Calabash and Sunset Beach experiences damage from wind

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) – Cape Fear residents started the clean-up after Ian’s impacts brought rain and winds to the area, and according to Calabash officials the town experienced damage but it could have been worst.

“We had some flooding on some of the lower structures in the commercial area along the Calabash River,” said Calabash Town Administrator Chuck Nance

According to Lt. Ryan Eckart with Calabash Fire Department the biggest impact was the wind.

“We got very, very fortunate with this Hurricane,” said Lt. Ryan Eckart with Calabash Fire Dept. “All we responded to were trees down, wires down, just a lot of investigating what was going on.”

Downed trees caused damage to a roof and ac unit at a Calabash home, and power outages impacted thousands.

“I heard a loud heard a loud crash and uh, our electricity went off,” said Kathy Marriott, who had no power for more than a day.

Marriott moved to Calabash from Florida and was relieved that all she experienced was a power outage, her friends in Fort Myers, weren’t as fortunate.

“He had a twenty-foot boat in his yard- it wasn’t his.”

Heavy winds also caused problems in Sunset Beach, Candice Gary said she was at work when her husband called from the car; he was charging his phone.

“The power went out I was like why don’t you just go inside and feed the dogs, while there is still light out,” she said.

Fortunately, he was inside when a huge tree came down.

“There was a tree on our water house on his car and on my rescue van everything was crunched just by the tree,” she said.

According to Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation spokesperson Brookes Versaggi, they’re working overtime trying to get power restored.

“In the Sunset Beach area restored power to around 3,750, and of course, we will keep working through the night until everyone has their power back on,” he said.

According to Eckart, the public should call 911 to report downed power lines.

“Our community faired very well, so we had very little actual serious calls during this time,” he said.

The bridge to Sunset Beach reopened on Saturday morning, the town said debris removal should start Monday.