A day in Craven County as Dorian approaches
This morning in Craven County began pretty quietly, with slight drizzles here and there — but mostly no sign of Hurricane Dorian’s approach. By day’s end, gusts of wind sent rain flying sideways, the rivers began to overflow, and homes and businesses boarded up ahead of tornado warnings and a 11 p.m. curfew.
In New Bern, the rains are sporadic and not yet very heavy. The Neuse has risen considerably, though. These are images from Front Street, where you see the water almost at ground level. In some areas, water is already creeping out toward the sidewalk and street. #hurricanedorian pic.twitter.com/rvdOwQuKdo
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
Downtown New Bern is relatively quiet but still several folks out. Businesses are taking precautions against flooding. @CaptainRattys has laid black tarps along the front of its restaurant, anchored down by bags of sand. #HurricaneDorain pic.twitter.com/kYWDXJCDgU
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
By late morning, the Neuse River was overflowing onto the sidewalk along Front Street in New Bern, though rains were still minimal and the wind relatively still.
This is Front Street, New Bern — just north of Union Park. As you can see from the video, the river has already spilled onto the sidewalk, water’s choppy and wind is picking up. #HurricaneDorian #newbern pic.twitter.com/rJsYpBopg1
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
Kati Kameroski was sitting with her 19-year old daughter by a memorial watching the wisps of dark clouds pass overhead and the water lap onto the sidewalk. Kameroski is an art teacher at West Craven Middle School. She talked about what it’s like to be a teacher in eastern North Carolina, where flooding has become increasingly frequent.
VIDEOS // while walking Front Street, I met Kati Kameroski, an art teacher at West Craven Middle. She was watching the storm roll in for a bit before heading home to hunker down. In the interviews, you’ll see some rain coming in and water continue to spill out from the river. pic.twitter.com/x0aa4N3Tka
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
We talked about teaching in an area where there is increasingly frequent storms: pic.twitter.com/gsTiiOuuS3
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
She told me about some experiences teaching art to students that have experienced the aftermath of flooding, dating back to Hurricane Matthew. pic.twitter.com/1ACia64cio
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
Her school (and from other interviews, sounds like schools, generally) learned some lessons preparing for Florence last year. One of those was to be prepared to miss extended time: pic.twitter.com/VDHMDmU0Ty
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
Assignments sent home are to help keep kids minds’ sharp. If they’re up for it. Students’ well-being and safety comes first, she said. pic.twitter.com/fpzOOw3xFd
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
Three blocks off Front Street, at the Craven County Emergency Operations Center, staff and volunteers were working phones and monitoring shelter activity and road conditions. Representatives from the sheriff’s office and rescue squads listened for reports of incidents around the county. This was the middle of afternoon, and 111 evacuees had checked in at county shelters.
.@cravencountync emergency operations center. They’re tracking residents in shelters. Reps from sheriff’s and rescue squads are also tracking incidents. County PIO Amber Parker set up a cot in a closet in the courthouse. Stayed there a week last year. #HurricaneDorian #newbern pic.twitter.com/Z9og9P8xbe
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
Meanwhile, outside, the skies darkened under the outer bands of Hurricane Dorian. Water rose on the sidewalk next to Front Street.
Updated photos from Front St, same location where I interviewed Kati Kameroski 4 hours ago. Water continues to rise on sidewalk and has reached the second step leading out to the road #HurricaneDorian2019 #newbern @cravencountync @CityofNewBern pic.twitter.com/Bo7UwkL6IX
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
— Rupen R. Fofaria (@Rupen_Fofaria) September 5, 2019
By dusk, the weather system announced its impending arrival. Steady rains fell in Havelock. Wind gusts impeded pedestrians as they walked and cracked small limbs on trees. Craven County announced a tornado warning into the evening and set a 11 p.m. curfew. The county braces for impact sometime overnight, as residents go to bed wondering what they will see in the morning.