Latest news with #BrunswickCounty
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
4 rescued from rip currents at North Carolina coast; 2 taken to hospital
HOLDEN BEACH, N.C. (WNCN) — Four people were saved from rip currents at the North Carolina coast on Saturday, with two taken to a hospital following the rescue. The incident was reported Saturday around 5:55 p.m. at the East end of Holden Beach, an island in Brunswick County along the southern coast, officials said. The Holden Beach Police Department said two people — a man and a teen girl — were swimming near The Point of the island. The area is an inlet that cuts between Holden Beach to the west and Oak Island to the east — and connects the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. RELATED: 13 rip current rescues at NC coast week before Memorial Day The National Weather Service said the rip current risk was low Saturday, but with the currents at The Point, the first two swimmers were quickly fighting for their lives, a Holden Beach police shift commander told CBS 17 Saturday night. Two bystanders, both men, jumped into the ocean, trying to save the man and teen girl — but soon those two rescuers also needed saving, police said. The Tri-Beach Volunteer Fire Department's ocean rescue team was called. The Point area is beyond the last public beach access point — and is difficult to reach, Holden Beach police said. Once crews were able to deploy jet skis, they rescued the man and teen, police said. The pair were taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation but were released by Saturday night, according to police. The two men were also rescued but did not go to a hospital. 'Guys, you've got to be safe (and) stay together. If the water is moving, please, please do not get in there without checking the currents — and stay together,' Holden Beach surf instructor Timothy Turner said in a social media video, adding that he helped with the rescue Saturday. Two weeks ago, 13 people were rescued from rip currents at Emerald Isle beaches in Carteret County, according to the National Weather Service. Moderate rip currents were forecast for the surf that day. Turner recorded two videos on Saturday in which he spoke about running to the rescue scene and warning people about rip currents — especially at the inlet. PREVIOUS: NC teen girl dies in rip currents at Ocean Isle Beach 'I can not stress enough of not letting your families get into the water — if you hear water and see water moving and there is white wash and waves going everywhere,' Turner said about what to avoid. Tri-Beach Volunteer Fire Department has three stations and serves Holden Beach, Varnamtown, and areas of Brunswick County southeast of Shallotte. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
NC coastal flood advisory; high risk of ‘dangerous rip currents' for all beaches Tuesday
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — More flooding is expected at the North Carolina coast Monday night and there is a high rip current risk Tuesday along all beaches in the state, according to the National Weather Service. Several communities were flooded on Sunday evening amid a coastal flood advisory issued for the southern areas of the North Carolina coast. Flooding up to 1.5 feet could continue until 1 a.m. Tuesday near the Cape Fear River, including downtown Wilmington, a weather service advisory said. A flood advisory was issued until 11 p.m. Monday for Brunswick, Pender and New Hanover counties, the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service said. Forecasters warned of up to one foot of water above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. The flooding is from a combination of high tides and waves. Memorial Day weekend at NC coast: Concerns after 13 rip current rescues last week Low-lying roads and locations along the Intracoastal Waterway and adjacent tidal creeks might become flooded. Police in Southport in Brunswick County posted photos of flooding on several streets from Sunday night. Meanwhile, weather officials said there was a high rip current risk for Tuesday at beaches from the Outer Banks at the Virginia line down to Brunswick County beaches at the South Carolina line. Officials said forecast 'dangerous rip currents' in the northern Outer Banks, extending down to the counties of Dare, Hyde, Carteret, Onslow, Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick. The high rip current risk includes Ocracoke Island, Hatteras Island, and Nags Head. Last weekend, there were 13 rip current rescues in Emerald Isle beaches in Carteret County when there was a moderate rip current risk. 'Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,' the weather service said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Memorial Day weekend at NC coast: Concerns after 13 rip current rescues last week, 2 active swim advisories for bacteria
OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN) — With Memorial Day weekend a kickoff for the summer beach season, North Carolina coastal areas are watching for dangerous rip currents and two swimming spots are under scrutiny for high bacteria levels. At least two coastal swim advisories are in effect, with high levels of bacteria recorded heading into the weekend, state officials said. Last weekend, there were 13 rip current rescues in Carteret County at Emerald Isle — which was under a moderate rip current risk at the time, the National Weather Service reported. Just last week, three North Carolina coastal swimming areas were under an advisory by the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program. However, advisories in Dare County at the Outer Banks and in New Hanover County near Wilmington were lifted by Wednesday, state officials said. But, on Thursday, a new swim advisory was issued for a sound-side site in Brunswick County in Southport, officials said. Don't swim at these NC beaches, officials warn; man-of-war swarm OBX and NC island The new advisory is for the public kayak launch in Cottage Creek at the end of W. West Street in Southport. Test results of water samples taken Tuesday and Wednesday indicate bacteria levels that exceed the state and federal action levels of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters. Also, an earlier swimming advisory in Beaufort County is still in effect for public access to Pantego Creek at East Main and Tooley streets in Belhaven. Test results of water samples indicate a running monthly average of 37 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water. This exceeds the state and federal standards of a running monthly average of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters. The advisories are not beach closures. Swimming advisories are for waters within 200 feet of signs erected about each advisory. State recreational water quality officials sample 222 sites throughout the coastal region, most of them weekly, from April to October. Rip currents are an important focus for authorities at the North Carolina coast, where dozens of rip current rescues took place several weekends last summer. A high rip current risk was issued Wednesday for several beaches, including Oak Island in Brunswick County and Emerald Isle in Carteret County. Last weekend, lifeguards rescued 13 Emerald Isle swimmers when there was a moderate risk for rip currents at that beach. For Memorial Day weekend, rip currents are forecast as a moderate risk in most beach areas at the North Carolina coast. Meanwhile, Oak Island officials said Saturday they are still dealing with Portuguese man-o-war washing up on the beach. 'We recommend you watch your step on the strand and stay out of water. Their tentacles are long and burn like (fire),' Oak Island officials said on Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
1 rescued, 2 injured in home explosion at NC coast; blast rips hole though house
LELAND, N.C. (WNCN) — One person was rescued and two people were injured when a townhome exploded at the North Carolina coast early Friday night, officials said. The blast, which blew the home's garage door off to a townhouse across the street, was reported around 7:35 p.m. at a one-level townhome in the 1300 block of Suncrest Way in the Magnolia Greens neighborhood of Leland in Brunswick County, according to the Leland Fire/Rescue Department. The blast appeared to rip a hole through the entire townhome — blowing out the front and back of the building. Crews rescued one person from the rubble of the home, which sustained major damage with roofing torn away and beams exposed. The explosion did not appear to spark a fire. Two people were injured but did not require hospitalization, Leland officials said. One man in the home at the time of the explosion told WECT about the blast. 'I heard this really loud 'bang.' It was a really loud bang, and everything just kinda came in on you,' Nathan White told the TV station. Four other homes were also heavily damaged, with at least two others also impacted, Leland officials said. Debris from the explosion was on the roofs of homes nearby and some other windows were blown out. 'The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents and the investigation is ongoing,' fire officials said. N.W. Fire/Rescue Department and Winnabow Volunteer Fire Department assisted Leland Fire in the call. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Season's first Outer Banks sea turtle nest discovered; rehabbed sea turtles released in ocean at NC island
SUNSET BEACH, N.C. (WNCN) — As the weather keeps warming and summer approaches on the North Carolina coast, ocean animals are becoming active. The first turtle nest was discovered, buried in beach sand at the Outer Banks this week. Meanwhile, three rehabilitated sea turtles were successfully released back into the ocean at Sunset Beach, an island in Brunswick County near the South Carolina border. The first sea turtle nest was found at the Cape Lookout National Seashore, National Park Service officials announced Friday. Nests typically contain between 80 and 150 sea turtle eggs from one of four different sea turtle species at Cape Lookout: loggerheads, Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, Green sea turtles, and Leatherbacks. PREVIOUS: Sea turtle nests at NC coast on track so far this season Crews at the Outer Banks mark nesting sites with PVC pipes topped with bright tape — so no one will accidentally damage or walk on nests. Plastic screens are also put over nests to prevent predators from digging up the eggs. At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, crews discover and protect nearly 400 sea turtle nests each season. Also this month, crews at Sunset Beach released two Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles and one Green sea turtle — both are endangered species. NEWS: 3rd gator in weeks at NC coast startles Sunset Beach homeowner The turtles released May 2 were originally rescued in Dare County during a December 2024, 'cold-stunning' event, according to a Sunset Beach Police Department news release. After initial triage at the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Center at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island, they were transferred to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for full rehabilitation. There were five turtles in total, with the first two released earlier from a boat due to timing and weather conditions, according to the Sunset Beach police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
