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Vault Visit: Topsail Beach still rebuilding after Hurricane Fran

On May 16, 1997, WFMY News 2 shared the story of rebuilding a North Carolina beach.

TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. — This year, WFMY News 2 turns 75! So, to celebrate, we're opening the WFMY News 2 vault.

On May 16, 1997, WFMY News 2 shared the story of rebuilding at a North Carolina beach.

Parts of Topsail Island were still being cleaned up and rebuilt after Hurricane Fran — which hit the previous year.

After Fran, Topsail Island lost 40 feet of beach due to erosion. Second-row homes were now beachfront, and many remained untouched, but rebuilding was a process.

“Ripped the top half of the house off. All the rafters. Every deck you see here is brand new. All the decks were ripped off, all the pilings reset,” a man repairing a home shared. 

Sadly, many of the homes could never be rebuilt. However, the locals hoped tourists would still return and support the local economy. 

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