Video: Dolphins Swim in Hurricane Florence Storm Surge in Wilmington

Video footage shot during Hurricane Florence shows what appears to be two dolphins swimming in the rising storm surge near Wilmington, North Carolina.

The aquatic mammals are seen swimming against the current of the storm surge as it pounds the coastline.

Damage Done

There were a number of water rescues in New Bern, North Carolina, due to storm surge and the Neuse River flooding well past its banks.

“WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU,” the city of New Bern tweeted at 2 a.m. on Sept. 14.  “You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU.”

New Bern Mayor Dana Outlaw told USA Today that some people were trapped in second floors of houses or in their attics by rising floodwaters.

“What happens is that we rescue some people and then we find out there are still more who need it,” Outlaw told the outlet. “People who live in New Bern have experienced hurricanes before, but it has been a long time since we have experienced something like this.”

No deaths have been confirmed during the hurricane. “Things here are very, very serious,” Outlaw said. “If you’ve ever doubted the destructiveness of a hurricane, what’s happening here will make you a believer.”

In Jacksonville, North Carolina, some 60 people were rescued from a collapsing hotel due to Florence’s power.

“I see a biblical proportion flood event that’s going to occur,” Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous was quoted by ABC News as saying. “I see the beach communities being inundated with water and destruction that will be pretty, pretty epic.”

Forecasters have said that 20 inches of rain or more could fall in some areas in North and South Carolina as the storm stalls. “This storm will be a marathon vs. a sprint,” the National Weather Service warned on Twitter. “In addition to the ongoing, dangerous storm surge and flash flooding, will be a long-term river flood threat WELL INLAND as very heavy rainfall continues to fall in the coming days.”’

Hurricane Florence slammed a pier in North Carolina on Sept. 13. Credit: Rebecca Wells Hooper via Storyful

According to Poweroutage.us, some 600,000 customers were without power in the region.

“Hurricane Florence is powerful, slow and relentless,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said, reported The Associated Press. “It’s an uninvited brute who doesn’t want to leave.”

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in an 11 a.m. discussion, “Although coastal storm surge flooding will gradually subside later today, it cannot be emphasized enough that another serious hazard associated with slow-moving Florence is and will be extremely heavy rainfall.”

It added: “More than 14 inches of rain has already fallen in many areas across southeastern North Carolina, and more rain is still to come, which will cause disastrous flooding that will spread inland through the weekend.”

Florence came ashore at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, at 7:15 a.m. ET with winds of 90 mph, the NHC said.