RODANTHE, N.C. – A powerful coastal storm pounding the mid-Atlantic on Friday caused another home on the North Carolina Outer Banks to fall into the sea.

FOX Weather’s Robert Ray became stranded after water from the Atlantic Ocean overtook a highway on the Outer Banks on Friday morning. Ray said the storm was pounding his hotel in Kill Devil Hills overnight.

“It sounded like a heavy, strong tropical storm was pounding the Outer Banks,” Ray said. “You could hear the building, sort of, making banging noise and water hitting off of the glass and the windows pretty extensively. It felt like we were headed into the beginnings of a hurricane.”

While Ray was seeking higher ground he said his photographer, stationed in Rodanthe, saw the leftovers of another home that had collapsed. This is the fifth home this year to tumble into the ocean in Rodanthe, according to Ray. Several more are on the verge of doing the same.

FOURTH HOME COLLAPSES INTO SURF ALONG NORTH CAROLINA’S OUTER BANKS THIS YEAR

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, a section of State Highway 12, which connects the Outer Banks, has been closed Friday because of flooding. The National Park Service has also closed sections of beach along Cape Hatteras National Seashore because of dangerous conditions and debris in the water.

Storm Watch issued for much of coastal North Carolina

Due to the threat of northerly winds gusting upwards of 55 mph and dangerous seas, the National Weather Service has issued a Storm Watch for much of coastal North Carolina, which will be in effect from Thursday evening until at least Friday.

Expected rainfall amounts for cities such as Raleigh and Greensboro are expected to be relatively modest, around an inch or two, but coastal communities could experience substantially more, which, in combination with higher seas, could lead to flooding.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

“Mariners should prepare to remain in port, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions before conditions deteriorate,” NWS meteorologists warned boaters in the Carolinas.

Only slow improvements are expected over the weekend as the storm system generally moves eastward over the Atlantic.

Astronomical king tides are expected to keep water levels elevated for an extended period due to the full Moon cycle.

King tides occur when the gravitational forces of the Moon cause extreme water levels and only occur during the full Moon or new Moon cycles.

An area of high pressure is expected to build over the region during the upcoming week, which will help to bring calmer and clearer conditions.

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA SEES HEAVIEST RAIN SINCE HURRICANE HELENE

Expected rainfall into early next week.

(FOX Weather)

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — A viral email from a North Carolina lawmaker’s office is raising eyebrows, after allegedly telling a North Carolina woman to leave the country for raising concerns about our state’s abortion laws.

Video of the email has been circulating all over social media, seen over 200 thousand times on TikTok. It all started from a North Carolina TikTok user Lindsay Talley, who shared an email from her friend who she says has a genetic condition creating life-threatening abnormalities. Her friend wrote to her Republican State Senator Danny Britt concerned about the state’s abortion laws and her ability to expand her family.

And in response, his official email back told her to leave the country. The email says “Thank you so much for the email, I am not quite certain how we are preventing you from expanding your family. I suggest you move to China immediately and see how that works for you. If for some reason that fails Russia is nice in the winter and Venezuela in the summer.”

The email is signed by Senator Britt but appears to be sent from Senator Britt’s legislative assistant, Camille McDougald. In a follow-up email to Talley, McDougald replied “I responded how Senator Britt wanted to me to. No further comment.”

We made multiple attempts to reach the GOP Senator, who has represented parts of the Sandhills including Robeson, Hoke, and Scotland Counties since 2017.

We went to his Raleigh legislative office, and his assistant behind the email declined to comment and walked away from us.

Meanwhile, this could serve as a lesson for how to respond to those they serve. Democratic Congressman Wiley Nickel says his office responds to thousands of emails and he says was surprised to see that kind of response from a fellow lawmaker.

“Anyone who has the honor and privilege of representing constituents in Washington or Raleigh needs to be respectful of the people they represent. We work for them,” Nickel says.

Republicans in the legislature including Senator Danny Britt voted to change state law in 2023 on abortion after the overturn of Roe v Wade, overriding a veto from Democratic Governor Roy Cooper to ban most abortions in our state after 12 weeks.

SEE ALSO | Supreme Court unanimously strikes down legal challenge to abortion pill mifepristone

LAKE LURE, N.C. – A dog can teach us many life lessons. 

For Moose, it’s that joy can bloom even in the darkest hours.

The North Carolina beagle, once lost and grieving after Hurricane Helene, continues to inspire his new family and those who cared for him following a natural disaster that no one could ever imagine.

The ferocious storm ripped through his world nestled in Lake Lure’s foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains nearly two months ago, leaving destruction and despair in its wake. His family – his safe haven – was killed after his home was swallowed by Helene’s rage.

NORTH CAROLINA WOMAN USES INSTAGRAM TO REUNITE LOST PHOTOS SWEPT AWAY IN HELENE’S FLOODS WITH THEIR OWNERS

The remnants of a home are seen in Lake Lure, North Carolina, October 2, 2024, after the passage of Hurricane Helene.

(ALLISON JOYCE/AFP / Getty Images)

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Glimmer of hope arrives

In the days following the nightmare, neighbors took turns caring for Moose, even as they faced their own struggles of being without water and power. During that time, Moose was viciously attacked by a pack of wild dogs. His condition was dire, requiring immediate medical attention.

It was thanks to one of those caring soles who called Triangle Beagle Rescue in Raleigh to get the care he desperately needed. The team of volunteers would soon offer a glimmer of hope for Moose, agreeing to take him in as soon as a foster home became available. 

NORTH CAROLINA MAN OFFERS THANKSGIVING FEAST OF HOPE TO 5,000 HELENE SURVIVORS

Moose lost his home and family during Hurricane Helene.

(Tara Lynn)

The devastation in western North Carolina weighed heavily on Tara Lynn’s heart. She yearned to help but struggled to find the right way. She and her husband toyed with the idea of fostering another dog from TriBeagles, but nothing seemed quite the right fit.

Then, Moose arrived, and it felt like destiny.

“I just felt like God said, ‘Okay, this is your role, and step up and love on my little dog,” Lynn told FOX Weather.

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‘Trust the journey’

After being rescued from the mountains and undergoing surgery, Moose was a shell of his former self. But his eyes, filled with hope, were fixed on Lynn, his new savior. With her love and care, he would begin to heal. 

HELENE DAMAGES OVER 800,000 ACRES OF NORTH CAROLINA FORESTS

Moose was a shadow of his former self after his rescue and surgery.

(Tara Lynn)

Moose was a fighter, a survivor, and his spirit, though wounded, remained unbroken. As he recovered, his playful side emerged, bringing joy to those around him.

As Lynn documented in her blog on Moose’s recovery, she noticed his tail beginning to wag again, and his spirit was full of playful energy. In it, she reminded others that happiness can be a choice, even when life seems overwhelming. 

“Whether we’re dealing with trauma or loss, healing is a slow process that requires patience, but we should trust the journey and give ourselves grace,” she adds.

NORTH CAROLINA COUPLE RECOUNT BEING SWEPT AWAY ON COUCH DURING HURRICANE HELENE

Moose and Tara Lynn enjoy the sunshine ouside their home in Cary, North Carolina.

(Tara Lynn)

Reunited with the mountains

Now, a new chapter unfolds for Moose as he continues to heal from his physical and emotional scars. A family in Leicester, near Asheville, immediately recognized the urgency of Moose’s long-term needs and opened their home to him back in the mountains.

It was already a safe place for two other beagles from TriBeagles, and despite the potential challenges of adding another to their family, they knew Moose was a part of their community and needed to be brought home.

Moose found his new forever family outside of Asheville.

(Triangle Beagle Rescue of NC)

Lynn said her four weeks with Moose were a celebration of second chances, a symbol of hope for many in western North Carolina still recovering from Helene.

“When life turns upside down, it’s okay to ask for help, and it’s okay to lean on the kindness of others,” she said. “Don’t face hardships alone; the warmth of friends or even strangers can be the lifeline we need.”

Today, Moose finds a second chance at life with joy in the little things – napping in the sun, snuggling in a cozy bed and exploring the smells of his new world. Thanks to Lynn and his new owners, he has also found safety and peace again.

“In a fast-paced world, we often forget to pause,” Lynn said,” and simply appreciate the peaceful moments and simple pleasures life has to offer.”