More than 18 homes were destroyed in hurricane-like storm surge during what became known as the "Storm of the Century."WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Two decades ago Front Street flooded as the Cape Fear River backed up with intense southerly winds. Water Street was under water and the Battleship North Carolina was above the bulkhead across the river.
More than 18 homes were destroyed in the 70 mph wind gusts and hurricane like storm surge during what became known as the "Storm of the Century."
The storm was one of the most intense in our state's history and set records up and down the East Coast.
It took the lives of 19 people in North Carolina.
Rick Stewart feared for his life as a massive tree fell at his Pine Valley home.
"I looked down and looked back up," Stewart told WECT News in 1993 while a 30 ft pine tree rested on his car. "I heard a big pop and I saw a tree coming toward the window. So I jumped and ducked under the couch. When I came back it was on top of the car."
The Long Beach Pier buckled. Power was cut off to 3/4 of the area, and millions up and down the east coast waited without heat in the unseasonably cold conditions in the storm's wake.
On the back side, 50 inches of snow fell at Mt. Mitchell, NC, and across the eastern United States more than 100 people were killed.
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