Key Coastal Road Reopens in North Carolina Nearly a Year After Historic 20+ Inches of Rain
WILMINGTON, N.C. — Nearly a year after a devastating no-name storm washed away roads and left coastal communities underwater, a key North Carolina highway has officially reopened.
NC 133 Reopens After Massive Damage
The town of Belville announced that N.C. 133, a vital connector from U.S. 17 to Southport and Oak Island, is back open after months of reconstruction. The highway was destroyed last September when Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 (PTC8) dropped 20+ inches of rain across Brunswick and New Hanover counties.
The storm flooded Carolina Beach with nearly 21 inches of rain and Southport with 19 inches, while triggering at least 120 rescues and leaving one man dead after his vehicle was swept into floodwaters near Stone Chimney Road.
A 1,000-Year Flood Event
The National Weather Service described the event as a 1,000-year flooding occurrence, with some locations seeing up to 18 inches of rain within just 12 hours. The scale of the disaster forced emergency declarations in eight coastal counties.
The storm’s impacts were compounded when, just 11 days later, Tropical Storm Helene brought additional deadly flooding to the state’s mountain communities.
Widespread Destruction and Costs
In Brunswick County alone, southern communities were cut off from Wilmington after U.S. 17 was washed out. Dozens of other roads and bridges remained closed for weeks. State officials have estimated damages from PTC8 at more than $36.7 million.
The reopening of NC 133 marks a milestone in recovery for coastal residents, but the storm remains a sobering reminder of the risks facing North Carolina’s shoreline communities. Have you or your family been affected by recent coastal flooding? Share your story with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
