Raining Chaos: Historic Floods Hit North Carolina's Coast

North Carolina's coastal towns are experiencing the worst flooding in recent memory, with historic rainfall totals and catastrophic damage reported. The storm-like system dumped 18 inches of rain in just 12 hours in some areas, a once-in-1,000-year rainfall event. Do you think this level of flooding is becoming more common due to climate change? What are the long-term consequences for the affected communities? The small town of Carolina Beach was particularly hard hit, with floodwaters surging into homes, stranding vehicles, and forcing water rescues. "It's probably the worst flooding that any of us have seen in Carolina Beach," said Town Manager Bruce Oakley. The town had to close schools, and emergency services received dozens of calls for rescue. What would you do if you were in the same situation? Meanwhile, in Brunswick County, flooding was widespread, with major road washouts and a shelter-in-place order in effect. The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office reported multiple rescues, and the city of Southport imposed a curfew. Can you imagine being stuck in your home with no way to leave or receive help? One resident, Timothy Turner, used his surfboard to rescue a neighbor's dog, which got stuck at home during the flooding. Turner, a surf instructor, has assisted with ocean rescues in the past, but this was his first dog rescue. What would you do to help your neighbors during a crisis like this? The extreme rainfall and flooding serve as a stark reminder that it doesn't take a named storm to trigger extremely dangerous conditions. As the world warms due to fossil fuel pollution, such events are becoming more common. How can we prepare for and respond to such disasters in the future?