about 15 miles away, and waited in line for over an hour.

Power was back in a week or so. Tree services from all over started showing up and the many months-long clean ups started.

We felt lucky - no home damage, no family members injured - but this wasn't supposed to happen well inland, in Raleigh.

Here is a story about Fran - https://www.wral.com/weather/hurricanes/story/9855450/

Florence is scary because it is bigger and fiercer already. It is Monday, and if the path holds true, effects would be felt here on Fri or sat - but....

ANYONE in the path of this monster - get ready. Better to have too much of what you may need then to figure on it turning away and being caught short.

I am sure those of us in the path will check in here when we can.....22 years ago there weren't cell phone cameras and as much of an ability to stay connected.....if the forecast holds, this is supposed to hit hardest during daylight hours.

Be well and be safe, all who are in the path.