RALEIGH -- Sept. 5, 1996 is a day several longtime North Carolina residents will never forget.
It was twenty years ago when Hurricane Fran touched down on the North Carolina coast.
The National Weather Service says total storm tide reached as high as 12 feet north of Cape Fear from Carolina Beach across Wrightsville Beach to Topsail Island.
Fran then traveled along the I-40 corridor causing billions of dollars’ worth of damage to the rest of the state.
Though North Carolina hasn’t been hit by a major hurricane of category three strength or greater since Fran struck, meteorologists say about every 20 years a major hurricane strikes the Carolina coast.
“[Hurricane Fran] occurred 20 years ago. It's important to note the return period for a category three or stronger hurricane to make landfall on the Carolina coast is about 20 years. So, statistically speaking, we are due for another category three or stronger hurricane to make landfall on the Carolina coast,” said Nick Petro, a Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the U.S. National Weather Service of Raleigh.
Meteorologists say it’s imperative to be aware of the impact and hazards you’re prone to in the event of a hurricane.
They also recommend preparing ahead of time by building a family storm plan so you’re ready in case a storm approaches.