The 2004 Hurricane Season and Its Impacts in North Carolina

Abstract

November 30, 2004 put a close to one of the most destructive and emotionally draining Atlantic hurricane seasons on record. In the U.S. 151 deaths were either directly or indirectly attributed to hurricanes and property damage totaled 42 billion dollars, making 2004 the costliest season on record (Levinson 2004; Nowell 2005). Florida was the target for most of the hurricanes, enduring a record four direct hits, three of them coming in the span of a month. The 2004 Hurricanes: Charley, Ivan, and Frances were rated second, third, and fourth most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history, with only Hurricane Andrew (1992) being more costly (Levinson, 2004). While Florida suffered greatly from the 2004 season, the rest of the Southeast, including North Carolina, did not escape unscathed.