1996 — Sep 5-6, Hurricane Fran, SC, NC, VA, WV, MD, DC, PA, especially NC (25) –40-42

lornajarrettblanchard September 5, 1996

–40-42 Blanchard tally based on State and locality breakouts below.

— 37 NCDC, NOAA. North Carolina Hit By Frantastic Storm! (website). 1-23-2009 update.

— 37 NWS, Raleigh NC. Event Summary, Hurricane Fran, September 1996.

— 36 Marshall, R. Hurricane Fran in North Carolina, September 5-6, 1996. NIST, 1998, iii.

— 34 Burt and Stroud. Extreme Weather: A Guide & Record Book. 2004, p. 205.

— 34 Mayfield, Max. Preliminary Report: Hurricane Fran, 23 August – 8 Sept. 1996.[1]

— >30 Associated Press. “Was Fran the worst?” Garden City Telegram, KS. 9-10-1996, p. 2.

— 27 (22 direct, 5 indirect). Wikipedia. “Hurricane Fran.” 4-9-2014 modification.

— 26 (Direct). NWS. Hurricane Fran, August 28-September 8, 1996. 1997, p. ix.

— 24 Legeros. North Carolina Deadliest Disasters Database.

— 22 The Intelligencer, Doylestown, PA. “Fran leaves 22 dead.” 9-8-1996, A11.

— >17 Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran claims 17, drenches Virginia.” 9-7-1996, A13.

Maryland ( 2)

— 2 Montgomery Co., Sep 5. Drownings; car swept away by flood water, male and female.[2]

North Carolina (25)

–25 Platt, et al. “Rebuilding…[NC] Coast after…Fran…” Coastal Mgmt. 2002, p. 257.[3]

–24 National Weather Service, Raleigh NC. Event Summary, Hurricane Fran, September 1996.

–24 NCDC, NOAA. North Carolina Hit By Frantastic Storm! (website). 1-23-2009 update.

–23 Marshall, R. Hurricane Fran in North Carolina, September 5-6, 1996. NIST, 1998, iii.

–21 Mayfield, Max. Preliminary Report: Hurricane Fran, 23 August – 8 September 1996.[4]

–19 AP. “North Carolina Still Battles with Fran’s Aftermath.” Post-Standard, 9-11-1996, A4.

–18 Blanchard tally from county breakouts below.

–17 Associated Press. “Hurricane Fran.” Times-News, Burlington, NC, 9-8-1996, D7.

–14 Direct. NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996 (Service Assessment). July 1997.

–12 Direct (fallen trees). RENCI at ECU. Hurricane Fran (website). “Human Impact.” 3-23-2012

— 1 Alamance County, Snow Camp, Sep 5-6. Tree fall onto house (direct); male, 13-14.[5]

— 1 Bladen County, Sep 5. Heart attack; male, 75, “rescue workers could not reach him.”[6]

— 1 Duplin County, Rose Hill,[7] Sep 5. Chimney collapses into house (direct); female.[8]

— 1 Durham County, Bahama,[9] Sep 5. Tree fall onto truck (direct); male fire fighter, 19.[10]

— 1 Durham County, Sep 5-6. Tree fall onto vehicle.[11]

— 1 Johnston County, Benson,[12] Sep 5. Tree fall onto home (direct); male, 70.[13]

— 1 Onslow Co., Sep 5. Drowning (direct); male drove off bridge at North Topsail beach.[14]

— 1 Onslow County, NE of Wilmington, Sep 5. Tree fall onto trailer (direct); female, teen.[15]

— 1 Pender Co., Sep 5. Exposure/hypothermia; female, [16] 72, found on mattress in marsh.[17]

— 1 Pender Co., Sep 5. Apparent drowning; male, 45, found floating, Scotts Hill Marina Basin.[18]

— 1 Pender County, Topsail Beach, body found Sep 6. Drowning, marine soldier, male, 19.[19]

— 1 Pitt County, Sep 5. Vehicular (direct); male driving car hits fallen tree.[20]

— 2 Wake County, Sep 5. Vehicular (direct); car runs into fallen tree, male, 55, female, 67.[21]

— 1 Wake County, Raleigh, Crabtree Creek, Sep 5 or 7.[22] Drowning (direct); male, 17.[23]

— 1 Wake County, Raleigh. Tree fall onto mobile home; female. (RENCI at ECU.)

— 1 Wake County, Raleigh. Tree fall during clean-up; male.[24]

— 1 Wayne County, Sep 5. Vehicular (direct); car runs into fallen tree, male, 22.[25]

Pennsylvania (3-5)

— 4 (2 direct, 2 indirect). Wikipedia. “Hurricane Fran.” 4-9-2014 modification. (No citation.)

— 1 Clearfield County, Morris Twp., Morrisdale, St. Rt. 53, Sep 6. 3-vehicle crash; man, 20.[26]

— 1 Cumberland Co., Sep 6. Drowning (direct), car swept away by flood water; female, 26.[27]

— 1 Perry County, Sep 6. Drowning (direct); flash flood near home, female, 79.[28]

— 2 Philadelphia area, Sep 8. Drownings; male, 73 and female, 70,[29] in flooded basement.[30]

South Carolina ( 2)

— 1 Horry Co., ~Conway, Sep 5. Female, 66,[31] swerved vehicle to avoid tree, crashed.[32]

— 1 Williamsburg Co., ~Andrews, Sep 5. Male driving car hits tree that fell onto road.[33]

Virginia ( 6)

— 6 Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Hurricane History (website). 2012.

— 5 Wikipedia. “Hurricane Fran.” 4-9-2014 modification. (No citation.)

— 2 Augusta Co., Sep 6. Drowning; 2 males, 18 and 21, swept away trying to cross bridge.[34]

— 1 Fairfax County, Sep 5-6. Car hits tree which had fallen onto highway; male.[35]

— 1 Highland Co., Sep 6. Drowning; female, 53, attempting to drive across flooded creek.[36]

— 1 Pittsylvania County, Sep 5. Drowning; attempted to drive across flooded road, male, 60.[37]

West Virginia ( 2)

— 1 Grant County, Sep 6. Drowning; male drove tractor into flood water.[38]

— 1 Pendleton County, U.S. 220, Sep 6. Drowning; male, 20, drove car into flood water.[39]

Cause of Death (Direct — 31)[40]

–26 (Direct total). NWS. Hurricane Fran, August 28-September 8, 1996. 1997, p. ix.

Drowning (14)

–2 MD. Montgomery Co., Sep 5. Drownings; car swept away by flood water, male, female.[41]

–1 NC. Onslow Co., Sep 5. Drowning (direct); male drove off bridge at North Topsail beach.

–1 NC. Pender Co., Sep 5. Apparent drowning; male, 45, found floating, marina basin.

–1 NC. Pender Co., Topsail Beach, Sep 5. Drowning, washed from car; US Marine, male, 19.

–1 NC. Wake County, Raleigh, Crabtree Creek, Sep 5 or 7. Drowning (direct); male, 17.

–1 MD. Cumberland Co., Sep 6. Drowning (direct), car swept away by flood water; female, 26.

–1 MD. Perry County, Sep 6. Drowning (direct); flash flood near home, female, 79.

–2 VA. Augusta Co., Sep 6. Drowning; 2 males, 18 and 21, swept away trying to cross bridge.

–1 VA. Highland Co., Sep 6. Drowning; female, 53, attempting to drive across flooded creek.

–1 VA. Pittsylvania County, Sep 5. Drowning; attempted to drive across flooded road, male, 60.

–1 WV. Grant County, Sep 6. Drowning; male drove tractor into flood water.

–1 WV. Pendleton County, U.S. 220, Sep 6. Drowning; male, 20, drove car into flood water.

Exposure/Hypothermia ( 1)

— 1 NC. Pender Co., Sep 5. Exposure/hypothermia; female, 72, found on mattress in marsh.

Structural Collapse (apparently high wind) ( 1)

— 1 NC. Duplin County, Rose Hill, Sep 5. Chimney collapses into house (direct); female.

Tree Falls (15)

–12 NC. Tree falls. RENCI at ECU. Hurricane Fran (website). “Human Impact.” 3-23-2012.[42]

–1 NC. Alamance County, Sep 5. Tree fall onto house (direct); male, 14. (NCDC and NWS)

–1 NC. Bladen Co., Sep 5. Heart attack; male, 75, “rescue workers could not reach him.[43]

–1 NC. Durham County, Bahama, Sep 5. Tree fall onto truck (direct); male fire fighter, 19.

–1 NC. Durham County, Sep 5-6. Tree fall onto vehicle.[44]

–1 NC. Johnston County, Benson, Sep 5. Tree fall onto home (direct); male.

–1 NC. Onslow Co., NE of Wilmington, Sep 5. Tree fall onto trailer (direct); female, teen.

–1 NC. Pitt County, Sep 5. Vehicular (direct); male driving car hits fallen tree.

–2 NC. Wake Co., Sep 5. Vehicular (direct); car runs into fallen tree, male, 55, female, 67.

–1 NC. Wake County, Raleigh. Tree fall onto mobile home; female. (RENCI at ECU.)

–1 NC. Wayne County, Sep 5. Vehicular (direct); car runs into fallen tree, male, 22.

— 1 SC. Horry Co., ~Conway, Sep 5. Female, 66, swerved vehicle to avoid tree, crashed.[45]

— 1 SC. Williamsburg Co., ~Andrews, Sep 5. Male driving car hits tree that fell onto road.

— 1 VA. Fairfax County, Sep 5-6. Car hits tree which had fallen onto highway; male.

Cause of Death (Indirect, identified – 2-4)

Drowning (2?)

— 2 PA. Philadelphia vic., Sep 8. Drownings; male, 73 and female, 70, in flooded basement.[46]

Tree Fall (1)

— 1 NC. Wake County, Raleigh. Tree fall during clean-up; male.

Vehicular (1)

— 1 PA. Clearfield Co., Morris Twp., Morrisdale, St. Rt. 53, Sep 6. 3-vehicle crash; man, 20.

Cause of Death (Not Stated – 8-9)

— 7 NC.[47]

— 1 PA.[48]

— 1 VA.[49]

Narrative (Overview)

NWS: “Fran was a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale…when it made landfall on the North Carolina coast near Cape Fear on September 5, 1996. Besides sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (mph), the storm surge and high water marks to nearly 13 feet in some coastal areas of North Carolina and Virginia exceeded those of Hurricane Hazel in 1954, although Hazel was a category 4 storm. Heavy rains created extensive inland flooding from the Carolinas into Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Additionally, strong inland winds created severe damage and power outages with hurricane-force wind gusts extending to near Raleigh, North Carolina. Hurricane Fran was directly responsible for 26 deaths.

“Widespread 5- to 10-inch amounts of rain were recorded over the Middle Atlantic region with 14 to nearly 16 inches in parts of Virginia and West Virginia. The rains brought many rivers in North Carolina, Virginia, and central Pennsylvania to, or above, flood stage. Particularly hard hit were Virginia and North Carolina, where record or near-record river levels occurred at many gage sites.

“Fran was the worst recorded natural economic disaster ever to occur in North Carolina. Nearly a half-million tourists and residents were evacuated from the coasts of North and South Carolina. Press reports from Reuters News Service stated that 4.5 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were left without power.” (NWS. Hurricane Fran, August 28-September 8, 1996 (Service Assessment). Silver Spring, MD: NWS, NOAA, Dept. of Commerce. July 1997, p. ix.)

North Carolina

NWS: “The effects of Fran on North Carolina were extensive and noticed well inland. The highest wind gust was 137 mph, as noted earlier, in Wilmington. Some 125 miles north in Raleigh, winds gusted to hurricane force. The strong inland winds coupled with saturated ground resulted in several hundred thousand trees being uprooted or broken. This resulted in thousands of homes being damaged by the falling trees. It took more than 10 days for power to be restored in many areas. Schools were closed for a week in the hardest hit counties. Automobile travel was almost impossible the day after the storm due to downed trees and flooding. A full 12 days after the event, 150 secondary roads were still closed….” (NWS. Hurricane Fran, August 28-September 8, 1996 (Service Assessment). NWS, NOAA, Dept. of Commerce. July 1997, p. 10.)

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Associated Press. “Hurricane Fran. Fran claims 17, drenches Virginia.” Times-News, Burlington, NC, 9-7-1996, A13. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=184717142&sterm

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Marshall, Richard D. (Wind Research Services, Poolesville, MD). Hurricane Fran in North Carolina, September 5-6, 1996 (NIST GCR 98-734). Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, January 1998. Accessed 4-28-2014 at: http://www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908722

Mayfield, Max. Preliminary Report: Hurricane Fran, 23 August – 8 September 1996. Miami, FL National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, NOAA. 10-10-1996. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1996fran.html

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National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Flash Flood… Pennsylvania…Perry…09/06/1996. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5568778

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Flash Flood… Virginia…Augusta…09/06/1996. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5571988

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Flash Flood… Virginia…Highland…09/06/1996. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5571989

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Flash Flood… Virginia…Pittsylvania…09/06/1996. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5564076

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Flash Flood… West Virginia…Pendleton…09/06/1996. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5572408

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. High Wind… North Carolina…Bladen…09/05/1996 14:00…09/06/1996 02:00. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5578517

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Hurricane (Typhoon)…North Carolina…Alamance…09/05/1966 17:00…09/06/1996 05:00. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5580042

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Hurricane (Typhoon)…North Carolina…Durham…09/05/1966 17:00…09/06/1996 05:00. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5580044

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Hurricane (Typhoon)…North Carolina…Johnston…09/05/1966 17:00…09/06/1996 05:00. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5580052

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Hurricane (Typhoon)…North Carolina…Pender…09/05/1996 12:00…09/06/1996 02:00. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5578510

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Hurricane (Typhoon)…North Carolina…Wake…09/05/1966 17:00…09/06/1966 05:00. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5580051

National Weather Service, Raleigh NC. Event Summary, Hurricane Fran, September 1996. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19960906/

National Weather Service. Hurricane Fran, August 28-September 8, 1996 (Service Assessment). Silver Spring, MD: NWS, NOAA, Department of Commerce. July 1997. Accessed 4-17-2014 at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/franrpt.pdf

NYT News Service (Kevin Sack). “In Fran’s wake.” Indiana, PA Gazette, 9-8-1996, A4. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=110410485&sterm=fran

Platt, Rutherford H., David Salvesen, George H. Baldwin, II. “Rebuilding the North Carolina Coast after Hurricane Fran: Did Public Regulations Matter?” Coastal Management, Vol. 30, 2002, pp. 249-269. Accessed 4-28-2014 at: http://wcu.edu/WebFiles/PDFs/Rebuilding_after_Hurricane_Fran.pdf

RENCI at East Carolina University. Hurricane Fran (website). “Human Impact.” 3-23-2012 update. Accessed 4-28-2014 at: http://www.ecu.edu/renci/stormstolife/Fran/human.html

The Intelligencer, Doylestown, PA. “Fran leaves 22 dead.” 9-8-1996, A11. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=26732696&sterm=fran

The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Allport man dies in crash during rainstorm.” 9-7-1996, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=151346632&sterm=fran

The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Two killed by floods in suburban Philadelphia,” 9-9-1996, p. 19. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=151346666&sterm

Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran Facts.” “Fran claims 17, drenches Virginia.” 9-7-1996, A13. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=184717142&sterm=fran

Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Help” (continued from A1). 9-9-1996, A2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=184236018&sterm=hurricane+fran

United Methodist News Service. “Church works for recovery in wake of hurricanes,” 9-19-1996. Accessed 4-29-2014 at: http://archive.wfn.org/1996/09/msg00046.html

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Wright, Aliah D. (Associated Press). “Couple who perished in floods would have marked 50^th wedding anniversary,” Gettysburg Times, PA, 9-10-1996, A5. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=12197162&sterm=philadelphia+hurricane

[1] Cites Associated Press reports.

[2] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996).

[3] Cites: North Carolina Disaster Recovery Task Force. Draft Goals and Action Team Reports. Raleigh, NC: Office of the Lieutenant Governor (mimeo), November 1996; “Recommendations for Action” (Feb 14, 1997) Raleigh, NC: Office of the Lieutenant Governor (mimeo).

[4] Cites Associated Press reports.

[5] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in NWS; NCDC, Storm Events Database. Hurricane…NC…Alamance. Barnes notes the death of “eighth-grader Curtis Wayne Warren in Alamance County.” (p. 203.), A Burlington, NC Times-News report (“Help,” A2, continued from A1) writes that “Curtis Warren, a 13-year-old Snow Camp boy… died Friday morning [Sep 6] after Fran tossed a tree into his second-story bedroom.”

[6] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996. NCDC notes that the heart attack occurred during the peak of the storm and responders could not reach him due to many trees blocking roads. (NCDC. Storm Events Database. High Wind. North Carolina Bladen Sep 5-6, 1996.)

[7] Rose Hill as locality is from Barnes (p. 203) in apparent reference to the death of Marion Rouse.

[8] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996).

[9] Bahama locality is from Barnes, p. 203 who writes “Responding to an emergency call at the peak of the storm, nineteen-year-old Bahama volunteer firefighter Ricky Dorsey was another of Fran’s tragic victims. He was killed when a falling tree landed on his truck as he was driving down Staggville Road, north of Durham.”

[10] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in NWS; NCDC. Storm Events Database. Hurricane…[NC]…Durham.

[11] “Two killed in Durham County, a motorist and a firefighter when a tree fell on a fire truck.” (Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran Facts.” 9-7-1996, A13.)

[12] Benson locality is from Barnes p. 203, in apparent reference to death of Donald Davis from a tree fall into home.

[13] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in NWS; NCDC, Storm Events Database. Hurricane…NC…Johnston.

[14] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996).

[15] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS; Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran Facts.” 9-7-1996, A13. The “teenager” age is from Jay Barnes in North Carolina’s Hurricane History (3^rd Ed.), p. 203, in an apparent reference to the death of Cristina Marie Foust.

[16] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996).

[17] NCDC. Storm Events Database. Hurricane…North Carolina…Pender. Barnes (p. 204) writes: “One of the storm’s more memorable tragedies was that of Georgia Greene. The seventy-five-year-old Surf City woman lived alone in her mobile home and depended on round-the-clock nurses to provide her care. As the evacuation of Topsail Island got under way, Greene refused to leave, stating that she had never left for a storm before. As Fran swept over the island, it demolished her aluminum home, tossing the ninety-pound woman into the raging waters, her mattress beneath her. For hours she drifted through the flooded marsh, enduring the worst of the hurricane’s winds and rains. The following day, she was found by rescue workers, still aboard her mattress and still alive. She was taken to a local hospital but died the following day. Cause of death: hypothermia.”

[18] Appendix C in: NWS; NCDC, Storm Events Database. Hurricane…[NC]…Pender. Barnes (p. 204), writes that “a Greensboro man was found floating near the damaged remains of the Scotts Hill Marina in Pender County. He apparently had been helping a friend board up his home when he was swept off a deck and drowned.”

[19] “The Marine Corps reported that a 19-year-old soldier from Camp Lejeune, Pvt. Steve A. Sears, of Shirley, Ark., was killed in the storm. His body was discovered on Friday in the Intracoastal waterway near Topsail Beach, N.C., said…a spokesman at Camp Lejeune.” (NYT News Service. “In Fran’s wake.” Indiana, PA Gazette, 9-8-1996, A4.) Another account notes that he was “driving back to Camp Lejeune with two other members of the corps. They took a wrong turn onto the bridge to Topsail Beach during the height of the storm and their car stalled in deep water. One Marine waded away to safety while waves swept the other two off the top of the car. [The other…] grabbed a tree and clung there all night.” (The Intelligencer, Doylestown, PA. “Fran leaves 22 dead.” 9-8-1996, A11.)

[20] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996 (Service Assessment).

[21] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS; NCDC, Storm Events Database. Hurricane…[NC]…Wake.

[22] This is probably a reference to Jackson Edward Griffin, who drowned Sep 7 while swimming in rain-swollen Crabtree Creek. His body was found Sep 19. (AP News Archive. “Body of Raleigh Teen Drowned in Hurricane Aftermath Found.” 9-20-1996.) Appendix C (NWS) has the date of death as Sep 5.

[23] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS; NCDC, Storm Events Database. Hurricane…[NC]…Wake.

[24] “After the storm, as the cleanup got under way, Zebulon native Walt DeYoung died while attempting to clear debris from his mother’s home in Raleigh. DeYoung…was deeply gashed on the legs by a falling tree and later bled to death.” (Barnes. North Carolina’s Hurricane History, 3^rd Ed., p. 204.)

[25] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS; NCDC, Storm Events Database. Hurricane…[NC]…Wayne.

[26] “An Allport man died in a three-vehicle crash last night as the remnants of Hurricane Fran pushed through western Pennsylvania. Dead is Robert L. Abel, 20, who was traveling along state Route 53 in Morrisdale when the accident occurred at 9:56 p.m. According to Dave Scovern, Clearfield County Emergency Management director, the accident occurred at the height of the storm, which swept through Progressland late last night, bringing 2 to 6 inches of rain across the region.” (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Allport man dies in crash during rainstorm.” 9-7-1996, 1.)

[27] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1; NCDC, Storm Events Database. Flash Flood [PA]…Cumberland.

[28] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996 (Service Assessment). NCDC notes she “attempted to leave her home surrounded by 4 feet of water.” (Storm Events Database…Perry.)

[29] Ages are from Aliah D. Wright (Associated Press) report “Couple who perished in floods would have marked 50^th wedding anniversary,” in Gettysburg Times, 9-10-1996, p. A5, in reference to Frank and Marie Deal. Report notes: “Frank Deal, 73, did what he always did when the Sandy Run Creek behind his home in suburban Philadelphia spilled over into his basement. He donned hip boots and went down to bail water while Marie Deal, 70, his wife of 49 years, went outside to move the couple’s car. When the retired registered nurse returned around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, she found her husband in cardiac arrest, called 911 and stayed by his side. But the flood waters arrived before help did, and the Deals drowned in their Abington Township basement when a wall of water, six-feet high, came crashing down over them, Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Halbert Fillinger said Monday….”

[30] “An elderly couple in an affluent area northwest of Philadelphia drowned in their basement when it quickly filled with water – their deaths part of the four drownings in Pennsylvania caused by Hurricane Fran.” (United Methodist News Service. “Church works for recovery in wake of hurricanes,” 9-19-1996.) An Associated Press news report noted that “A humid air mass left behind by Hurricane Fran contributed to a storm system Sunday that dumped up to 5 inches of rain in this township in Southern Montgomery County [Abington, PA dateline]…Two people were killed and thousands of home lost power…The bodies of a couple in their 60s were pulled from a flooded basement, McNamara said [Abington police]…” (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Two killed by floods in suburban Philadelphia,” 9-9-1996, p. 19.)

[31] Age is from: Stephen Barr. “Thousands Flee as Fran Batters Carolinas,” Washington Post, 9-6-1996, P. A1.

[32] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS; Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran Facts.” 9-7-1996, A13.

[33] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS; Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran Facts.” 9-7-1996, A13.

[34] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS; NCDC, Storm Events Database. VA, Augusta, 9-6-1996.

[35] Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran claims 17, drenches Virginia.” 9-7-1996, A13.

[36] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS; NCDC, Storm Events Database. VA, Highland, 9-6-1996; “A woman in Highland County, Va., died when she tried to cross a flooded creek in an all-terrain vehicle.” (Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran Facts.” 9-7-1996, A13.)

[37] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, C-1 in: NWS; NCDC, Storm Events Database. VA, Pittsylvania, 9-6-1996.

[38] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996 (Service Assessment).

[39] Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1 in: NWS; Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran Facts.” 9-7-1996, A13.

[40] The 31 figure is Blanchard tally based on breakouts below.

[41] NWS. Hurricane Fran, Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996 (Service Assessment). Appendix C: Summary of Fatalities, p. C-1.

[42] We note 11 deaths directly related to hurricane tree falls and one indirect – a tree fall during cleanup.

[43] Appears to be treated as a “direct” fatality in both the NCDC Storm Events Database, and in Appendix C of the NWS Hurricane Fran Aug 28-Sep 8, 1996 Service Assessment in that tree falls during the peak of the storm blocked roads and prevented responders from reaching the decedent.

[44] “Two killed in Durham County, a motorist and a firefighter when a tree fell on a fire truck.” (Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Fran Facts.” 9-7-1996, A13.) Not crystal clear but appears both deaths due to tree fall.

[45] Since this is noted in NWS Hurricane Fran report (Appendix C), we assume it was considered a direct fatality.

[46] “An elderly couple in an affluent area northwest of Philadelphia drowned in their basement when it quickly filled with water – their deaths part of the four drownings in Pennsylvania caused by Hurricane Fran.” (United Methodist News Service. “Church works for recovery in wake of hurricanes,” 9-19-1996.) An Associated Press news report noted that “A humid air mass left behind by Hurricane Fran contributed to a storm system Sunday that dumped up to 5 inches of rain in this township in Southern Montgomery County [Abington, PA dateline]…Two people were killed and thousands of homes lost power…The bodies of a couple in their 60s were pulled from a flooded basement…” (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Two killed by floods in suburban Philadelphia,” 9-9-1996, 19.)

[47] This is our assumption. Platt, et al. note 25 hurricane-related fatalities in NC, citing the NC Disaster Recovery Task Force (Draft Goals and Action Team Reports. Raleigh, NC: Office of the Lieutenant Governor (mimeo), Nov 1996 and Feb 1997). We have been able to identify what appear to be 18 individual “direct” deaths. If there were 18 “direct” deaths, and 25 total, then there were seven “indirect,” which we have been able to locate but one.

[48] Wikipedia notes 2 direct and 2 indirect PA deaths, of which we have been able to identify 2 direct and 1 indirect.

[49] The VA Dept. of Emer. Mgmt., on its Hurricane History website, notes 6 VA fatalities, of which we have identified 5 direct deaths, leaving one we have not been able to identify.