RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Just 11 days before Tropical Storm Helene hit the North Carolina mountains with widespread flooding, destruction and killing at least 95 people, a major storm referred to as Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 hit the North Carolina coast .
The no-named storm caused massive, historic flooding along the coast in Brunswick, New Hanover, Carteret and Onslow counties. Fifty roads were ripped apart, more than 100 homes destroyed, at least 120 people were rescued in just hours and one person died when historic rainfall — nearly 21 inches at Carolina Beach — drenched the entire southeast North Carolina coast.
The Brunswick Nuclear Plant issued an Unusual Event alert because of the flooding surrounding the plant caused by the Sept. 16 storm.
RELATED: NC coast rainfall totals top 20 inches in 1,000-year event
Slideshow of North Carolina coast storm flooding and damage
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A woman was safe after her car was pushed off US 17 near mile marker 25 in Brunswick County. Photo from Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. -
Wilmington Fire Dept photo of a dog being rescued in Carolina Beach Monday. -
Makatoka Rd in Supply. Photo from Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. -
Carolina Beach photo by David Baratta -
US 17 underwater from Potential Tropical Cyclone 8. Photo from Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. -
NC 133 in Brunswick County. NCDOT image -
A pickup truck washed into a damaged segment of Old Ocean Highway near Brunswick County Community College. Photo from Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. -
Carolina Beach flooding. Photo from Carolina Beach Fire Dept. -
A Jeep fell into a washed out part of N.C. 211 between Dosher Cut Off and River Mist subdivision. Photo from Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. -
Wilmington Fire Dept photo of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach water rescues Monday. -
US 17 underwater from Potential Tropical Cyclone 8. Photo from Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. -
Wilmington Fire Dept photo of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach water rescues Monday. -
East Moore Street washed out in Southport. Photo from Southport Police Dept. -
Carolina Beach near Lake Park Boulevard. Image from Erica H Dunn -
The Outer Banks where the north end of Ocracoke Island was partly underwater. Photo from the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. -
Sunset Harbor Road in Brunswick County. Photo from Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. -
National Weather Service graphic of rainfall totals
Southern areas of Brunswick County were unreachable from Wilmington because of destroyed roads, including U.S. 17, which did not fully reopen until four days before Helene hit…