Team Coverage Blows in from the Carolina Coast

Atlantic Beach Reportwith reporterTodd HauerDare County Reportwith reporterSteve OhnesorgeWilmington Reportwith reporterJohn McDonnellPhone Interviews and Reports

WRAL will also speak to those people who are helping manage the storm, as well as residents and vacationers who, perhaps, rode the storm out. If you have your own storm stories, tell them to us by calling our toll free number:1-800-722-9725. Leave a brief message and we will post selected messages on our web site.

WRAL's storm team will also file exclusive audio reports. To listen, you will need theRealPlayer.

Manteo, Dare CountyReporter Steve OhnesorgeLast report: 11:15 p.m. EST Wed.

John McDonnell says it is an extremely dangerous situation in the Wilmington area as things have turned on a dime. The back end of the storm has become very severe. He says it is eerie due to the darkness of the night. There is no power on anywhere. The wind and rain have picked up quite a bit. Initially, McDonnell said damage was being kept to a minimum, but now it has probably gotten worse. He says they will have to wait until morning to see the extent of the damage. A curfew has been in effect for the area since 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Atlantic Beach and Morehead City, Carteret CountyReporter Todd HauerLast report: 11:50 p.m. EDT Wed.

Todd Hauer says its a steady blast in the Atlantic Beach area. He says he cannot tell if the winds have increased any more but are blowing at speeds of at least 90 mph. Hauer says the roof of his hotel is being blown away piece by piece. In the past hour, it has begun to shake a rattle quite a bit. He says it is getting very intense. "She is pounding," Hauer said. Quick Damage Report From Carteret CountyEmergency management officers in the area say that a 150 foot section of the Iron Steamer pier has been ripped away. The Indian Beach pier has also sustained some heavy damage. There are also numerous power outages and downed trees.

Phone Interviews Chris Wintz, Emerald Isle resident, Carteret CountyIn a Wednesday night phone interview (9:45 p.m.)

The intensity in Chris Wintz's voice over a boat phone is enough to show just how dangerous Hurricane Bonnie is, at least until his phone was cut off. Wintz explained how the storm has taken away half of his house and how the "serges keep coming and coming." He says it's insane and that the storm has pounded away at Emerald Isle for hours. Diane Snow, Shallotte Inlet resident, Pender CountyIn a Wednesday night phone interview (9:25 p.m.)

Diane Snow says they she has been getting rain and wind all day long without a break. She explained how a refrigerator was blown off of her porch and says that water is seeping in under her door. Snow says that she is not able to stick her head out her door, and the only people she has seen in the area have been emergency crews. The Shallotte Inlet says she doesn't know how much damage has been done, but she has seen signs and debris blowing by her windows. Snow says she wants all her family and friends to know that she is okay. Capt. Mike Brown, Morehead InletIn a Wednesday night phone interview:

Mike Brown has a different perspective of Hurricane Bonnie. He is weathering the storm in his boat. Brown discusses how he uses 200,000 lbs. anchors and ship positioning to keep the boat from being thrown around too much. Brown also says that most people, unlike him, got their boats out of the water and left. He thinks that Hurricane Fran had a lot of influence on people's decision to leave. Becky Linker, Topsail Island resident, Pender CountyIn a Wednesday night phone interview:

Linker says they have 60 mph winds from the Northeast at Topsail Island. She also explains that the sound side has breached the sea wall. Linker says that Topsail Island has had 18-25 foot seas on the ocean, but she has not seen much damage except for some small debris flying around. Linker says that sustained winds Wednesday reached 90-100 mph with gusts up to 118 mph. She also hopes that people will not go outside even if they believe they are in the eye of the hurricane, although she believes that most people have left the area.