FEMA tours areas of storm damage

TOPSAIL ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — State and local officials along with FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers have been out in the Topsail area assessing damage from the rain and flooding. Crews are looking for problems with public roads as well as cases of beach erosion.

“We’re primarily seeing where water has been, and the damage that water can do,” said Doug Haas with State Emergency Management. “A lot of standing water, some flooded areas, and just a lot of water with nowhere to go right now. ”

Their findings are part of what is called a Preliminary Damage Assessment.

“And that basically means we’re trying to collect the data to determine if there’s enough damage and enough expense to the locals to do a declaration,” Haas said.

The focus is on public property, rather than houses.  According to State Emergency Management, there were not as many instances of substantial damage to homes during the storm like we saw in South Carolina.

Topsail Beach Mayor Howard Braxton said things are looking up for the island.

“They’re looking up now. We’ve managed to get most of the streets cleaned. There’s a little water here and there but most of it has been drained and we hope we can keep it that way,” said Braxton.

Crews will continue assessment through at least Friday, collecting date before they report back to the state.