Hurricanes in North Carolina

September is the middle of hurricane season and the Carolinas have historically taken the brunt of many a storms' landfall. While Charlotte is approximately 200 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Charleston, S.C. and Wilmington N.C., the Queen City does sit in the path of many of the storms that make landfall in the coastal communities. Charlotte also serves as an evacuation point for residents in those communities.

Here is information on hurricanes in North Carolina.

National Hurricane Center
The meteorologists a the National Hurricane Center keep the nation abreast on storm developments. All media outlets look to the NHC for advisories which come every 12 hours for storms out at sea and as frequently as every hour once the storms are close to land.

North Carolina Hurricanes
This website hosted by North Carolina State University details the hurricanes that have made landfall in North Carolina since 1857 as well as all the storms that have impacted the state in some manner.

Hurricane Hugo
On Sept. 21, 1989 Hurricane Hugo made landfall in South Carolina at midnight as the system sped northwest at 26 mph. It moved inland, passing between Columbia and Shaw Air Force Base early on the morning of the 22nd. Hugo weakened to a tropical storm by mid-morning as it passed to the west of Charlotte.

Hurricane Hazel
On Oct. 15, 1954 Hurricane Hazel hit the seaside community of Oak Island, N.C. In a 24-hour period the storm inflicted death and devastation from South Carolina to Canada.

Books on North Carolina's Hurricanes:

• North Carolina's Hurricane History
  This book by Jay Barnes provides a look at more than 50 hurricanes that have made landfall or caused damage to the state of North Carolina from the days of the first European explorers through hurricanes Bertha and Fran in 1996.
• The Great Hurricanes of North Carolina

Helping Hands
In the event of a major storm, several organizations ban together to aid in relief efforts and provide safe havens for those who have needed to evacuate their homes. To find out how you can help please visit:

• American Red Cross Greater Carolinas Chapter