It has now been 61 years since the strongest hurricane in recorded North Carolina history impacted the state. Hurricane Hazel made landfall on the morning of October 15, 1954 near the North Carolina - South Carolina border. It was a category 4 storm at landfall.
Wind gusts were estimated between 125 and 150mph at Wrightsville Beach, Oak Island, Holden Beach, and Calabash. A storm surge of up to 18 feet was reported along the southeast coast of North Carolina.
Hazel's impacts were felt well inland from the coast. Wind gusts reached up to 110mph in Fayetteville and 90mph in Raleigh. The storm quickly tracked to the north. Hazel's remnants eventually made it all the way to Canada.
In North Carolina, 19 deaths were contributed to the hurricane. An estimated 15,000 homes and structures in the state were completely destroyed. Another 39,000 homes and structures were damaged.
Hurricane Hazel was part of active period for hurricanes in North Carolina during the 1950s. Between 1954 and 1955, six named storms made landfall or brought hurricane conditions to the state.
With a larger population, more businesses, and many more homes and buildings, a storm like Hazel would cause much more damage now.