After $1.75M in damage Southport continues Isaias recovery one month later

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — Hurricane Isaias and a tornado ripped through Southport one month ago on the night of August 3 leaving debris in the streets, boats toppled onto one another and buildings damaged. The city is still working towards a total recovery.

“We still have destruction,” Mayor Jo Pat Hatem said. “You look at the waterfront right here, you see these barriers and that type thing.”

Hatem says the city sustained about $1.75 million dollars worth of damage and they are still working to pick up debris and repair the waterfront infrastructure, but all in all the city is doing much better one month after the storm.

“You see a huge difference,” he said. “Our businesses are open, yacht basin businesses are open, debris is being picked up, we lost no lives. That’s the biggest thing.”

Hatem says it’s all credit to the people of Southport.

“That’s the biggest thing, the love of the town,” he said. “The strength of its history and its heritage and we try to bring that with us.”

And the preparedness of city officials, fire, rescue and police.

“We’re somewhat under normal operation but we’re still working to get back to 100%,” Police Chief Todd Coring said.

Coring says there’s still some concerning damage in the city.

“We’ve still got some damage on our waterfront that’s concerning us,” Coring said. “We’ve had some collapsed roads right there on our water front and some of our infrastructure is still weak.”

But, God forbid, another storm makes its way to the Cape Fear this season, they will be ready.

“As far as personnel and the readiness that we have, I’d say that yes we are prepared,” Coring said. “But we’re hoping everything will steer clear of us this season.”