The storm and flood of September 15, 1989, in Fayetteville, North Carolina
The storm of September 15, 1989, in and around the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, produced the most extensive flooding of Fayetteville since 1945. The flood inundated 925 acres in the city along Cross Creek and Blounts Creek and their tributaries, flooded 338 buildings, caused damages in excess of $10 million and claimed the lives of 2 small children. Twenty-two roads and five dams were overtopped, and three earthen dams failed. Recorded rainfall and streamflow data indicate that the storm and flood were relatively rare events. Recorded rainfall totals for durations of less than 2 hours were not exceptionally rare or unusual, but rainfall totals for 2-, 3-, and 6-hr durations recorded at a National Weather Service rain gage substantially exceeded 100-yr rainfall amounts by approximately 31, 28, and 12%, respectively. Recorded unit-peak discharges ranged from 33 to 6,060 cu ft/sec/sq mi (the latter downstream from a dam failure). Peak discharges at 6 of 10 stream-gaging sites had recurrence intervals greater than 100 yrs. Flooding of Cross Creek and Blounts Creek upstream of Robeson Street was generally less extensive than the 100-yr flood, as delineated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Downstream of Robeson Street, the flooding was more extensive.